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Pay Attention: Laura Kuenssberg's must-read first book on what on earth's going on in our politics
One of the i Paper's best new books to read in November 2026
'Pay Attention provides some brilliant insights into the functioning of modern politics' Telegraph
'Kuenssberg brings all [her] weight of experience to bear in spelling out just how far the abnormal is now becoming normalised in British politics . . . a serious and earnest book' Guardian
'Explores why politics since 2010 has become so fragmented and polarized, and why so hard for people to get an objective take on . . . It is very good indeed and light on the obvious' The Times
'Tests the pulse of British democracy . . . entertaining, serious and surprisingly funny' Sunday Independent
Worried? Bewildered? Had enough of the chaos? Laura Kuenssberg's unmissable first book is what you need to make sense of a confusing world.
The UK used to pride itself on being sensible, and its politics, a little bit dull. But with yet another prime minister booted out of Number 10, that reputation is in tatters. Politics has become a brutal soap opera, and our politicians all too often sucked into the drama rather than focusing on what matters to our lives.
Delving into her own experience over two decades of reporting on our politicians up close - from the shock of the financial crash to the schisms of Brexit and the revolution of social media - Laura Kuenssberg explores today's stark political truths, finding they are sometimes wilder than fiction.
With clarity, humour, authority and urgency, Kuenssberg pays attention to the forces, impulses and personalities that have brought us to this point. And as she gets beyond the drama to help us pay attention to how we got here, she reveals the most urgent truth of that it's time for politicians who represent the public, to pay more attention to us.
'Pay Attention provides some brilliant insights into the functioning of modern politics' Telegraph
'Kuenssberg brings all [her] weight of experience to bear in spelling out just how far the abnormal is now becoming normalised in British politics . . . a serious and earnest book' Guardian
'Explores why politics since 2010 has become so fragmented and polarized, and why so hard for people to get an objective take on . . . It is very good indeed and light on the obvious' The Times
'Tests the pulse of British democracy . . . entertaining, serious and surprisingly funny' Sunday Independent
Worried? Bewildered? Had enough of the chaos? Laura Kuenssberg's unmissable first book is what you need to make sense of a confusing world.
The UK used to pride itself on being sensible, and its politics, a little bit dull. But with yet another prime minister booted out of Number 10, that reputation is in tatters. Politics has become a brutal soap opera, and our politicians all too often sucked into the drama rather than focusing on what matters to our lives.
Delving into her own experience over two decades of reporting on our politicians up close - from the shock of the financial crash to the schisms of Brexit and the revolution of social media - Laura Kuenssberg explores today's stark political truths, finding they are sometimes wilder than fiction.
With clarity, humour, authority and urgency, Kuenssberg pays attention to the forces, impulses and personalities that have brought us to this point. And as she gets beyond the drama to help us pay attention to how we got here, she reveals the most urgent truth of that it's time for politicians who represent the public, to pay more attention to us.
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
November 11, 2026
As someone who follows politics closely this book didn't really have much new for me but it is a good summary of where we're at and why. It is very journalistic in that there is very little opinion or personal stance which I know is done on purpose, maybe later we'll get a more in depth autobiography which I'd love to read!
That said the book showed a part of why our system is broken and I have more respect for Kuenssberg after getting an albeit small window into her life and views.
That said the book showed a part of why our system is broken and I have more respect for Kuenssberg after getting an albeit small window into her life and views.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review