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Bring Home the Revolution: How Britain Can Live the American Dream
On a switchback ride through the USA, riding pillion with America's founding fathers, Jonathan Freedland searches out the qualities that made America the land at the end of his childhood rainbow, the place his grandfather and he conspired to run off to because of its open promise and unbounded potential. Noisy, crass, greedy, riddled with crime, riven by race, obsessed by America, exporter of junk to the UK. Or is it? From Lesbianville in New Hampshire to Tent City in Arizona, from the high kitsch celebration of Liberace to the Bible Belt austerity of Iowa, from the paranoid militia of rural Montana to Florida's Condo Canyon, this is a journey to the heart of modern America -- to Normal, Illinois. On his travels Freedland reveals how Americans control of their own lives, shape their own communities and vibrantly assert their rights. And there's even a the spirit that inspires the American secret is actually our own -- a British revolutionary fervour mislaid across the Atlantic. This what has made America the diverse, freedom-loving, self-sufficient, independent icon to the the place where socialism never took hold because it is inherent in the founding vision, where capitalism at the same time has reached its apogee; where many cultures contribute to the national fabric and yet the sense of belonging to the nation and reverence for its symbols is unmatched across the globe. It's time Britain shared the time to reclaim the revolution and bring it home.
246 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Jonathan Freedland
21 books279 followersJonathan Freedland is a British journalist. He also writes thrillers under the pseudonym Sam Bourne.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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February 22, 2017A good book but a little dated now, it was written in 1998 though that's to be expected. His predictions for the future were a little off, but who could have guessed the current mess occurring was going to happen?
August 9, 2016
This is the perfect manifesto for a Great Britain I could be proud of. One where the politicians serve the people, rather than the reverse. One where success is based on merit, not birthright. One which is inclusive, truly democratic and where citizens (rather than subjects) are fully engaged in politics.
Originally written in the late 1990s, before the attacks on the World Trade Centre, the financial crash. the implosion of the Labour Party and before Donald Trump, it is nonetheless fascinating. I'd love to read an updated version (I think there was one in 2008 but a lot has happened since then.)
A number of the changes Freedland recommends the UK take from the US system have now been adopted, such as a Freedom of Information Act, Bill of Rights (in the form of the European Convention) and directly elected Mayors and Police Commissioners. Not with complete success. But that doesn't take away from the potential for a different type of politics and culture.
The book is, perhaps, guilty of wearing rose tinted glasses when looking at US politics and society. Freedland does address the downsides of his arguments but it's certainly not a balanced book. The penultimate chapter, however, with his Ten Steps to a Revolution, is very powerful and still stands up as a manifesto for change that many in this country yearn for.
Well written, easy to read and strongly argued, this is a book worth giving some time to. Out of date but still strongly relevant.
Originally written in the late 1990s, before the attacks on the World Trade Centre, the financial crash. the implosion of the Labour Party and before Donald Trump, it is nonetheless fascinating. I'd love to read an updated version (I think there was one in 2008 but a lot has happened since then.)
A number of the changes Freedland recommends the UK take from the US system have now been adopted, such as a Freedom of Information Act, Bill of Rights (in the form of the European Convention) and directly elected Mayors and Police Commissioners. Not with complete success. But that doesn't take away from the potential for a different type of politics and culture.
The book is, perhaps, guilty of wearing rose tinted glasses when looking at US politics and society. Freedland does address the downsides of his arguments but it's certainly not a balanced book. The penultimate chapter, however, with his Ten Steps to a Revolution, is very powerful and still stands up as a manifesto for change that many in this country yearn for.
Well written, easy to read and strongly argued, this is a book worth giving some time to. Out of date but still strongly relevant.
June 6, 2026
The observant will notice that a certain Keir Starmer gets mentioned in the acknowledgements. It would be fascinating to learn how far the Starmer of 1997/98 supported the central tenets of Freedland's: for decentralisation, citizen empowerment, and the curtailment of UK prime ministerial powers. Without wishing to get too political, we don't seem to have needed Freedland's case for safeguards against antiquated Monarchy-and-God first hierarchical order, suppression of citizen protest, or whipping of MPs by their effective boss. Nor does the UK's executive seem to have moved on much towards a citizen-focused or citizen-led policy agenda, a Bill of Rights, or proportional distribution of power that can ensure that if more nefarious figures take the reigns, they won't do far worse.
I found the comparisons with the US fascinating, even if my natural inclination would have been to seek comparisons with the democracies of our nearer European neighbours. What I had assumed about the US was that the dominance of small-state ideology reflected a warped theocratic right wing worldview. That may be there in part, but Freedland is fascinating on how the US is much more pluralistic precisely because powers are devolved into local states and wards. There is a Utopia for everyone, if you're happy and able to move between Utah and Pennsylvania (or even between towns in one state).
It's a polemic and I'm not entirely persuaded that the US separation of powers between Capitol, Senate, judiciary, White House and local politics is sufficient to prevent the realisation of scarier anti-democratic possibilities given more recent events. For a UK audience, however, 'Bring Home the Revolution' does carry convincing messages about the benefit of a Bill of Rights, and the benefits of a more public-serving (rather than self-serving, king-serving, or god-serving) swearing of allegiance by MPs. The causes of contemporary public disaffection with politics and politicians can be found here. Let's hope Kier Starmer was really listening all those (nearly 30) years ago...
I found the comparisons with the US fascinating, even if my natural inclination would have been to seek comparisons with the democracies of our nearer European neighbours. What I had assumed about the US was that the dominance of small-state ideology reflected a warped theocratic right wing worldview. That may be there in part, but Freedland is fascinating on how the US is much more pluralistic precisely because powers are devolved into local states and wards. There is a Utopia for everyone, if you're happy and able to move between Utah and Pennsylvania (or even between towns in one state).
It's a polemic and I'm not entirely persuaded that the US separation of powers between Capitol, Senate, judiciary, White House and local politics is sufficient to prevent the realisation of scarier anti-democratic possibilities given more recent events. For a UK audience, however, 'Bring Home the Revolution' does carry convincing messages about the benefit of a Bill of Rights, and the benefits of a more public-serving (rather than self-serving, king-serving, or god-serving) swearing of allegiance by MPs. The causes of contemporary public disaffection with politics and politicians can be found here. Let's hope Kier Starmer was really listening all those (nearly 30) years ago...
September 26, 2013
This is a good polemic against the established interests of the UK's political institutions and structure. Freedland exhorts the American way as being a natural progression of British progressivism and individualism, hence the old adage 'An American is an Englishman with freedom.'
It does seem that this book has had some effect on the ruling political classes in this country (the London Mayor, elected police commissioners and a move towards devolution for Wales and Scotland) or at least may have dovetailed with modern British political thinking.
His train of thought is of one from the libertarian wing and that must be taken into account when reading this book.
Overall he makes a pretty good case for republicanism in the UK but I think somewhat glosses over, to an extent, the less salubrious issues in American politics and ignores some of the better aspects of the Parliamentary system in Britain.
This book is also worth a read if you are studying American politics at a FE or HE institution, he pretty much gives everything you would find in a textbook but in a more readable manner
It does seem that this book has had some effect on the ruling political classes in this country (the London Mayor, elected police commissioners and a move towards devolution for Wales and Scotland) or at least may have dovetailed with modern British political thinking.
His train of thought is of one from the libertarian wing and that must be taken into account when reading this book.
Overall he makes a pretty good case for republicanism in the UK but I think somewhat glosses over, to an extent, the less salubrious issues in American politics and ignores some of the better aspects of the Parliamentary system in Britain.
This book is also worth a read if you are studying American politics at a FE or HE institution, he pretty much gives everything you would find in a textbook but in a more readable manner
February 22, 2008
The title of this book is a complete misnomer. I picked it up expecting an essay on the pros and cons of turning Britain into a Republic and possibly some suggestions as to how that would happen and what it would look like.
Instead I got chapter after chapter of in depth examination of what makes America great, and one chapter on "things the UK should think about". It's not a "case for a British Republic" at all, in fact it should be titled "Look how great America is".
Instead I got chapter after chapter of in depth examination of what makes America great, and one chapter on "things the UK should think about". It's not a "case for a British Republic" at all, in fact it should be titled "Look how great America is".
November 3, 2013
It's a while since I read this but I remember it being a compelling argument for political reform in the UK. A good read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews