Woke Is Dead: How common sense triumphed in an age of total madness

by Piers Morgan

Piers Morgan welcomes the return of a common-sense world

Never afraid to stand up for what’s right or call out hypocrisy at either end of the political spectrum, Piers Morgan became a voice of leadership at a time when so many of us were treading on eggshells. But now, with Trump’s comprehensive defeat of Kamala Harris and the accompanying rejection of woke ideology, it seems like the rest of the world is finally catching up.

Woke Is Dead explores the international rejection of being told how we should think, how we should act and what we should (or shouldn’t) say. Addressing combustible topics including the gender divide and the destruction of free speech, Morgan argues that woke’s empty discourse only created more division, confusion and mistrust, and makes the case for what our post-woke future can, and should, look like.

Rather than celebrating the death of woke for the sake of revenge, Woke Is Dead advocates for a return of common sense and a less divided, more sensible society. Because it’s what the majority of us want – and we should no longer be afraid to say it.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan (born Piers Stefan O'Meara), known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children.

Morgan branched into television mainly as a presenter, but has become best known as a judge or contestant in reality television programmes. In the UK, he was a judge on Britain's Got Talent. Morgan is best-known in the United States as a judge on the show America's Got Talent, and as the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice. On 17 January 2011, he began hosting Piers Morgan Tonight for CNN in the timeslot previously occupied by Larry King Live before the retirement of host Larry King.

Morgan has authored eight books, including three volumes of his memoirs.

Reviews

[Art Steventon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yet more appalling bigoted trash from the master of the art of sewer journalism.
It’s hard to read a page of this diatribe, dedicated to explaining why actually treating everyone as a human being, regardless of their views, gender identity, race, sexuality or religion is a bad thing, without remembering that the author was fired from pretty much every job he’s held due to bad behaviour in one form or another, from suspected insider trading, to faking war crimes, to allegedly, though he denies it, hacking the phones of multiple people to gain headlines (he has been cited in court cases that are ongoing). This is a man who has hounded a pregnant woman merely because she snubbed him, who tries to sit in a position of moral superiority, yet has in fact, less morals than a disease ridden alley cat.
His writing style is that of a sub-A-Level English student, his grasp of rhetoric is non-existent and his use of hyperbole somewhere in between hysterical and garish.
I wouldn’t but this book for someone I hated, let alone a loved one.
Avoid!

[Jerry Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

Piers: ChatGPT write my next book. Make it about the rise and fall of woke but make sure I am portrayed as a major victim of woke and then one of the champions of destroying it.
ChatGPT: How do you define woke?
Piers: I can’t be bothered to define it so just assume it’s anything I’ve previously ranted about.
ChatGPT: Does it need to be consistent with your other books?
Piers: No, nobody will notice.
ChatGPT: Does it need to be internally consistent?
Piers: As long as I don’t contradict myself within a page that should be ok?
ChatGPT: I take it you’ve done enough on Harry and Megan and I can leave them out of this book?
Piers: Hell no! Make sure there’s a whole chapter about them. After all, it’s not like they’re living rent free in my head.
Piers: Oh, and make sure Donald Trump takes a key role as an anti-woke warrior due to his elevated levels of common sense.
ChatGPT: I may not be sentient but no sane person equates Donald Trump with common sense.
Piers: OK, whenever he gets a name check you can preface it with ‘ Notwithstanding his sexism, racism, criminal record, increasing signs of dementia, his lying, his grifting, his nepotism and his authoritarianism and his love of sycophancy, DT is a model for common sense.
ChatGPT: OK, here you go. Do you want to read it?
Piers: For god sake no but I’m worried that at 250 pages it’s a bit short.
ChatGPT: I could pad it out with 13 vapid ‘life lessons’ to get to 300 pages.
Piers: Great, that should do. Send it straight to my publisher.

[Marin · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a load of crap...

[Ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tried to read this with an open mind. Had intended to write a proper review breaking down all the things I thought were illogical or deliberately missing the point. Had too much to write so gave up. In sum - reads like a shopping list more than a book, and a “please forgive me” letter to Donald Trump. Only read if you want to feel like a jackhammer is being held at your head for 12 hours straight.

[Ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

while I can shit on this because the views are stupid, I just don't get the point of this? it's just piers talking about stuff he thinks about? are the only people reading this people like me just to watch a car crash?

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love him or hate him, there are many sides to the debates and Piers executes them sincerity. I enjoyed it, that doesn’t mean I agreed with everything & that’s the point.

[Aimee Stokes]

Not a fan of Piers Morgan but was intrigued to see what this book would be like. Pure waffle - can’t believe I made it to the end

[Michiel Tummers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Welcome to the great piers Morgan show where he needs to tell the audience how great he (and Donald Trump) is every odd page or so.
I wasnt expecting anything, knowing and watching piers Morgan for many years now and know him from his verbose, absolutist interview style (never letting anybody who he disagrees with finish a sentence, yet constantly complaining that others interrupt him. Or how about constantly wining that the woke is crying about everything, yet writing an entire book where the woke (whatever that is) gets continously criticized. Why didn't you write about yourself in the chapter on hypocrisy piers!?).

Ofcourse there are zero references to research or claims in the book, something that should be immediately obvious from the start. This is not an academic book (or pop science) book by any stretch of the means. Many of the settings, happenings, situations and so on piers describes or the claims he makes are incorrect or half truths, painting a very grim worldview from piers his ideological stance (why is that not in the chapter about the woke being so pessimistic piers, you seem way more negative about everything?), it's also very unilateral in its approach.

I got one thing from the book though (sometimes a chuckle or a grin also), I learned that you need to stir tea 23 circles in clockwise fashion, a fact that one can only learn from a Englishman and that I'll do myself from now on.
Read it for the meme but don't think this is a serious book by any stretch of the means, at times it's excruciatingly painful or cringe to read. His analogies make zero sense also.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars; Piers’ rant is not really a book, just as well watch clips of the man on YouTube; nevertheless, he has some well argued points and the British understated delivery is enjoyable, hilarious at moments; his cozying up to Trump is too apologetic and takes away from the main thrust of this much needed push back on woke politics.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t say owt these days

[Connor Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with most points in the book, I just found it more of a personal monologue than a particularly interesting piece of prose. Not really for me. However, I hope more people realise Piers is a moderate, sensible speaker on social matters; he is not in the same league as many American counterparts, as he’s often made out to be. This is a very reasonable and agreeable critique of where well-meaning people have ruined it for themselves in the past decade.

[Matthew Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

To think I used to loathe him. I was utterly brainwashed by the very agenda and ideology he discusses here. If those who espouse woke nonsense took the time to read it, and, hopefully, understand it, they'd see the problem. Luckily, reality has won out. Trans women are men. Go woke, go broke. God, it's good to be back.

[Denise Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every chapter goes back to the orange twat Trump

[Jamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was almost more entertaining reading the reviews than the book itself — ranging from “more racist rubbish from this moron” to “he’s so right and speaks it like it is.” For me, the truth lies somewhere in the murky middle. Morgan makes a few interesting points, but this is really more of a fast, News of the World/Daily Mirror–style rant than any sort of in-depth, non-tabloid analysis. It’s full of sweeping generalisations and unsubstantiated assertions, but I’ll give him this — it’s a quick and oddly compelling read. Shame he never actually defines woke… though perhaps he assumes, with characteristic confidence, that everyone already knows exactly what he means.


Some illustrative excerpts
These people have had their brains fried by eight years of three very damaging medical conditions: Trump Derangement Syndrome, and two viruses – Coronavirus and the Woke Mind Virus.”

“Blair concluded: ‘The correct course for progressives on culture questions is to make a virtue of reason and moderation. To be intolerant of intolerance – saying you can disagree without denouncing. To seek unity. To eschew gesture politics and slogans. And when they’re accused of being insufficiently supportive of the causes – which is inevitable – to stand up for themselves and make it clear they’re not going to be bullied or pushed around. This will lose some votes among a minority with loud voices; but it will bind the solid but often silent centre to them.” And Morgan seemed to think this scribed Trump!

“The New York Times Daily podcast carefully used passive phrasing like ‘and there were fires that were set’ rather than simply ‘violent protesters set buildings on fire’. CNN crossed live to a reporter standing in what looked like a scene from Mad Max with a headline banner that cheerfully declared: ‘Fiery but mostly peaceful protests after police shooting’. That’s a bit like saying ‘Funeral, but most royals still alive after Queen’s death’. Protesters rewarded this pandering by attacking CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta.”

“Trump pardoned all of the 6 January rioters in one of the first acts of his second presidency. It felt like settling scores. I’d probably have agreed with the chorus of criticism from Democrats, especially about the release of prisoners who’d been violent, if Biden hadn’t shattered their moral high ground by doling out pardons to his own family.”

“Hulking, sulking, indomitable action heroes like Rocky Balboa, Dirty Harry and Die Hard’s John McClane gave way to an anxiety-ridden Spider-Man and an emasculated James Bond who just wants to sit and talk about his feelings. We used to have Bruce Willis and Jean-Claude Van Damme; now we have Timothée Chalamet and Paul Mescal. In the US, Boy Scouts are now ‘Scouting America’, lest they are imbued with ghastly boyish sins. Action Man has roller blades and a water pistol instead of military hardware.”

“Feminism itself used to be about equal rights and equality, which everybody should support and most who are sensible did, until it became a campaign to proactively kneecap men.”..some facts to back up this assertion would be nice.

“Hypocrisy and wokery are like hand and glove. Being a hypocrite is not just a familiar trait among wokies but essential to their existence. It’s the rank double standard that justifies preaching about carbon emissions while flying in a private jet, preaching about kindness while savaging detractors and preaching about the evils of milk while wearing leather shoes.”

[Joanne Hattersley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Woke Is Dead* by Piers Morgan

Few people can stir debate quite like Piers Morgan. In “Woke Is Dead: How Common Sense Triumphed in an Age of Total Madness,” he takes a victory lap over what he sees as the implosion of “woke” culture — the era of outrage, cancellation, and walking on eggshells.

It’s classic Morgan: part rant, part rallying cry, part entertainment. He argues that the original ideals of equality and kindness were hijacked by a culture obsessed with offence and self-righteousness. Now, he claims, common sense is finally back in fashion.

Love him or loathe him, Morgan writes with punch. His voice bursts off the page — confident, combative, and gleefully provocative. You can almost hear him delivering each chapter with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. He’s at his sharpest when describing his real-life clashes with celebrities and cancel culture, firing off one-liners with tabloid precision.

To his credit, Morgan makes some fair points. There’s truth in his argument that society has become too afraid to speak freely, and his plea for open discussion — disagreement without destruction — is worth hearing. Yet, subtlety isn’t his style. The book paints with broad strokes, lumping everyone remotely “woke” into the same box. It’s entertaining, but nuance rarely survives the barrage.

That said, “Woke Is Dead” is never boring. It’s fast, funny, and brimming with the kind of audacity that keeps readers hooked — even those who disagree with every word. Morgan’s genius lies in his ability to provoke thought, even through exasperation.

Ultimately, this isn’t a funeral for progress but a rant against excess. It’s Morgan doing what he does best: stirring the pot and ensuring we’re all still talking.

My verdict - “Woke is Dead” is bold, brash, and often ridiculous — but undeniably readable. Approach with an open mind, a dash of humour, and, ideally, a strong cup of tea.

@piersmorgan @piersmorganuncensored #wokeisdead #newbook #readthisnow

[Annette Poro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get it. Some of the "woke" thinking has gone too far. I also don't feel I should be categorised as an oppressor just because I'm white and I have questions about some of the issues around gender politics. But the recent debates about race, gender and so on raise serious concerns and issues which Piers fails to engage seriously with in this book. Again and again he invokes "common sense", by which he seems to mean "how Piers thinks the world really works". What constitutes "common sense" is not something on which people can agree, and it takes no account of the role of bias, conditioning or systemic and intergenerational problems. So invoking "common sense" is a very weak argument in the face of complex (often culturally based) problems in society.
I might have found the book engaging if he had explored cultural and political thinking a lot more rigorously

I did feel his points about "my truth" were interesting. That made me think about the individualistic nature of much of modern society in developed countries.

His reading of the book himself is a mistake. He races along at top speed, swallowing words and lecturing us on his views in an outraged tone. I found it tiresome and annoying.

I'm glad I listened to it though, as an alternative view to what I would usually pay attention to. But the arguments were mostly very weak.

[Gus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of Piers Morgan. That said, I watch him occasionally on YouTube, and he’s sharp, quick on his feet, and unafraid to challenge people. Whatever you think of him, he’s undeniably good at what he does.

As for the book itself, Woke Is Dead is Morgan in full attack mode. It’s part memoir, part cultural commentary, and part unapologetic takedown of what he calls the “woke mind virus.” He targets cancel culture, identity politics, climate alarmism, and the erosion of free speech.

His chapter on gender identity is especially strong. He makes a compelling case for the importance of biological reality and the dangers of silencing dissent. It’s a topic many are afraid to touch, but Morgan doesn’t flinch and in my view, he’s absolutely right to speak out.

And let’s be honest: the flood of 1 star reviews from people who clearly haven’t read the book only proves his point. Too many critics would rather shut down a voice than engage with the argument. That’s exactly the kind of intellectual cowardice he’s calling out.

If you’re tired of walking on eggshells and watching common sense get steamrolled by ideology, this book will hit the mark even if you don’t agree with everything he says.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book as a cultural documentation and also to understand a bit more about Piers Morgan’s opinions since he is such a controversial figure.

I was dissatisfied because the book doesn’t really document “woke” culture declining, but it does involve a few rants. It’s not a fact based journalism type book, it’s an opinion piece based on nothing.

I also learned that Piers stance itself is quite wishy washy. I agree with him on a few things such as his opinions on Harry and Meghan, I don’t think this is controversial at all. Piers is not a person who is trying to change society he isn’t someone who would bleed for his ideas. He just seems to be a figure who tries to insert himself in the centre of debates.

So I think the issue most people have with him, which now includes me, is that he is just a dishonest debater who argues with the same theatrics and moral grandstanding as the people he detests. He interrupts, he makes facetious points, but he’s not the edge lord he markets himself to be.

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piers Morgan is a polarising character. A man with strong opinions and always enthusiastic to share them.
Piers' book is about the rise and fall of the radical left, and what he would call a return to common sense in the Western Mindset.
I wouldn't naturally say that Piers is my cup of tea, with a reputation as being a rabid rightwing fella. That said, I like reading outside of my own comfort zone, and on occasions like this, I was appreciative of a man who was more than happy to say that he has got lots of things wrong over the years.
Piers still has strong opinions & he will continue to get things wrong, because he tends to have an "all or nothing" attitude that sometimes means he overreaches. That said, this is an interesting book that challenges the popular narrative about this guy, and shows a man who is keen for a culture where people can continue to debate things freely in public.

[Preksha Surana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is mostly just meandering thoughts where is the substance?

But I can't lie there were a odd pieces of reason such as:
- The weaponization of gender norms
- "the systemic erosion of women's rights at the alter of transgenderism" --> pretty concrete
- Selective disbelief and outrage (which is something I also agree with)
- Media manipulation
- How common sense falls prey to the fear of the 'woke brigade' (his words)

One part that I think he nails and deserves more attention is how free speech is now more threatened than before. Cancel culture and social media have made expressing opinions dangerous and if you don't align with a certain sort of ideology, you become subject to online hate, death threats, at the very least. Not everyone can categorize into one small box, and this was something he addressed very well, I believe.

There is some level of disconnect and a very HIGH level of superiority. Can't deny Piers Morgan is a twat. But nonetheless, his british humor helps him prevail.

[Translator Monkey · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star. A bit pricey for what it is, although I'm not the best judge, as I don't do a lot of shopping. The pages were single-ply, and not very absorbent. There was writing on a lot of them, but I don't believe the ink came off, thank goodness.

Not really your standard product. Even for single-ply, I expect a bit more "give" when I'm cleaning up back there; this was far thicker than most product of its kind I've used. It comes in a non-traditional form, as well - not on a roll with a continuous feed, just sheets you detach from a firm sideboard, without perforations.

Without (hopefully) getting too graphic, the smudge factor was high, and it took a lot more sheets than I expected to get relatively clean. Felt like I needed a shower after using it even one time.

Not horrible, but not great. I'll go back to my Charmin.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a much-anticipated book as I heard an interview with Piers on Radio 4 before Christmas talking about ‘Woke is Dead’, so I added it to my TBR list. It didn’t disappoint…it was insightful, very funny and he made many good points. Common sense triumphs over wokeism. However, I only gave it three stars because it felt a bit like a rant in places and there were lots of examples given to make a point, but from US culture which didn’t always resonate with me.
The book culminated in 13 life lessons for making your own luck, which were great takeaways. Broadly, these can be summarised thus: be positive, be grateful, work hard, be resilient as life is not easy for any of us, forget FOMO as no one has a perfect life, ignore life hacks, avoid hypocrisy and put your phone DOWN!
Give it a go!

[KindledEmbers (Dirk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woke Is Dead is a sharp, highly entertaining read, delivered with the same combative energy Piers Morgan brings to Uncensored. It’s funny, provocative, and unapologetically direct, making it easy to race through despite its length.

That said, long-time followers of Uncensored won’t find many surprises here — the book largely reiterates views and arguments Morgan has been making on air for years. Still, seeing them laid out in one cohesive narrative gives them extra punch, and Morgan’s wit and confidence keep it engaging throughout. Even when it treads familiar ground, it remains a lively and readable manifesto against modern “woke” culture

[Sofie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Won’t reach anyone who could benefit from it because of its antagonistic prose and is too milquetoast for those on the other side.

If Morgan had just stuck to cold hard facts and numbers and left out some of his personal spats with grifters, who anyone who is not terminally online isn’t remotely familiar with anyway, this book would have been of immeasurable value in documenting the true cost of the age of suicidal empathy of the 2015-2025s.

[Anoop Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is such a personal political choice. Am watching Piers for many years and I agree to his arguments 70-30. And the theme of this one, was very intetested for me.

2 things I couldnt bear were his over drooling whenever he talk about Trump and the over love for the royal family. If I turn a blind eye on them, I kind of liked the points put forward by him.

read at your own risk, you may or may not like what you are Reading based on where you stand on the whole Woke Charade.

[Milad Khajehali · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book reads like Piers settling a debt to President Trump. There is hardly a page where Trump’s name does not appear, often credited, explicitly or implicitly, for nearly every shift in modern American history.

Piers is best described as an apologist engaged in careful whitewashing, positioning himself as a supposed centrist above the fray. This posture mirrors his television show: performatively balanced, ultimately mediocre.

[Tracey Pearce · Rating 2 out of 5]

As i said when i read his previous book Wake Up in December 2020 I was a huge fan of Piers Morgan. After reading this book not so much I do agree on most of what he says (Controversial). I enjoyed his last book however not so much this book. He was arse licking Donald Trump in nearly every page which gets a bit boring. I am surprised that he didnt mention his favourite Royal Meghan Markle more than he did. He did mention the Royals who Harry declared racist and it was not who i expected them to be. I wont mention who they are. I read this on my library's digital service Borrowbox.

[Anthony McDermott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exactly what you'd expect from Piers here and many a topic that I fully share his views on but..... this turned out mostly to just be a desperate love letter to Donald Trump and to find new ways to crawl into his various orfices. Suprised myself by making it to the end!

[Fatima · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to finish reading this as I hate not finishing a book after I started it. However, this book summarises everything Piers has discussed on his show 'Uncensored'. I got through half of this book and had to stop. It felt like he was raising his voice and talking over me.

[Krem · Rating 1 out of 5]

just shit