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WTF?
A Times Top 10 Bestseller
'Richly argued and brilliantly written... a deeply thoughtful analysis that should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking to understand where we have gone wrong.' Vernon Bogdanor, Financial Times
As with his previous bestsellers, WHO RUNS BRITAIN? and HOW DO WE FIX THIS MESS?, in Robert Peston's WTF? he draws on his years of experience as a political, economics and business journalist to show us what has gone bad and gives us a manifesto to put at least some of it right.
Framed by two letters to his father (who died in early 2016) WTF? is Robert Peston's highly personal account of what those who have ruled us for years got so badly wrong, and what we need to do to mend the terrible fractures in our society.
With characteristic passion and clarity he looks at what must happen to prevent democracy being subverted by technocratic geniuses with the ability to manipulate social media, how and whether it is possible to make a success of leaving the EU, what the lessons should be of the appalling Grenfell Tower tragedy, whether robots can be stopped from taking our work, what can be done to staunch the widening gap between rich and poor, and how to raise living standards for all.
WTF? is a trenchant, often entertaining account of the recent past. It is also a call to action, giving hope to all of us who believe that taking back control is not only vital, but possible.
'Richly argued and brilliantly written... a deeply thoughtful analysis that should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking to understand where we have gone wrong.' Vernon Bogdanor, Financial Times
As with his previous bestsellers, WHO RUNS BRITAIN? and HOW DO WE FIX THIS MESS?, in Robert Peston's WTF? he draws on his years of experience as a political, economics and business journalist to show us what has gone bad and gives us a manifesto to put at least some of it right.
Framed by two letters to his father (who died in early 2016) WTF? is Robert Peston's highly personal account of what those who have ruled us for years got so badly wrong, and what we need to do to mend the terrible fractures in our society.
With characteristic passion and clarity he looks at what must happen to prevent democracy being subverted by technocratic geniuses with the ability to manipulate social media, how and whether it is possible to make a success of leaving the EU, what the lessons should be of the appalling Grenfell Tower tragedy, whether robots can be stopped from taking our work, what can be done to staunch the widening gap between rich and poor, and how to raise living standards for all.
WTF? is a trenchant, often entertaining account of the recent past. It is also a call to action, giving hope to all of us who believe that taking back control is not only vital, but possible.
304 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
March 17, 2019
The Whats, Whys and Hows of the Brexit Vote and beyond it.
Part autobiographical, part political, economic and social commentary prior to 2016 and its aftermath. It is a very personal book (to R.P.), in large part in the form of a letter to his recently deceased father, an economist, teacher, great influence and friend. I found this cloyingly distracting at times.
The book is balanced and a very useful commentary on events of recent years in the UK and beyond, particularly in the USA. Especially useful for me is his highlighting and comment on the serious errors of judgement (some catastrophic) made by Theresa May and others – though hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course.
Published in 2017 it felt pretty much up-to-date. Despite the mayhem (no pun intended) of events over here in recent days they are all largely predicted here.
R.P. is a clever and interesting man. As a presenter, correspondent/journalist on T.V. I have to admit to finding him quite irritating. This remained the case reading his book. His rather laddish asides did not quite work for me.
It would be difficult to question his humanity, social awareness and decency though and I don’t. His love for the Arsenal too, some may find irritating, but then I’m partial.
Apologies in advance if I recommend this to you (especially if its not your bag).
Part autobiographical, part political, economic and social commentary prior to 2016 and its aftermath. It is a very personal book (to R.P.), in large part in the form of a letter to his recently deceased father, an economist, teacher, great influence and friend. I found this cloyingly distracting at times.
The book is balanced and a very useful commentary on events of recent years in the UK and beyond, particularly in the USA. Especially useful for me is his highlighting and comment on the serious errors of judgement (some catastrophic) made by Theresa May and others – though hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course.
Published in 2017 it felt pretty much up-to-date. Despite the mayhem (no pun intended) of events over here in recent days they are all largely predicted here.
R.P. is a clever and interesting man. As a presenter, correspondent/journalist on T.V. I have to admit to finding him quite irritating. This remained the case reading his book. His rather laddish asides did not quite work for me.
It would be difficult to question his humanity, social awareness and decency though and I don’t. His love for the Arsenal too, some may find irritating, but then I’m partial.
Apologies in advance if I recommend this to you (especially if its not your bag).
December 3, 2017
There are many things and people I miss in the United Kingdom. Robert Peston is not one of them. But this is a TERRIFIC book. It is carefully and beautifully written, and quite emotional in its engagement. He offers a powerful analysis of 'public services' like education and health, and the long-lasting impact of austerity policies.
Very moving. Very frightening. If you want to understand Brexit and Trump, then this is an evocative book for your reading list.
Very moving. Very frightening. If you want to understand Brexit and Trump, then this is an evocative book for your reading list.
May 27, 2019
Excellent analysis of recent events, economic, cultural and political, that have resulted in Donald Trump as President of the USA, and the Brexit mess in the UK. (I think everyone can agree that Brexit is a mess, whether you support Leave or Remain. We can disagree on why, but it's undoubtedly been a shambles.)
I think Preston does a very fair job of analysing the reasons, and stating some hard truths: that we all-- liberal and conservative, left and right, religious and secular -- share the "blame" for the economic, cultural and political trends of the last 40 (+/-? You decide ...) years that made Trump, Brexit, the alt-right (and all the other things that keep us awake at night) possible, or even inevitable.
Peston is, by training, an economist, and some of the hard-core economic analysis made my brains leak out of my ears. But that which does not kill us makes us stronger (to quote the poster boy of an earlier manifestation of the alt-right ...), and I'm sure my understanding of the crazy times we live in are stronger for having persevered with this thoughtful take on the causes -- and possible outcomes. Peston's writing style is a good approximation of his TV persona as a pundit/interviewer for ITV News in the UK -- he sweetens the hard economics with interesting and touching references to his own family history, and how it illustrates some of the trends he is describing.
Very worth reading, even if (maybe especially if) you disagree with his take on the issues.
I think Preston does a very fair job of analysing the reasons, and stating some hard truths: that we all-- liberal and conservative, left and right, religious and secular -- share the "blame" for the economic, cultural and political trends of the last 40 (+/-? You decide ...) years that made Trump, Brexit, the alt-right (and all the other things that keep us awake at night) possible, or even inevitable.
Peston is, by training, an economist, and some of the hard-core economic analysis made my brains leak out of my ears. But that which does not kill us makes us stronger (to quote the poster boy of an earlier manifestation of the alt-right ...), and I'm sure my understanding of the crazy times we live in are stronger for having persevered with this thoughtful take on the causes -- and possible outcomes. Peston's writing style is a good approximation of his TV persona as a pundit/interviewer for ITV News in the UK -- he sweetens the hard economics with interesting and touching references to his own family history, and how it illustrates some of the trends he is describing.
Very worth reading, even if (maybe especially if) you disagree with his take on the issues.
August 12, 2018
A better title for this book could be “FUBAR” or “Why Brexit won” but
“WTF?”
is certainly more eye-catching. The content tackles three main topics:
1. an analysis of how the Brexit party managed to win, even if this so-called victory goes against the interest of the United Kingdom. BTW, the kingdom does not seem to be very united, with talks of Scotland jumping ship and Norther Ireland probably not too happy, either. The most terrifying part of this sad chronicle is the fact that the younger generations seem so eager to believe that “information” (read: “propaganda”) they find (or are fed) on social media is true. People under 40 do not watch TV or read newspapers anymore, because of the conspiracy of multinationals and the corruption of the political system – which may be true, up to a certain point. Unfortunately, they decided to “follow” questionable online leaders, for validation of their self-serving interests (the infamous “echo chamber”). This is chilling proved by the Brexit campaign, that feed simplistic messages and lies to a targeted audience
2. The second issue analysed is the dissatisfaction of the older, lower class and less educated, linked to the immigration problem, and
3. The third is the loss of jobs due to increased automation
Not even Peston seems able to provide a good answer to why we need more immigration when technology is actually destroying jobs. The jobs destroyed are of the unskilled - or minimally skilled - type; the job created by new technologies will require massive revision of the education system.
Besides, how is democracy still to be trusted as a viable government system, when people can be easily turned thanks to individually targeted manipulation?
So we go on with the rich getting richer, greedier and unwilling to share their benefits, unable to understand that their wealth is based on the exploitation of the many and that when this decadent society will collapse, they too will be dragged down.
Read it as a horror story for the financially minded. As if the situation is not bad enough, all the dry data provided fails to take into the account the inevitable irrationality of human beings. A bad situation may improve – rarely – or turn into a catastrophe, but most likely not in the direction dry data is pointing at.
PS I was surprised to read that Brexit is still obsessively debated in the UK, as in Europe it is sort of taken for granted that the UK is leaving and that we’ll make do without them. After all, it was a victory of the easily manipulated, low-class, badly educated people ... or what we call democracy....
1. an analysis of how the Brexit party managed to win, even if this so-called victory goes against the interest of the United Kingdom. BTW, the kingdom does not seem to be very united, with talks of Scotland jumping ship and Norther Ireland probably not too happy, either. The most terrifying part of this sad chronicle is the fact that the younger generations seem so eager to believe that “information” (read: “propaganda”) they find (or are fed) on social media is true. People under 40 do not watch TV or read newspapers anymore, because of the conspiracy of multinationals and the corruption of the political system – which may be true, up to a certain point. Unfortunately, they decided to “follow” questionable online leaders, for validation of their self-serving interests (the infamous “echo chamber”). This is chilling proved by the Brexit campaign, that feed simplistic messages and lies to a targeted audience
2. The second issue analysed is the dissatisfaction of the older, lower class and less educated, linked to the immigration problem, and
3. The third is the loss of jobs due to increased automation
Not even Peston seems able to provide a good answer to why we need more immigration when technology is actually destroying jobs. The jobs destroyed are of the unskilled - or minimally skilled - type; the job created by new technologies will require massive revision of the education system.
Besides, how is democracy still to be trusted as a viable government system, when people can be easily turned thanks to individually targeted manipulation?
So we go on with the rich getting richer, greedier and unwilling to share their benefits, unable to understand that their wealth is based on the exploitation of the many and that when this decadent society will collapse, they too will be dragged down.
Read it as a horror story for the financially minded. As if the situation is not bad enough, all the dry data provided fails to take into the account the inevitable irrationality of human beings. A bad situation may improve – rarely – or turn into a catastrophe, but most likely not in the direction dry data is pointing at.
PS I was surprised to read that Brexit is still obsessively debated in the UK, as in Europe it is sort of taken for granted that the UK is leaving and that we’ll make do without them. After all, it was a victory of the easily manipulated, low-class, badly educated people ... or what we call democracy....
November 30, 2017
We find ourselves at a crossroads. Peston argues correctly brexit has forced us to confront our scandalous complacently over rich/poor, old/young, london/other etc. V readable, points to radical eduction reform and other solutions. Complete omission of one of the greatest challenges of our age: climate change. This hurts his analysis as it is linked to much of the predatory capitalism that caused WTF in the first place.
July 17, 2021
I wasn’t a fan of this book, as I felt the author failed to offer anything new in an already crowded field. Peston draws on his own experiences and those of his father, but simply uses these personal experiences to frame recycled arguments and analysis which I didn’t feel was radically different from similar books out there.
December 21, 2017
This great political analysis is mainly focussed on UK but also considers the Trump win in USA and the European electoral scene. Although the author seems to be a staunch Labour supporter but has managed to produce quite a balanced view of the social faultlines faced by the British society. It seems that we are about to enter a new industrial age for which we are ill-prepared.
The book is a must-read for anyone interested in UK politics and social evolution.
The book is a must-read for anyone interested in UK politics and social evolution.
December 16, 2017
This is a really good theoretical work, outlining the present political situation along with some options of how to get out of it. Mr Peston's thoughts on the general times we live in are both supported by facts as well as well put forward. The only downside to this book is that it is immediately out of date as the author lies in a great degree on presently active political thinkers and parliament majorities -- hence reading this more than a few months from now is likely to be less satisfying, which is overall a pity as the theoretical ideas outlined in this work are well worth discussing.
September 26, 2018
The first and last chapters give an excellent emotional grounding for what can, in places, be just a touch technical- in repudiating, to some degree, over-emotion as a response to "recent times" the need to accept and analyse people's underlying concerns and problems (and the technical backing that requires) is brought to the fore. Any technical heaviness is naturally brought together with Peston's characteristic lightness, however, and his ability to convey complex topics in an accessible way makes the book thoroughly engaging to even a layperson like me. The narrative woven throughout by these two simple chapters, encapsulating the piece as a letter, collects a number of topics in focused chapters- each individually worthy of deep reflection- but together making a coherent and compelling narrative.
The deliberative style everything is delivered in, and the invitation to challenge and expand beyond the book with a positive attitude, is an highly admirable quality here. Pertaining to some deep-seated problems, some of which are more perception than reality, the piece invites us to devise solutions, even solutions which handle the perception of the problem- as an engineer this is my bread-and-butter. In doing so it is deeply political but almost entirely nonpartisan, which is an impressive feat given today's binary politics. The penultimate chapter presents some of Peston's own suggestions, and in the most unpretentious way, as a mere springboard. Some of these are interesting, some are already seemingly being considered in some form, and again the nonpartisan nature makes them available to almost any policymaker.
My take-home was roughly as follows: that sometimes democracy simply doesn't return the results you want; to not panic and retreat but neither to die on a lost hill; but to engage in building a consensus people can make peace with, and how to achieve this. This message contrasts with the anti-them politics of today and the allure of the most anti-them extreme, but Peston is a fantastic example of how a perceived techno/plutocratic elite can introspect and then engage to help solve issues which really matter to people who don't share their lifestyle. One hopes more people like he can get a good hearing.
The deliberative style everything is delivered in, and the invitation to challenge and expand beyond the book with a positive attitude, is an highly admirable quality here. Pertaining to some deep-seated problems, some of which are more perception than reality, the piece invites us to devise solutions, even solutions which handle the perception of the problem- as an engineer this is my bread-and-butter. In doing so it is deeply political but almost entirely nonpartisan, which is an impressive feat given today's binary politics. The penultimate chapter presents some of Peston's own suggestions, and in the most unpretentious way, as a mere springboard. Some of these are interesting, some are already seemingly being considered in some form, and again the nonpartisan nature makes them available to almost any policymaker.
My take-home was roughly as follows: that sometimes democracy simply doesn't return the results you want; to not panic and retreat but neither to die on a lost hill; but to engage in building a consensus people can make peace with, and how to achieve this. This message contrasts with the anti-them politics of today and the allure of the most anti-them extreme, but Peston is a fantastic example of how a perceived techno/plutocratic elite can introspect and then engage to help solve issues which really matter to people who don't share their lifestyle. One hopes more people like he can get a good hearing.
March 13, 2019
Although this is now slightly out of date (or, at least, tells an incomplete picture), it is still a good, clear summary of all the issues that led to the Brexit vote, Trump and UK general election results. Peston is knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the future of this country, which he has a very bleak outlook on.
The format in the first and last chapters as a note to his late father was different and quite touching, but it ended up having a bit of an intellectually snobbish air to it - as if they two alone in their economic and political outlook hold the keys to the success of the UK. Maybe they do, but as Peston himself says several times throughout the book, neither of them are the ones who suffer as a result of anything that has happened in this country in the recent decades.
Whilst Peston is a clear advocate for policies that help the disadvantaged and does not shy away from making bold proposals, which I admire, sometimes the tone is a little preachy. Overall, this book really made me think, question my privileges and inspire me with new ideas, but it also made me really, really depressed.
3.5 stars.
The format in the first and last chapters as a note to his late father was different and quite touching, but it ended up having a bit of an intellectually snobbish air to it - as if they two alone in their economic and political outlook hold the keys to the success of the UK. Maybe they do, but as Peston himself says several times throughout the book, neither of them are the ones who suffer as a result of anything that has happened in this country in the recent decades.
Whilst Peston is a clear advocate for policies that help the disadvantaged and does not shy away from making bold proposals, which I admire, sometimes the tone is a little preachy. Overall, this book really made me think, question my privileges and inspire me with new ideas, but it also made me really, really depressed.
3.5 stars.
March 25, 2018
This was nearly 2/5, very much so "It was OK", not a condemnation, and should really be a 2.5/5. I went into this book on a whim, not really certain what to expect. What I ended up with was a decent (at least, from my relatively uninformed viewpoint) breakdown of recent UK politics from what I'd describe as a center-left perspective. The prologue and epilogues are in a bit more lively tone than the meat of the book. I honestly almost gave up about halfway through, but figured I should stick it out (partially because I was halfway done, partially because my reading challenge is encouraging me to finish things I'm on the fence about). I was glad to see it through at the very least because the last chapter makes some very interesting suggestions about how to approach correcting wage disparity and implementing a form of Universal Basic Income, as well as other concerns. It was interesting to hear these concerns and potential solutions from a UK standpoint. This last chapter bumped it up to a rounded 3/5.
October 25, 2018
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July 17, 2018
Stupid title but some interesting points which I look forward to hearing him speak about at the Edinburgh Book Festival next month especially if he gets on to how machines/robots/AI are going to take all of our jobs away (that is only touched on in this book - a much more thorough discussion of it can be found in: Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future). Sure there are better books out there on how Brexit and Trump happened (I'm planning to try All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain's Political Class and Janesville: An American Story next) but a good taster on those subjects too.
https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-fest...
https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-fest...
July 17, 2019
Robert Peston has written the first book on the current crisis in the UK that is easy to understand. I often have the problem listening to TODAY on BBC Radio 4 in the morning of following what the economics' reporter is talking about. Not so with WTF, a superbly argued neutral book about Brexit, inequality of wealth, the underfunded NHS and schools, as well as our old friend Donald Trump.
I won't go into a lot of detail but, suffice to day, if our troubles aren't resolved quickly we're right in it. Peston is a liberal Jewish journalist who went to a state comprehensive and lives in North London. He's also a terrific political commentator.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
I won't go into a lot of detail but, suffice to day, if our troubles aren't resolved quickly we're right in it. Peston is a liberal Jewish journalist who went to a state comprehensive and lives in North London. He's also a terrific political commentator.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
June 21, 2020
Robert Peston for Prime Minister!
His North London Jewish background is so familiar to me from my own history and native place. He's my kind of political commentator, too, and in this book (bracketed by a letter to his much-loved late father) he addresses the problem of why the world has gone 'bonkers'. How come the world's most successful, wealthy democracies are throwing themselves into the arms of mad populist leaders, and voting for such lunacies as Brexit and Trump?
Peston's analysis and prescriptions sound totally like common sense; yet in the midst of all this madness which so often leaves me feeling really depressed, he somehow snatches hope, and a degree of optimism, from the jaws of despair.
The key fact is that behind the madness of those 2016 votes, lies the deep dissatisfaction of all those in our societies who feel they have been left far behind in the growing prosperity they see around them. It's this inequality of wealth, opportunity, prospects, and the fair sharing of the wealth of nations, that we need to address and radically change. It's a call to the 48% to stop trying to stop Brexit (and if we can't stop it, at least hoping it will be the unmitigated disaster we've all along said it would be), and to work as hard as we can to make it work the best it can. What's needed is some kind of 'Brexit mission' to reunite the country, and mend what's broken in our economy and politics.
As Peston says, he doesn't have all the answers, and maybe some of the answers he has are also bonkers. But we at least need to be thinking, and especially talking, about the issues he raises here.
His North London Jewish background is so familiar to me from my own history and native place. He's my kind of political commentator, too, and in this book (bracketed by a letter to his much-loved late father) he addresses the problem of why the world has gone 'bonkers'. How come the world's most successful, wealthy democracies are throwing themselves into the arms of mad populist leaders, and voting for such lunacies as Brexit and Trump?
Peston's analysis and prescriptions sound totally like common sense; yet in the midst of all this madness which so often leaves me feeling really depressed, he somehow snatches hope, and a degree of optimism, from the jaws of despair.
The key fact is that behind the madness of those 2016 votes, lies the deep dissatisfaction of all those in our societies who feel they have been left far behind in the growing prosperity they see around them. It's this inequality of wealth, opportunity, prospects, and the fair sharing of the wealth of nations, that we need to address and radically change. It's a call to the 48% to stop trying to stop Brexit (and if we can't stop it, at least hoping it will be the unmitigated disaster we've all along said it would be), and to work as hard as we can to make it work the best it can. What's needed is some kind of 'Brexit mission' to reunite the country, and mend what's broken in our economy and politics.
As Peston says, he doesn't have all the answers, and maybe some of the answers he has are also bonkers. But we at least need to be thinking, and especially talking, about the issues he raises here.
July 27, 2018
A lovely, well researched rant by Robert Peston. It's definitely a rant since the author spends a significant amount of time describing in a conversional tone the state of the world and why he feels we got here. I liked it, but then again I suspect I liked it because I share the same centre-left opinions as the author.
At no point did the author slate opposing views though, and gave a good empathy to why others would feel or vote the way they do.
A worthy read if you want to make sense of the world in 2018.
At no point did the author slate opposing views though, and gave a good empathy to why others would feel or vote the way they do.
A worthy read if you want to make sense of the world in 2018.
February 11, 2018
WTF seemed to run hot and cold throughout. Maybe it was my lack of knowledge around fiscal policy and economics, but some of these chapters were seriously dry and seemed to lack cohesion. It wasn't an easy read for me - which is strange, considering how I've enjoyed so many other books around economics.
That said, there were glimmering moments of enjoyment. For example: the analysis of May's leadership and disastrous strategy in the 2017 General Election; the data prowess of the Leave Campaign in comparison to Remain, and how they targeted voter groups through the now infamous £350 million to the NHS slogan; and the question of identity of those who voted Leave, and how it affects us a country - do we abhor or try to understand? My own political opinion since 2016 has not shifted towards Euroscepticism, but I don't believe demonising Brexiteers as being 'uneducated' etc. is doing Europhiles much good at all. We should seek to build bridges and more equitably spread the fruits of liberalism.
But then, to return to the book itself, much of this thought/analysis is already out there be it through superior books (Shipman's All Out War is often cited as the best account of Brexit in paperback form) or through 'free' and accessible journalism (not least of all through Peston's own broadcasting). Was a book really necessary?
That said, there were glimmering moments of enjoyment. For example: the analysis of May's leadership and disastrous strategy in the 2017 General Election; the data prowess of the Leave Campaign in comparison to Remain, and how they targeted voter groups through the now infamous £350 million to the NHS slogan; and the question of identity of those who voted Leave, and how it affects us a country - do we abhor or try to understand? My own political opinion since 2016 has not shifted towards Euroscepticism, but I don't believe demonising Brexiteers as being 'uneducated' etc. is doing Europhiles much good at all. We should seek to build bridges and more equitably spread the fruits of liberalism.
But then, to return to the book itself, much of this thought/analysis is already out there be it through superior books (Shipman's All Out War is often cited as the best account of Brexit in paperback form) or through 'free' and accessible journalism (not least of all through Peston's own broadcasting). Was a book really necessary?
July 29, 2018
Classic Peston. His character comes through strongly, along with a hefty dose of North London liberal angst about how on earth we got into the political and economic corner in which we are currently painted as well as some interesting views on how to get out again.
Really thought provoking.
Really thought provoking.
July 12, 2021
I got this free with my copy of Obama's A Promised Land.
Peston provides some analysis of Britain, post-Brexit vote, and post the 2017 General Election.
There is a good deal of good in this - particularly when looking at the key reasons for the rise of populism (of both left and right) and some of the potential solutions. But there is also a fair amount of technocratic centrism which is less my cup of tea...
Some of the ideas could have done with being expanded on more fully - indeed, there was some things that weren't even raised until the last chapter which could have fleshed out more.
All in all, an interesting enough read, but not one with startling revelations, and not one I'd particularly recommend you go out of your way to find.
{Also: interesting reading this in 2o21 - only 3 years since publication, but it already seems so long ago, with another election and Covid having changed the landscape so much...]
Peston provides some analysis of Britain, post-Brexit vote, and post the 2017 General Election.
There is a good deal of good in this - particularly when looking at the key reasons for the rise of populism (of both left and right) and some of the potential solutions. But there is also a fair amount of technocratic centrism which is less my cup of tea...
Some of the ideas could have done with being expanded on more fully - indeed, there was some things that weren't even raised until the last chapter which could have fleshed out more.
All in all, an interesting enough read, but not one with startling revelations, and not one I'd particularly recommend you go out of your way to find.
{Also: interesting reading this in 2o21 - only 3 years since publication, but it already seems so long ago, with another election and Covid having changed the landscape so much...]
February 15, 2018
After the first chapter - essentially a memorial letter to his father - I found this became a bit of a dull , self regarding read. Underlying sense of self entitlement - where did it go wrong ? Right there! What can we do to regain control? Begs the questions who is “we” and why do you think you have the right to have control ????
December 28, 2018
It is clear he has a Labour party outlook on matters (or at least what he deems to be the Labour party) but such insinuations can be hidden through how this is addressed to his late father, a Labour peer.
WTF acts as a reasonably insightful book on the potentialities we have in our ever-changing world. It focuses mainly on an Anglo-American point of view with the influx of identity politics such as Trump, but also Britain and the Brexit vote the country is following through with. Enabling the reader to understand the variety of different reasons these matters occurred (mainly through the campaigns use of the internet). The grave issue I find with the book's proposals is that climate change, and the risks incurred, are not once set out.
Peston makes it clear that one of the greatest ever acts of vandalism to the British National interest was brought about from May's incessant need to prove herself to the Euroskeptic right in her party. In doing so, she set out the date for leaving the EU crippling any hopes of exploiting the EU's angst about when we would actually be leaving the European Union. This is a blatant attack on the country and reinvigorates the idea of leaders playing party politics. Either way, she is a scapegoat for the Leave Campaign and their malignancies which provoked such a debate.
Furthermore, he strenuously reiterates the need for an overhaul of the current system to get in lines with the 21st Century instead of yet again becoming the "sick man" of Europe again, if, in the event, the EU becomes the United State of Europe (or in any case to be honest).
There's clarity and hope for a better future; portrayed through a clear increase in Public Spending not to be done for the short term but for the long term, as he holds the belief that we should scrap the strong need for PFI schemes fired through under Blair and replace them with the government doing it itself. This would improve monetary spending as the taxpayer would no longer have to spend such great amounts on NHS building and other ludicrous and unaffordable schemes (which have detrimental effects on the countries capacity to be autonomous). At the same time, the proffer would have enabled the government to match the amount of people coming to Britain with the available housing, transport, and public services capacity. Such a scheme may have actually prevented Brexit as it would have helped create a nation in which there is stability and equality of employment and housing.
The provisions set forth include the creation of regional banks for different areas (I struggle to see how they could possibly work) to reduce inequality amongst regions. However, I do agree with the need to break up the Treasury which was last attempted by Harold Wilson, through the Department of Economic Affairs, which acutely failed in its task. Changing, the current system and handing over the policy-making to the cabinet would enable us, as a nation, to determine how we use and distribute wealth. In addition to this, he also outlines, quite like in Utopia for Realists, the necessity for a Universal Basic Income to help the country prosper in the New Age.
It would be ridiculous to say that the current status quo is an effective means for running the country throughout the 21st century; from the way we hold elections to the huge inequalities of wealth which are likely to increase with the insue of robots taking over industries. Alongside, the growing aging population which the younger populations are reliant on supporting when they'll never see the pensions or the betterment of living they did.
It is a travesty that the younger generations will never prosper how our parents, and grandparents did. Debt hugely rising and the distinct unaffordability of housing, meaning so many will carry on living with their parents. The government, instead, paying huge subsidies for these unaffordable properties for the few who can actually afford them (9 billion spent a year on subsidising private landlords for social housing). IF HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE IS PROGRESS, THEN THIS IS THE DEATH OF PROGRESS.
WTF acts as a reasonably insightful book on the potentialities we have in our ever-changing world. It focuses mainly on an Anglo-American point of view with the influx of identity politics such as Trump, but also Britain and the Brexit vote the country is following through with. Enabling the reader to understand the variety of different reasons these matters occurred (mainly through the campaigns use of the internet). The grave issue I find with the book's proposals is that climate change, and the risks incurred, are not once set out.
Peston makes it clear that one of the greatest ever acts of vandalism to the British National interest was brought about from May's incessant need to prove herself to the Euroskeptic right in her party. In doing so, she set out the date for leaving the EU crippling any hopes of exploiting the EU's angst about when we would actually be leaving the European Union. This is a blatant attack on the country and reinvigorates the idea of leaders playing party politics. Either way, she is a scapegoat for the Leave Campaign and their malignancies which provoked such a debate.
Furthermore, he strenuously reiterates the need for an overhaul of the current system to get in lines with the 21st Century instead of yet again becoming the "sick man" of Europe again, if, in the event, the EU becomes the United State of Europe (or in any case to be honest).
There's clarity and hope for a better future; portrayed through a clear increase in Public Spending not to be done for the short term but for the long term, as he holds the belief that we should scrap the strong need for PFI schemes fired through under Blair and replace them with the government doing it itself. This would improve monetary spending as the taxpayer would no longer have to spend such great amounts on NHS building and other ludicrous and unaffordable schemes (which have detrimental effects on the countries capacity to be autonomous). At the same time, the proffer would have enabled the government to match the amount of people coming to Britain with the available housing, transport, and public services capacity. Such a scheme may have actually prevented Brexit as it would have helped create a nation in which there is stability and equality of employment and housing.
The provisions set forth include the creation of regional banks for different areas (I struggle to see how they could possibly work) to reduce inequality amongst regions. However, I do agree with the need to break up the Treasury which was last attempted by Harold Wilson, through the Department of Economic Affairs, which acutely failed in its task. Changing, the current system and handing over the policy-making to the cabinet would enable us, as a nation, to determine how we use and distribute wealth. In addition to this, he also outlines, quite like in Utopia for Realists, the necessity for a Universal Basic Income to help the country prosper in the New Age.
It would be ridiculous to say that the current status quo is an effective means for running the country throughout the 21st century; from the way we hold elections to the huge inequalities of wealth which are likely to increase with the insue of robots taking over industries. Alongside, the growing aging population which the younger populations are reliant on supporting when they'll never see the pensions or the betterment of living they did.
It is a travesty that the younger generations will never prosper how our parents, and grandparents did. Debt hugely rising and the distinct unaffordability of housing, meaning so many will carry on living with their parents. The government, instead, paying huge subsidies for these unaffordable properties for the few who can actually afford them (9 billion spent a year on subsidising private landlords for social housing). IF HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE IS PROGRESS, THEN THIS IS THE DEATH OF PROGRESS.
March 24, 2025
This book has many facts and facts are just that, they are true and I have written 'true' many times along the margin. Where this books starts to become more troubled is the determination of the facts. What does it all mean? The idea of the book is to make sense of Brexit and if you think this book hits the nail on the head as to why we voted to leave, then I'm sorry to disappoint, Peston misses the target. Sure, he gets close at times and some relevant facts are there but in the end his obvious faith and emotional (All I could think was that I wanted to hug my two boys) attachment to the EU along with his disdain for Brexiteers (poisonous) in the end gets in the way.
The book also has glaring contradictions like one survey claiming leavers have 'authoritarian views (defined as a conviction that those living in Britain (meaning non-British) should accept a common set of mores and cultural practices' - but then later states we should 'persuade migrants to steep themselves in the culture of their new home' or when Peston states 'I find it difficult to understand why anyone would vote in a particular way primarily because of how they identify themselves in a racial, national or regional sense' having previously stated 'I assumed it was a collective wind-up when almost every Asian I met said to me that they would be voting for Brexit, in part because of their concerns about what they perceived to be excessive immigration', and my personal favourite 'Average productivity of foreign owned firms is twice that of indigenous ones, why? Exporters and foreign owned firms are both likely to be exposed to global competition that would force them to up their game', isn't this an argument for Brexit? There are others.
In an attempt to be fair, Peston repeats how London Elites were ultimately blind to worsening conditions across the rest of the country however you can't help but sense Peston's own prejudices creeping through with comments like 'see their benefit payment cut further' or 'which may prove they are not racist, but may suggest a degree of, well, irrationality (or you might call them something else)' This last nudge, wink comment in brackets really showed his contempt in my opinion. And whilst acknowledging the numerous lies told by the Treasury in the run up to the referendum these apparently mean nothing compared to the £350 million a week lie. It quite frankly all whiff's a bit.
Other points of contention 'hideous rising incidents of hate', I live in a multi-racial Brexit voting city, we get on just fine, the old trope that the EU has 'brought a longer period of peace and sustained prosperity' there has been no prosperity outside London and as for peace, the EU had it's part to play in the tragedy that has befallen Ukraine and one of the more sinister comments 'repudiation of liberalism and globalisation, is only a step or so away from rejection of democracy' We had democracy long before globalisation was even a thing, so I'm not sure where this comes from and given that globalisation has led to one party states using slave labour to undercut our industries, I just don't see the connection.
All that said, I appreciate books like this exist. I like to challenge myself with other peoples opinions and despite all I've written so far, I agree with a great deal of the analysis in this book. It's certainly worth a read if this is a subject that interests you. Some of Peston's prediction's have proven to be false, but I can't hold this against him, politics is impossible to predict.
The book also has glaring contradictions like one survey claiming leavers have 'authoritarian views (defined as a conviction that those living in Britain (meaning non-British) should accept a common set of mores and cultural practices' - but then later states we should 'persuade migrants to steep themselves in the culture of their new home' or when Peston states 'I find it difficult to understand why anyone would vote in a particular way primarily because of how they identify themselves in a racial, national or regional sense' having previously stated 'I assumed it was a collective wind-up when almost every Asian I met said to me that they would be voting for Brexit, in part because of their concerns about what they perceived to be excessive immigration', and my personal favourite 'Average productivity of foreign owned firms is twice that of indigenous ones, why? Exporters and foreign owned firms are both likely to be exposed to global competition that would force them to up their game', isn't this an argument for Brexit? There are others.
In an attempt to be fair, Peston repeats how London Elites were ultimately blind to worsening conditions across the rest of the country however you can't help but sense Peston's own prejudices creeping through with comments like 'see their benefit payment cut further' or 'which may prove they are not racist, but may suggest a degree of, well, irrationality (or you might call them something else)' This last nudge, wink comment in brackets really showed his contempt in my opinion. And whilst acknowledging the numerous lies told by the Treasury in the run up to the referendum these apparently mean nothing compared to the £350 million a week lie. It quite frankly all whiff's a bit.
Other points of contention 'hideous rising incidents of hate', I live in a multi-racial Brexit voting city, we get on just fine, the old trope that the EU has 'brought a longer period of peace and sustained prosperity' there has been no prosperity outside London and as for peace, the EU had it's part to play in the tragedy that has befallen Ukraine and one of the more sinister comments 'repudiation of liberalism and globalisation, is only a step or so away from rejection of democracy' We had democracy long before globalisation was even a thing, so I'm not sure where this comes from and given that globalisation has led to one party states using slave labour to undercut our industries, I just don't see the connection.
All that said, I appreciate books like this exist. I like to challenge myself with other peoples opinions and despite all I've written so far, I agree with a great deal of the analysis in this book. It's certainly worth a read if this is a subject that interests you. Some of Peston's prediction's have proven to be false, but I can't hold this against him, politics is impossible to predict.
January 7, 2020
This book has been resting on my shelf unread almost since the time of its publication, soon after the Brexit referendum of June 2016. I thought it was time to read it now seeing as we were just months away from actually leaving the EU, and having just had an astonishing result in the recent general election, to say nothing of all the other troubles in the world. So, really, I ask, what is going on?, or WTF? as this book’s title would have it.
Peston writes a good book. I’d say writing is his forte despite telly and radio being his media of prominence. By his own admission, his vocal style, his manner of speech, takes a bit of getting used to. On paper, his voice is clear and fluid.
There is a danger for me in reading this book. Much of what he says confirms my opinions about what, and why, things have happened around Brexit and Trump’s presidential election in the USA, and much of Peston’s opinions and rationale I’m in full agreement with.
But agreement isn’t what our shaky opinions need. They need to be challenged, then it invites a battle of reason; then you decide whether you’re right or wrong, or mostly right or wrong. At least you should be more informed as a result.
This understanding gives me a problem when grading this book for review: should I give it four stars? (not five because it has a glaring flaw, see below). Or should I give it a more cautious three stars, not wanting to mislead others through being misled myself by so much validated opinion?
I did think Peston was reasonably fair in his analysis, giving equal considerations to different sides of the fence. Clearly he is slightly left leaning but professionally neutral. His analysis is pretty much rational, the research pretty thorough; I feel he put the meat of reliable data onto the bones of my poorly informed views.
The flaw in the book is the penultimate chapter where he attempts to suggest solutions to the UK’s problems. I think this is a follow on from his previous book on how we fix this mess, which was okay for that book but here, confined within one short chapter, it’s just too superficial and out of place. The preceding chapters showed Peston as a fine analyst, which he is, but as a policy wonk he is just like the man in the pub.
For example, his few paragraphs on tax reform for “self-employed” workers conflates all non-employee workers from white van man, to tradespeople, to those freelancers using service companies, and all those “forced” to work the “gig economy”, some under “zero-hour” contracts. These are not all the same. Some are long established ways of working and contribute millions to GDP; some, like zero-hour contracts, are very new and exploitative and, in most of the EU are unlawful. The suggestion that it would be fairer to tax them, and by extension everybody, all the same, simply to raise more treasury revenue for public investment, is to ignore private business needs and personal lifestyle choices for many, to say nothing of GDP.
Of course there are problems with employment policy but tax is not a solution on its own. I feel the book needed more space than a few paragraphs to explore this, and each of the other oversimplified solutions given in this chapter.
So what to give it out of five? I think it deserves four stars - it is really good on the whole and worthwhile - but read with a half critical and half open mind.
Peston writes a good book. I’d say writing is his forte despite telly and radio being his media of prominence. By his own admission, his vocal style, his manner of speech, takes a bit of getting used to. On paper, his voice is clear and fluid.
There is a danger for me in reading this book. Much of what he says confirms my opinions about what, and why, things have happened around Brexit and Trump’s presidential election in the USA, and much of Peston’s opinions and rationale I’m in full agreement with.
But agreement isn’t what our shaky opinions need. They need to be challenged, then it invites a battle of reason; then you decide whether you’re right or wrong, or mostly right or wrong. At least you should be more informed as a result.
This understanding gives me a problem when grading this book for review: should I give it four stars? (not five because it has a glaring flaw, see below). Or should I give it a more cautious three stars, not wanting to mislead others through being misled myself by so much validated opinion?
I did think Peston was reasonably fair in his analysis, giving equal considerations to different sides of the fence. Clearly he is slightly left leaning but professionally neutral. His analysis is pretty much rational, the research pretty thorough; I feel he put the meat of reliable data onto the bones of my poorly informed views.
The flaw in the book is the penultimate chapter where he attempts to suggest solutions to the UK’s problems. I think this is a follow on from his previous book on how we fix this mess, which was okay for that book but here, confined within one short chapter, it’s just too superficial and out of place. The preceding chapters showed Peston as a fine analyst, which he is, but as a policy wonk he is just like the man in the pub.
For example, his few paragraphs on tax reform for “self-employed” workers conflates all non-employee workers from white van man, to tradespeople, to those freelancers using service companies, and all those “forced” to work the “gig economy”, some under “zero-hour” contracts. These are not all the same. Some are long established ways of working and contribute millions to GDP; some, like zero-hour contracts, are very new and exploitative and, in most of the EU are unlawful. The suggestion that it would be fairer to tax them, and by extension everybody, all the same, simply to raise more treasury revenue for public investment, is to ignore private business needs and personal lifestyle choices for many, to say nothing of GDP.
Of course there are problems with employment policy but tax is not a solution on its own. I feel the book needed more space than a few paragraphs to explore this, and each of the other oversimplified solutions given in this chapter.
So what to give it out of five? I think it deserves four stars - it is really good on the whole and worthwhile - but read with a half critical and half open mind.
October 17, 2022
Thought-provoking, for sure. I didn't know how I was going to find this read, still not certain actually. The questions presented by Robert Peston will make you feel a little numb, especially if like me you've lived these last six years intermingling an emotional homelife with children with constant upset from reminders about what is going on in the world politically.
My twins were born in 2016 and I've a strong memory of being awake in the middle of the night, breastfeeding one and then the other, watching the news about Brexit. I'm almost certain a swathe of post-natal depression hit me at that point and a lot of what followed in the world over the following years alongside the challenging care for my babies (not to mention my two older boys!) compounded the feeling of futility and exasperation about the future.
Peston's questions are:
What have we done?
Why did it happen?
How do we take back control?
My reading of this book has prompted reflection but also frustration and despair. With his journalist's background and style, Peston includes factual information with a personal edge. He uses a framed structure in which he offers his opinions and thoughts of the current state of affairs through a personal letter to his late father, who died in April 2016.
There is a great deal in here about thinking in Britain, Europe and America and I've found the comparisons of how each functions politically and socially to be most interesting. We are very different and our histories have determined very different decisions about public funding, governmental choices, civil society plans and so on. However, the greatest point Peston makes is that within each of these places, there are just as many opposing ways of thinking that are still misunderstood and in need of careful acknowledgement.
Peston's view is a very patriotic British one, primarily arguing for the value and worth of the NHS. He tells the emotional story of how his father 'died in a great NHS hospital that was operating at dangerously close to full capacity.' He praises the doctors and staff, using adjectives like: diligent, hard-working, magnificent and explains that his father broke his heart with his display of 'selflessness, humour and rationality...great British virtues,' at the end.
Peston's disparaging comments about political persons in the world is fantastic. You'll have to read this to catch the glimpses of humour about British and world politics. It's a nervous humour, but it's still there and we probably should laugh, to stave off the crying!
The focus and repetition in this book of how fragile the world is now, not just in terms of political troubles in Britain, Europe, America and across the world, but also in terms of preparing for what is coming next on all levels (environment, digital tech and algorithms, governments, finance, health and medical provision, education and much more) was overwhelming for me.
I cannot wait to read a much lighter fictional novel after this one!
I didn't approve of or like the title, but it's probably the only question that covers it 🤷♂️.
WTF? What now?
review by Christina Francis-Gilbert
My twins were born in 2016 and I've a strong memory of being awake in the middle of the night, breastfeeding one and then the other, watching the news about Brexit. I'm almost certain a swathe of post-natal depression hit me at that point and a lot of what followed in the world over the following years alongside the challenging care for my babies (not to mention my two older boys!) compounded the feeling of futility and exasperation about the future.
Peston's questions are:
What have we done?
Why did it happen?
How do we take back control?
My reading of this book has prompted reflection but also frustration and despair. With his journalist's background and style, Peston includes factual information with a personal edge. He uses a framed structure in which he offers his opinions and thoughts of the current state of affairs through a personal letter to his late father, who died in April 2016.
There is a great deal in here about thinking in Britain, Europe and America and I've found the comparisons of how each functions politically and socially to be most interesting. We are very different and our histories have determined very different decisions about public funding, governmental choices, civil society plans and so on. However, the greatest point Peston makes is that within each of these places, there are just as many opposing ways of thinking that are still misunderstood and in need of careful acknowledgement.
Peston's view is a very patriotic British one, primarily arguing for the value and worth of the NHS. He tells the emotional story of how his father 'died in a great NHS hospital that was operating at dangerously close to full capacity.' He praises the doctors and staff, using adjectives like: diligent, hard-working, magnificent and explains that his father broke his heart with his display of 'selflessness, humour and rationality...great British virtues,' at the end.
Peston's disparaging comments about political persons in the world is fantastic. You'll have to read this to catch the glimpses of humour about British and world politics. It's a nervous humour, but it's still there and we probably should laugh, to stave off the crying!
The focus and repetition in this book of how fragile the world is now, not just in terms of political troubles in Britain, Europe, America and across the world, but also in terms of preparing for what is coming next on all levels (environment, digital tech and algorithms, governments, finance, health and medical provision, education and much more) was overwhelming for me.
I cannot wait to read a much lighter fictional novel after this one!
I didn't approve of or like the title, but it's probably the only question that covers it 🤷♂️.
WTF? What now?
review by Christina Francis-Gilbert
May 18, 2020
I found this interesting, and I definitely appreciated the more personal input from Peston compared to his understandably more neutral tone on TV. But I'm still not quite sure what this book was actually about, beyond 'modern politics', and his conclusion didn't have much impact.
Aside from the opening and closing chapters written as letters to his Dad (which I was not a fan of) Peston looked at various parts of modern politics quite broadly, from the media, to inequality, and legitimate concerns about immigration. Although he never fully nails his colours to the mast, Peston appears to be more left wing than I expected, and he is especially critical about a lack of social mobility while looking most longingly at Sweden's version of society. He is relatively critical of May and Corbyn in different respects, and I quite liked reading the opinions of someone well-connected in serious politics.
A lot of the book was also about economics, and I thought one early chapter was too figures-heavy, but on the whole it was easy to read and follow. A frequent theme was that monetary policy is knowingly widening the gap between those with valuable assets and those without. He also posited that Gordon Brown made an error in following fiscal conservatism early on and made a rod for his own back, without acknowledging that a more spendthrift stance might not have been accepted.
He also discussed the changing nature of the media, in which the most revealing anecdote was a press release from Vote Leave that made stuff up about Peston. He only rhetorically asked whether Cummings was behind it, but it certainly puts "no 10 sources" quotes of today into perspective. But a lot of the discussion about AI and future employment prospects, or the news that generates clicks rather than producing informed insight, has been covered extensively elsewhere, as has the ludicrous nature of Donald Trump. Peston covered many aspects of modern society, but I didn't think that much of it was novel, and the conclusion of suggested policies felt a bit rushed. This was not a book that needed to justify a call to action at the end, but I'm not sure whether the policy ideas that skated over possible side-effects were necessary at all.
I didn't get bored when reading any of this, and Peston writes well, but I'm still not sure what the aim of this book was. If it was to outline his idea of a better society, he didn't work hard enough to support his conclusion, and if it was to offer a perspective on society, the comment pages of the Guardian have been churning out similar pieces on a daily basis. The bits I found most interesting were the personal experiences and asides, although I thought he was far too forgiving for those against immigration - studies show schools and GP services are not too stretched by immigrants, despite this being listed as a fair concern here.
Aside from the opening and closing chapters written as letters to his Dad (which I was not a fan of) Peston looked at various parts of modern politics quite broadly, from the media, to inequality, and legitimate concerns about immigration. Although he never fully nails his colours to the mast, Peston appears to be more left wing than I expected, and he is especially critical about a lack of social mobility while looking most longingly at Sweden's version of society. He is relatively critical of May and Corbyn in different respects, and I quite liked reading the opinions of someone well-connected in serious politics.
A lot of the book was also about economics, and I thought one early chapter was too figures-heavy, but on the whole it was easy to read and follow. A frequent theme was that monetary policy is knowingly widening the gap between those with valuable assets and those without. He also posited that Gordon Brown made an error in following fiscal conservatism early on and made a rod for his own back, without acknowledging that a more spendthrift stance might not have been accepted.
He also discussed the changing nature of the media, in which the most revealing anecdote was a press release from Vote Leave that made stuff up about Peston. He only rhetorically asked whether Cummings was behind it, but it certainly puts "no 10 sources" quotes of today into perspective. But a lot of the discussion about AI and future employment prospects, or the news that generates clicks rather than producing informed insight, has been covered extensively elsewhere, as has the ludicrous nature of Donald Trump. Peston covered many aspects of modern society, but I didn't think that much of it was novel, and the conclusion of suggested policies felt a bit rushed. This was not a book that needed to justify a call to action at the end, but I'm not sure whether the policy ideas that skated over possible side-effects were necessary at all.
I didn't get bored when reading any of this, and Peston writes well, but I'm still not sure what the aim of this book was. If it was to outline his idea of a better society, he didn't work hard enough to support his conclusion, and if it was to offer a perspective on society, the comment pages of the Guardian have been churning out similar pieces on a daily basis. The bits I found most interesting were the personal experiences and asides, although I thought he was far too forgiving for those against immigration - studies show schools and GP services are not too stretched by immigrants, despite this being listed as a fair concern here.
October 14, 2022
This was an excellent read , Robert Peston's easy manner of writing making the chapters flow easily and fluidly.
This book was written in 2017 just after the unpredictable general election of that year and reading it felt akin to being a visitor from the future arriving at the author's shoulder as he wrote it. This did not in any way lessen the interest in, or relevance of, the book but there were some subjects that time had overtaken (understandably)
There is a personal element to this work as both the first and final chapters are addressed as a letter to Robert Peston's late, and obviously much loved father, this brings a warmth to the work that makes it more than just a dry political / economics work.
The core of this book is the departure of the UK from the EU following the referendum of 2016. The author sets out his personal view that this is a grave error but, unlike many, seeks to analyse and understand the reasons for the majority vote in favour of leaving that was delivered that fevered June day.
This book contains one of the best and most accessible explanations of why the UK has suffered from low productivity for over a decade now and why this matters and why this can be seen as a contributing factor to the success of the Leave vote.
Unlike many authors Peston also suggests solutions to put UK 2017 on a better footing and reduce the damaging inequality to be found in our country then and now. He makes a compelling case for why the Government should and must borrow to fund infrastructure improvements that would improve life for those people in regions where living standards have stagnated and even deteriorated over the last 15 years. Regional investment banks, the boosting of the education system, a wealth levy and a regulatory body to protect employees and individuals from exploitation by employers. All good gritty and detailed proposals.
This book inhabits a world where Theresa May is still the PM of the UK, Covid had not yet emerged and , indeed , the UK had not actually yet left the EU. Considering how well this book resonates despite the upheaval we have experienced in those five short years is a testimony to its merits.
This book was written in 2017 just after the unpredictable general election of that year and reading it felt akin to being a visitor from the future arriving at the author's shoulder as he wrote it. This did not in any way lessen the interest in, or relevance of, the book but there were some subjects that time had overtaken (understandably)
There is a personal element to this work as both the first and final chapters are addressed as a letter to Robert Peston's late, and obviously much loved father, this brings a warmth to the work that makes it more than just a dry political / economics work.
The core of this book is the departure of the UK from the EU following the referendum of 2016. The author sets out his personal view that this is a grave error but, unlike many, seeks to analyse and understand the reasons for the majority vote in favour of leaving that was delivered that fevered June day.
This book contains one of the best and most accessible explanations of why the UK has suffered from low productivity for over a decade now and why this matters and why this can be seen as a contributing factor to the success of the Leave vote.
Unlike many authors Peston also suggests solutions to put UK 2017 on a better footing and reduce the damaging inequality to be found in our country then and now. He makes a compelling case for why the Government should and must borrow to fund infrastructure improvements that would improve life for those people in regions where living standards have stagnated and even deteriorated over the last 15 years. Regional investment banks, the boosting of the education system, a wealth levy and a regulatory body to protect employees and individuals from exploitation by employers. All good gritty and detailed proposals.
This book inhabits a world where Theresa May is still the PM of the UK, Covid had not yet emerged and , indeed , the UK had not actually yet left the EU. Considering how well this book resonates despite the upheaval we have experienced in those five short years is a testimony to its merits.
February 26, 2018
A good analysis and some solid suggestions on how to move forward from the passionate and intelligent Peston. I listened to this on audio book so the fact that it is narrated by Robert gives it a real immediacy and a real animation in the delivery which seems heart felt. Of course this book focuses on Brexit and a wee bit on Trump but really just looking at the commonalities between both popular movements that made the result happen.
The analysis of what caused Brexit and indeed why many cozy London political journalists didn't see it coming was I think the best part of this book and Peston is refreshingly honest in his inclusion of himself in that group.
It gets onto slightly shakier ground when looking forward and while he puts forward a solid case there is unfortunately no political party that would take it forward. Peston is on twitter so he will understand when I say it is in many ways a very long tweet! Albeit it's a well reasoned approach some of which I like, some of which I think is tinkering at the edges still and not radical enough but at least he is seeking to influence.
This book does come with one significant caveat - throughout this book and, unhelpfully in my opinion, Peston makes the case from a purely UK perspective he doesn't ignore the issues of Scotland or Northern Ireland but he unfortunately does regard them as issues that can be fixed if only we can resolve the issue with Westminster and Brexit. He therefore avoids one of the main issues affecting our democracy which is that Westminster is broken and needs fundamental reform!
But of course the book is about Brexit and avoiding Brexit breaking up his "beloved" UK so it does come with an agenda and a viewpoint that ironically remains firmly focussed in the Westminster, UK political bubble despite I think it's best intentions.
The analysis of what caused Brexit and indeed why many cozy London political journalists didn't see it coming was I think the best part of this book and Peston is refreshingly honest in his inclusion of himself in that group.
It gets onto slightly shakier ground when looking forward and while he puts forward a solid case there is unfortunately no political party that would take it forward. Peston is on twitter so he will understand when I say it is in many ways a very long tweet! Albeit it's a well reasoned approach some of which I like, some of which I think is tinkering at the edges still and not radical enough but at least he is seeking to influence.
This book does come with one significant caveat - throughout this book and, unhelpfully in my opinion, Peston makes the case from a purely UK perspective he doesn't ignore the issues of Scotland or Northern Ireland but he unfortunately does regard them as issues that can be fixed if only we can resolve the issue with Westminster and Brexit. He therefore avoids one of the main issues affecting our democracy which is that Westminster is broken and needs fundamental reform!
But of course the book is about Brexit and avoiding Brexit breaking up his "beloved" UK so it does come with an agenda and a viewpoint that ironically remains firmly focussed in the Westminster, UK political bubble despite I think it's best intentions.
December 29, 2018
Drawing on his considerable experience and knowledge as a leading economics journalist over several decades Peston's book ranges widely from being a book about Brexit, Trump and the populist challenge to Western liberal democracies to being an analysis of the failures of neo-liberal capitalism both in the UK and generally. There are also penetrating insights and myth-busting facts about recent British economic policies.
It's a book written by an economist who knows that understanding the economics is not enough but yet also essential.
It's written as a personal response to the shock of the Brexit vote. Peston describes the salutary effect the outcome of the referendum had upon him, breaking open his cocoon of comfortable lack of awareness of the life and challenges of at least half of the British population.
I finished the book with a sense that here is an economist breaking out of the standard economic theories and reaching for other ways of framing and understanding the situation which the British and particularly the English now find themselves in, culturally and psychologically.
It may be because Peston cannot help but bring an economist's perspective that there are some blind spots in the discussion. I'm thinking of the lack of real engagement with climate change and environmental issues despite a section on technological change for example.
I think a subtitle to a book with a title like this would be helpful .It might bring a wider readership which is desirable since this is certainly a valuable contribution to an urgent debate which we need to have in Britain.
It's a book written by an economist who knows that understanding the economics is not enough but yet also essential.
It's written as a personal response to the shock of the Brexit vote. Peston describes the salutary effect the outcome of the referendum had upon him, breaking open his cocoon of comfortable lack of awareness of the life and challenges of at least half of the British population.
I finished the book with a sense that here is an economist breaking out of the standard economic theories and reaching for other ways of framing and understanding the situation which the British and particularly the English now find themselves in, culturally and psychologically.
It may be because Peston cannot help but bring an economist's perspective that there are some blind spots in the discussion. I'm thinking of the lack of real engagement with climate change and environmental issues despite a section on technological change for example.
I think a subtitle to a book with a title like this would be helpful .It might bring a wider readership which is desirable since this is certainly a valuable contribution to an urgent debate which we need to have in Britain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2019
A reasonable analysis of the Brexit vote and the key driving factors that led to the result. It is a lot more balanced than most other accounts, avoiding rhetoric and resisting condescension, as Peston attempts to uncover the underlying causes of why people chose to vote leave, and the fundamental class divides that exist in today's society. However I don't think it really got to the heart of some of the key issues around identity and immigration.
It also touches on a few of the future challenges that society will face. The main ones being: the impact of social media on democracy and how this was used to influence the Brexit vote; the impact of robots in the workplace and what this will mean to the number of unskilled jobs, including his suggestions of how education should change to meet the different skills demands of the future. It oddly leaves out climate change completely, which will surely have a large impact in the coming years. And there is little on the changing nature of Europe and the impact of populism affecting other countries in the block.
The book briefly considers Trump and Corbyn but not in any great depth. It finishes with several of his own suggestions for a more balanced workplace and what could be done to reduce inequality in society.
The book wasn't altogether cohesive and as a result doesn't grip the reader. A lot of the Brexit material will surely be out of date very soon, the robotics section although interesting was brief and didn't fit with the rest of the book.
It also touches on a few of the future challenges that society will face. The main ones being: the impact of social media on democracy and how this was used to influence the Brexit vote; the impact of robots in the workplace and what this will mean to the number of unskilled jobs, including his suggestions of how education should change to meet the different skills demands of the future. It oddly leaves out climate change completely, which will surely have a large impact in the coming years. And there is little on the changing nature of Europe and the impact of populism affecting other countries in the block.
The book briefly considers Trump and Corbyn but not in any great depth. It finishes with several of his own suggestions for a more balanced workplace and what could be done to reduce inequality in society.
The book wasn't altogether cohesive and as a result doesn't grip the reader. A lot of the Brexit material will surely be out of date very soon, the robotics section although interesting was brief and didn't fit with the rest of the book.
April 8, 2019
A good look at the run-up to and consequences of Trump, Brexit and the snap UK election, this is both frustratingly even-handed (frustrating inasmuch as outright polemic confirms us in our own furies, and this is absolutely not that) and of course because of the speed and absurdity with which the Brexit process has...not exactly moved on, but at least moved over the last two years, somewhat frustratingly behind the times. But it's also extremely well-written, aware of the author's own biases and corrected for them, and comes with several good ideas. Peston identifies strands of 'metropolitan elite' behaviour and governance in the years before Brexit that equate to the political establishment missing the mark of a groundswell of frustration at the halting of social mobility and the benefits of EU membership not being felt in economically deprived regions. He has an interesting, bright idea for devolved central banks (a Scottish central bank, a Welsh central bank, a North East central bank etc), to drive investment and opportunity across the country and stop the London 'elite' FEELING like such an 'elite,' spreading the benefits of economic investment and opportunity across the country. And he's perhaps understandably most convincing on the rise of social media journalism in what he calls 'the age of emotion,' which allows for the skewing of large numbers of minds, arguably without sufficient old-style fact-checking, meaning what used to be journalism is increasingly geared to become opinion pieces to chase the clicks, the advertising and the money - especially when the ideas of 'fake news' and 'alternative facts' are trumpeted (yes, I went there) by the President of the USA.
Written in 2017, Peston's tone is too defeatist for me, ultimately - he claims the only real rationalist course is to 'make the best of Brexit,' an argument I've heard from a friend too, and which to me equates to making the best out of a black hole or a nuclear warhead in the face. But then, this is what I mean about it necessarily feeling behind the times - neither he nor any of us could really have predicted the KIND of two years we've had since then. It'd be interesting to read his NEXT book. But then, who'd be foolish enough to finish a new Brexit book in the current climate, when each new day brings a whole new level of historic, almost unbelievable 'WTF'-worthy action. Once the dust of the economic atom bomb has settled, I'll definitely pick up his post-Brexit analysis. Till then, this is a concise, policy-wonkish read that allows for real concerns on both sides, and if it has a dose of 'A plague on both your houses' about it, it at least describes the plague properly, and gives a few pointers as to both a cure and a preventative regime for further outbreaks. One I'd recommend.
Written in 2017, Peston's tone is too defeatist for me, ultimately - he claims the only real rationalist course is to 'make the best of Brexit,' an argument I've heard from a friend too, and which to me equates to making the best out of a black hole or a nuclear warhead in the face. But then, this is what I mean about it necessarily feeling behind the times - neither he nor any of us could really have predicted the KIND of two years we've had since then. It'd be interesting to read his NEXT book. But then, who'd be foolish enough to finish a new Brexit book in the current climate, when each new day brings a whole new level of historic, almost unbelievable 'WTF'-worthy action. Once the dust of the economic atom bomb has settled, I'll definitely pick up his post-Brexit analysis. Till then, this is a concise, policy-wonkish read that allows for real concerns on both sides, and if it has a dose of 'A plague on both your houses' about it, it at least describes the plague properly, and gives a few pointers as to both a cure and a preventative regime for further outbreaks. One I'd recommend.
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