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Braver New World: The Countries Daring to Do Things Others Won’t
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Expected 22 Sep 26'At a time when politics and government feel so broken in so many parts of the world, this is a dose of optimism amid the gloom; stunning examples of people and places where courage has led to real change for the better.' Alastair Campbell
At a time when democracies seem paralyzed by fear and populations are turning inward, award-winning journalist John Kampfner travels to ten countries confronting our shared challenges with bravery and imagination.
In Japan, he discovers inter-generational care homes ensuring dignity in later life - while Britain ducks the social care question. He visits Vienna's century-old housing projects where 60% of residents live in subsidised accommodation without stigma and communities thrive. Taiwan's health system achieves 90% patient satisfaction at a fraction of the cost of the NHS. From Moroccan solar panels in the Sahara producing enough clean energy to power two million homes to Finnish classrooms preparing children for an uncertain world that Britain's teaching-to-the-test system cannot match - Kampfner introduces us to the people making radical change happen.
These aren't utopias. But what unites them is a refusal to accept that difficult problems are unsolvable. The countries showing true innovation are often those with their backs against the wall - not wealthy nations assuming they have all the answers. Braver New World is an urgent reminder that solutions exist. The question is whether we have the courage to learn.
At a time when democracies seem paralyzed by fear and populations are turning inward, award-winning journalist John Kampfner travels to ten countries confronting our shared challenges with bravery and imagination.
In Japan, he discovers inter-generational care homes ensuring dignity in later life - while Britain ducks the social care question. He visits Vienna's century-old housing projects where 60% of residents live in subsidised accommodation without stigma and communities thrive. Taiwan's health system achieves 90% patient satisfaction at a fraction of the cost of the NHS. From Moroccan solar panels in the Sahara producing enough clean energy to power two million homes to Finnish classrooms preparing children for an uncertain world that Britain's teaching-to-the-test system cannot match - Kampfner introduces us to the people making radical change happen.
These aren't utopias. But what unites them is a refusal to accept that difficult problems are unsolvable. The countries showing true innovation are often those with their backs against the wall - not wealthy nations assuming they have all the answers. Braver New World is an urgent reminder that solutions exist. The question is whether we have the courage to learn.
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
John Kampfner
16 books68 followersJohn Kampfner is an author, commentator, broadcaster and journalist. From 2008 to 2012 he ran Index on Censorship, from 2005 to 2008 he was editor of the New Statesman, and before that he worked for the Financial Times, the BBC and the Telegraph. He is a regular pundit and presenter for all channels on politics and foreign affairs and the author of four previous books. - from publishers Allen and Unwin
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 27, 2026
In ‘Braver New World’, Kampfner walks through ten countries and explores their innovative approaches to improving social, economic, environmental and political health.
My favourite chapters were Japan (managing an ageing population), Vienna (social housing) and Finland (education systems), but all of the chapters were interesting and varied. Kampfner seamlessly compares them to the existing and historical UK structures, which again I found useful. My critique is that I wish there were some pictures, especially in relation to the eco/sustainability technologies.
Overall really enjoyed!
My favourite chapters were Japan (managing an ageing population), Vienna (social housing) and Finland (education systems), but all of the chapters were interesting and varied. Kampfner seamlessly compares them to the existing and historical UK structures, which again I found useful. My critique is that I wish there were some pictures, especially in relation to the eco/sustainability technologies.
Overall really enjoyed!
June 13, 2026
Inspiring, refreshing and informative, this book is exactly what people who are tired of the systemic failings of multiple facets of British politics are looking for. Kampfner has structured this book incredibly well. Combined with his engaging writing style, it makes for an intuitive and compelling read. Kampfner succeeds in simplifying complex systems and ideas in a way that is accessible to most readers. He vividly sets the scene in each of the countries he visits, creating a clear picture of the different systems he explores and reinforcing the hope that a better future is possible.
I particularly enjoyed that this book doesn’t simply provide a lengthy outline of the systems that exist in different countries. Instead, Kampfner personalises them by focusing on the people who benefit from these policies and those who played a role in creating them. This approach makes the information both engaging and memorable, rather than feeling like a glorified textbook.
I also appreciated that Kampfner doesn’t shy away from the complexities of these systems. His honesty about how they are evolving over time and the challenges they face reinforces the idea that these are realistic solutions rather than idealistic fantasies. I also valued his repeated emphasis on the need for leaders to be courageous, act ambitiously, and adopt a more long-term approach to change.
Overall, I found this book not only informative but genuinely inspiring. I can only hope that the ideas within it gain greater traction and influence the future of our own systems. A true five-star read 🌟.
I particularly enjoyed that this book doesn’t simply provide a lengthy outline of the systems that exist in different countries. Instead, Kampfner personalises them by focusing on the people who benefit from these policies and those who played a role in creating them. This approach makes the information both engaging and memorable, rather than feeling like a glorified textbook.
I also appreciated that Kampfner doesn’t shy away from the complexities of these systems. His honesty about how they are evolving over time and the challenges they face reinforces the idea that these are realistic solutions rather than idealistic fantasies. I also valued his repeated emphasis on the need for leaders to be courageous, act ambitiously, and adopt a more long-term approach to change.
Overall, I found this book not only informative but genuinely inspiring. I can only hope that the ideas within it gain greater traction and influence the future of our own systems. A true five-star read 🌟.
June 20, 2026
At a moment when the West seems to have run out of ideas, John Kampfner makes a simple but radical argument: the most interesting experiments in governance and public services are happening elsewhere — often in countries that most people couldn't find on a map.
Two chapters stood out for me. Estonia has rebuilt itself as a fully digital state — over 3,000 digital services available to every citizen. What makes this even more remarkable is the context: this is a country that only regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, starting from almost nothing. Reading this from Cyprus, where digitisation is still moving cautiously, one step at a time, this felt both inspiring and quietly humbling. The Estonians didn't have the luxury of incrementalism; they had to reinvent from scratch, and that constraint became their greatest asset.
Morocco was the other revelation. A monarchy, not a democracy in any conventional sense — and yet the chapter shows a country that has placed the citizen genuinely at the centre of its public policy thinking. It's an uncomfortable reminder that the link between political system and quality of governance is far more complicated than we like to believe.
Kampfner's central thesis — that innovation tends to come from countries with their backs against the wall, not comfortable incumbents — is deliberately unsettling for Western readers. Each chapter reads like a well-crafted long-form piece, grounded in reporting and people rather than abstract policy.
If the book has a weakness, it's that it occasionally feels more like a collection of case studies than a unified argument. But as an antidote to political pessimism, it more than earns its title.
Two chapters stood out for me. Estonia has rebuilt itself as a fully digital state — over 3,000 digital services available to every citizen. What makes this even more remarkable is the context: this is a country that only regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, starting from almost nothing. Reading this from Cyprus, where digitisation is still moving cautiously, one step at a time, this felt both inspiring and quietly humbling. The Estonians didn't have the luxury of incrementalism; they had to reinvent from scratch, and that constraint became their greatest asset.
Morocco was the other revelation. A monarchy, not a democracy in any conventional sense — and yet the chapter shows a country that has placed the citizen genuinely at the centre of its public policy thinking. It's an uncomfortable reminder that the link between political system and quality of governance is far more complicated than we like to believe.
Kampfner's central thesis — that innovation tends to come from countries with their backs against the wall, not comfortable incumbents — is deliberately unsettling for Western readers. Each chapter reads like a well-crafted long-form piece, grounded in reporting and people rather than abstract policy.
If the book has a weakness, it's that it occasionally feels more like a collection of case studies than a unified argument. But as an antidote to political pessimism, it more than earns its title.
June 26, 2026
Readable, well written, informative and somewhat depressing! A book of examples from around the world where key issues are tackled very differently than in the UK. Why can’t the Uk learn from these examples?
May 22, 2026
Ammirevole intento rovinato dall'autoreferenzialità.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews