Harold Wilson: Twentieth Century Man: The Prime Ministers Series

by Alan Johnson

The ex-politician and bestselling author Alan Johnson, who was a Labour cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, takes on the life and premierships of Harold Wilson.

Genres: Biography, Politics, Nonfiction, History

145 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2024

Reviews

[Patrick Notchtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teenager I met Harold Wilson. He was interesting then and Alan Johnson's book is no less so. In a very readable, almost conversational way, he recounted Wilson's career augmenting his personal knowledge as an insider with detailed research.
Despite Wilson's renowned intellectual capacity, a true prodigy, he was nevertheless human and made mistakes and errors of judgement. It is a fascinating insight into the man, his government and the period with its paranoia and politics. Very much recommended to anyone wanting a clear, concise biography of one the UK's most successful Prime Ministers.

[Niamh]

That’s my GOAT

[Gail Darwent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent potted history and extremely illuminating

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good, concise and interesting account of the life and impact of Harold Wilson.

[Logan Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this short and concise overview of Harold Wilsons early life and political career. The author strikes the perfect balance on detail.

Swift Press are publishing a short book on the lives of each Prime Minister. Winston Churchills is put woth others planned for 2025 so I will certainly be purchasing.

I hope Alan writes another one of them.

[Ian Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short and readable account of Harold Wilson’s life. There is a longer and much more detailed account of his life by Ben Pimlott, but if you don’t want to wade through the sludge of British life and politics during the 1950s through to the 1970s and you want just the basic facts, then this book is for you.

Harold Wilson was the Labour Prime Minister of Britain all through the 1960s and a large chunk of the 1970s. His government liberalised the country by abolishing the death penalty, relaxing divorce laws, decriminalising homosexuality, outlawing racial and sexual discrimination, introducing comprehensive schooling and the Open University.

What Wilson didn’t do was sort out the dire state of our economy. It is here that Alan Johnson fails to get a grip with his subject. He talks about the ongoing problems with trade union militancy but doesn’t state the underlying causes of that militancy. Namely, the overbearing influence of the City of London. Its high rates of dividend payments caused severe underinvestment in industry and made it uncompetitive in the world market. Trade Union militancy was a symptom, not a cause. If shareholders could get a generous payout on their dividends, then why shouldn’t the workers also have a payout? Labour failed to realise that.

On top of that, many of our industries were nationalised (a Labour innovation inherited from the Attlee government) and nationalised industries were slow to innovate and unresponsive to market forces.

Our economy continued to decline.

Wilson was a clever man with a brilliant brain who rose quickly through the ranks of academia and the Labour movement until he reached the very top. He tried to modernise Britain and succeeded on the social rather than the economic. The Britain we have now is the result of that.

At 149 pages, it is a quick and easy read and if you are unfamiliar with the premiership of Harold Wilson then this is the book for you. Who knows, after reading it you may want to read the Ben Pimlott biography.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, short, enjoyable biography of Harold Wilson. Not enough new info or detail for it to be 5 stars for me, but clearly interesting as it’s pointed me towards a much more in depth look at the same time period for my next audiobook. (I’ve been encouraged to be more discerning in my ratings now that I have such a substantial following)

[Andy Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a very good shortish overview of Harold's life and achievements.

So often with longer biographies one gets bogged down with the details of meetings etc and of in Wilson's case issues such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs which seemed to take forever and got nowhere. Whereas this shorter biography looks at Wilsons many achievements and the key issues in his successful life.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid enough, short biography of Wilson, laying out the key facts of his rise to, and exercise of, power. At times it feels more like a hagiography, with challenge or controversial viewpoints carefully avoided. That said, a useful primer - but where are the other books in what was supposedly a series? Still to come, or has the idea been dropped?

[Christopher Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Brought back many memories of my early adult years when I first became interested in politics. I was one of the first to vote at the age of 18 due to just one of many social reforms instigated under Harold Wilson's leadership.

I fear that he will be spinning in his grave in current times.

[Tansy Hepton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars really. It's well written and covers a lot of ground for such a short book. There are interesting snippets as well as all the major events.
I am more impressed with Harold Wilson's achievements than before I read it, which is the biggest tribute for the book.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Johnson ought to write the whole history, terrific work!

[Seannll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook just walking to uni etc and a great and detailed, but concise, history of the life of the first “20th century” prime minister.

[Aidan McCaffery · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brief introduction to an interesting character, but it does feel hagiographic by way of its party political viewpoint.

[Vincent Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An affectionate concise biography, written clearly and entertainingly. I read it in a day and now feel I have a much better grasp of the man.

[martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concise!

[Oscar Crowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice concise biography. Liked the focus on his earlier life.

[Annette Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very potted biography of Harold Wilson and politics at the time. A nice and easy read that's also interesting and informative

[Max Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immensely insightful and hugely informative book on Harold Wilson, his career, time as Prime Minister and his controversies as a politician. A truly secretive yet extraordinary man! A must read.

[Kieran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic biography. Love Alan Johnson’s writing.
Such a fascinating figure.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read. Brief overview of Harold Wilson written by former Labour minister Alan Johnson. Highly recommend!