Enemies of the People

by Sam Jordison

Something has gone wrong. We're living in an age of celebratory racism, extreme inequality, uncertainty and fear. We're governed by people who claim to be populist but who seem to hate everyone. There are idiots at the wheel and we're heading for a cliff in a big red bus and no one knows how to save us.

Enemies of The People reveals who has taken us to this dizzying precipice. It provides the actual, non-alternative facts about Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Vladimir Putin and their charming friends – and also explains where they got their crazy ideas. Why did people turn so mean? How did so-called social networks like Facebook become so very anti-social? Why did anyone think it would be a good idea to privatise railways? Just how much should we fear the robots? Why is no one doing anything about Global Warming? Why is no one doing anything about Boris Johnson either?

This book explains all those vital questions and more.

Remember, though – they say history is written by the victors and fortunately, many of those currently winning can’t seem to write more than 140 characters at a time. This gives us the golden opportunity to set the record straight and snatch back the narrative. But if we’ve any chance of victory, we first need to know our enemy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2017

Reviews

[Sarah Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first for me, getting political online. There are some books that you wish you’d read earlier rather than later, and Enemies of the People is one such book. Not that it was available prior to the Brexit vote, or the electing of a reality TV star as President of the US. It seems we’re victims of lies and manipulation; this book tells us who the culprits are, plus a great deal more.

Sam Jordison doesn’t pretend objectivity and, by his own admission, wrote it quickly and in anger. On the front cover are the words “We’re all screwed and here’s who to blame”, and in his blurb he holds men responsible for the whole mess: mostly white men in a temper (not including himself, of course!).

Primarily, this is a history book written by somebody who can write “more than 140 characters at a time” and sees it as a “golden opportunity to snatch back the narrative and set the record straight”. The book does not go into great depth but is a series of snapshots of fifty people whom the author feels have had the greatest negative influence on our society. These include certain British prime ministers and US presidents, past and present; current members of parliament; deranged dictators; people on the Rich List (some skilful, some moronic); founders of religions, from the relatively sane, through to extremist sects, down to the plain screwy; royalty, with William the Conqueror thrown in for good measure, and a closing chapter dedicated to a medical charlatan/founder of a commercial radio station, who almost became governor of Kansas in the 1930s and could be seen as a metaphor for our times.

Of the fifty people mentioned, not all of them are wholly bad or lacking in areas of brilliance, but I’m hazarding a guess that a fair percentage of them suffer from narcissistic personality disorders (or have suffered, because they’re now dead). A few have meant well, but power has corrupted them, filling them with greed, or they’ve just lost their way.

As the author points out, by the time this book went into print it was probably out of date in some respects. Certainly the chapter about Jeremy Corbyn needs updating, although, unlike the author, I had no issue with the Leader of the Opposition having “sloped off to his allotment association’s annual get together while most of his cabinet were busy resigning following the Brexit vote”. But then, as a keen allotmenteer myself, I can’t think of a better way to get away from it all and clear my head.

In summary, I enjoyed this book in a perverse way. It confirmed what I already suspected about those in charge of our society, with all the spin, lies, hypocrisy, greed, manipulation, and contradiction. This should have depressed me, but I felt oddly empowered by knowing my enemy better. Sam Jordison’s writing is pacey, entertaining, easy to read, and peppered with wry wit. He comes over as very passionate about truth, justice, and the betterment of society.

I now challenge him to write a book titled “Friends of the People”…

[Jackie Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you happy with the way our current crop of politicians and their influencers are running the world? Do you believe Brexit will make Britain Great, that Trump is good for the USA? If so then this book may not be for you, unless you wish to gain a better understanding. It offers, in bite sized chunks, key facts about those who helped create the situation in which we find ourselves today.

Enemies of the People, by Sam Jordison, is divided into fifty short chapters dedicated to those who have worked tirelessly to further their personal agendas at such potentially devastating cost. These include the usual subjects – Vladimir Putin, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Nigel Farage, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump – as well as the men and women who inspired their skewed ways of thinking. There are unexpected names – Pepe the Frog, Jesus Christ, Chris Martin, Mel Gibson, Simon Cowell, Your Granny. Although dealing with weighty subjects the content is not entirely sober and serious.

I was familiar with the majority of the names but not all of the information included. This is an important point to make. Although partisan in presentation the information has been verifiably sourced and makes for interesting reading, even for someone who tries to keep up with current affairs.

I learned that there is an inheritance of ideas, cherry picked and repolished but undoubtedly affecting decision making over decades. Country-wide catastrophe means little when personal power is at stake, when there are private fortunes to be made. Who says we learn nothing from history? These people have learned plenty from their predecessors and don’t care that their actions cause untold damage to those they purport to represent.

As well as politicians there are economists, religious leaders, writers, advisers and media figures. The common thread is the impact of their actions on the general population, and how most have got away with such behaviour. Methods of manipulating public thinking are among the most valued of skills. Wider suffering is shown to be of little interest to the perpetrators.

I bought this book for my seventeen year old son who is developing his own political views. The historical perspective, accessible language and concise structure will, I hope, offer him a wider perspective than he is picking up from popular web-sites, YouTube channels and the family influenced conversations of his peers. The book is witty without being bland, angry but on point. It does not attempt to offer answers but encourages readers to pay more attention, and not just to the dead cat on the table or Kim Kardashian West’s shoes.

Intended to provide a snapshot of our times rather than a roll call of evil the author states:

“I can’t pretend to be objective. In fact, I can’t pretend to be anything other than royally cheesed off. I’ve seen the world I love torn to shreds and I wish it hadn’t happened.”

If the enemies listed here can learn from history, so too can readers. This perfectly sized stocking filler offers as good a place as any to begin the conversation.

[Braedie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really fun read. It's quick. It's informative.

Jordison introduces us to a variety of characters in politics, economics and in history that have helped bring about the current shit show we have going on here on planet earth. From populist politicians/leaders from the left and right undermining democracy with their incompetence, to economic academics that helped propel the small state, free trade era that has ruined communities in every corner of the world- this bloke covers a lot of ground! Not to mention the massive PHHAAAT KATS that run the energy companies, polluting our air and warming out planet whilst keeping us misinformed.

All in all, it's a fun read and a good introductory piece for students or anyone wanting to understand how we got into this mess. It's well referenced and I am now looking forward to read the beautiful and insightful works of Ayn Rand, Friedman and Hayek that come together to help form our current political, economic and environmental utopia!

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book both utterly fascinating and completely disturbing. It's scary to see how much power one person with little to no reason can be given and how much impact they can have on others. It's also terrifying to see that other countries in the world are also experiencing this insane white supremacy that is happening in the US. It's really disgusting.

It was fascinating to read (but, once again, disturbing) how people who lived so long ago are still influencing people today with the horrible legacies they started and left behind. And horrifying how throughout history, it appears that corruption is highly rewarded.

The book was also a quick and easy read. The author gives just enough detail about each person to disgust you without getting too in-depth to bore you. And for a nonfiction book, I found myself not wanting to put it down.

Worth a read of you want to know all the people past and present you're up against and just how much influence these terrible people have.

[Elle Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hugely informative and entertaining look at some of the worlds most influential people and how their actions have shaped the current state of affairs today. There are some very witty paragraphs within and as long as you take it all with a grain of salt, you will come away more aware of the world around you and in disbelief that fortune really does favour the bold, even if they are truly deeply awful people. A great read.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frustrating and at the same time, oddly cathartic to read this 2017 book in 2019... Definitely shared in the cynicism and dark humour dripping from these profiles. Whilst I felt that Chris Martin maybe should have escaped being in the same book as Donald Trump, I am definitely here for the notion that Mel Gibson is entirely responsible for the rise of Nationalism in Scotland and I propose we charge him with war crimes.

[William Clare · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has clearly taken a great deal of effort by the author and his collaborators. It's about as subtle and intelligent as playing whack a mole with anything or anyone to whom the author takes exception. It doesn't surprise me that he writes for the Guardian, he is as bright and understanding of the current problems the UK has as Owen Jones. Both are blessed with delusions of their own inadequacy.

[Devon Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty funny

[Maria Ní Fhlatharta · Rating 3 out of 5]

An angry rant of a book - but a well argued entertaining rant of a book.

[Ray Else · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frightening look at how poorly we've been served by certain of our world leaders. A warning alarm.

[Kieron Botting · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit of a who’s who on the authors hit list. Some interesting picks. Some assessments haven’t aged well. Can’t say I’m a fan of this style of writing.