People Power: A User's Guide to Democracy

by Dan Jellinek

A fascinating and accessible guide to democracy in the what it means, how it works and why we need to protect it .
     Politicians have a notoriously bad one recent survey found people trust them less than used-car salesmen. Voter turn-out in most elections is shockingly low; and episodes like the MPs' expenses scandal of 2009 simply serve to confirm the opinion of many that 'they're all as bad as each other'. But deep down, most of us also know we are incredibly lucky to live in a democracy, with freedoms that billions of people across the planet would give anything to enjoy.

     So we are lucky -- but still, we don't like our system and we don't trust our politicians. In the face of growing global unrest, from the Occupy movement and the 2011 summer riots to the Arab Spring, what is the answer?

     Part of the cure must be to better understand the to understand how our democracy works, with all its strengths and weaknesses, achievements and archaisms, complexities and flaws.

     In  People Power  Dan Jellinek provides a unique and accessible guide to democracy in the UK, investigating how our government and our communities function, and the role that we, the general public, need to play to keep the wheels turning. If you want to know what it really means to be British, how your small actions can bring about big changes, and how you can improve your life and the lives of others then this book is a must-read. Wake up, stand up and be counted; the power is in your hands.

Genres: Politics

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 4, 2013

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Jellinek, brave man, has taken the dryer-than-dust subject of the mechanics of British government and democracy and turned it into a book. The title is a bit misleading, it is 99% about democracy in Britain, not other countries. The chapters broadly cover the following

National government
Local government
The monarchy
The Civil Service
The judiciary
The media
Our right to protest
Digital democracy
Britain and its relationship with the European Union
The United Nations

What could have been a tedious plod through government practices, was just the opposite. Jellinek is such an astute, immediate and amusing writer, that the book is a pleasure to read. Jellinek is our friend, standing over the turrets of Westminster, the Victorian leaded windows of local government, and the tower of Babel that is Brussels - and everything he comments on lights up and makes sense. He is also very good at showing the bigger picture. Everything dovetails and slots together - if not perfectly - in a way that makes sense.

My understanding of British government and democracy was a bit woolly. Even in areas I thought I knew about, I found out that I had a lot more to learn. The chapter on the European Union - given our forthcoming referendum - was particularly invaluable, and especially helpful for wobblers like me. (I'm still wobbling, but with more confidence.)

My one source of amazement was that it had only been given a general rating on Goodreads of 33.3. I suspect that is because the other readers were more educated in these matters than me. It may be that this book is more suited to those of us who have more to learn.

I think this book would make a fantastic school textbook. It makes the subject of political structures and government so interesting. Bravo to Jellinek, I think that is a major achievement. Highly recommended.

[Louise Duckworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very concise and well written book on the infrastructure the government is made up. Alot of interesting points, I did not know. Well worth the read.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me and whilst some parts were interesting and useful, it was published in 2013 and so incredibly outdated as it references the state of democracy in the UK at that time.