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Now We Have Your Attention: The New Politics of the People
'One of the most important and compelling books I've ever read, by one of Britain's most gifted writers' - OWEN JONES
Now We Have Your Attention makes sense of what is happening in British politics by taking a radically different perspective: the people's.
From a warehouse in Manchester to a pub in Essex, from the outskirts of Glasgow to a racecourse in Durham, Jack Shenker takes us on a journey across Britain to uncover the root causes of our current crisis - and the struggles being waged for our future.
Shenker shows how a new kind of politics - local, personal and utterly fearless - is evolving beyond the confines of Westminster. Drawing on exceptional access to grassroots movements and rebellious communities, he introduces us to the citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
'The picture that unfolds is shocking, but also inspiring, with rays of hope that a better future may be within reach' Noam Chomsky
'Shenker's elegantly written book not only describes how the calamity of Britain today was long in the making, it outlines a future about which one can reasonably feel hope' Pankaj Mishra
'The author's passion...is infectious. You have to applaud him for finding the untold stories' Observer
Now We Have Your Attention makes sense of what is happening in British politics by taking a radically different perspective: the people's.
From a warehouse in Manchester to a pub in Essex, from the outskirts of Glasgow to a racecourse in Durham, Jack Shenker takes us on a journey across Britain to uncover the root causes of our current crisis - and the struggles being waged for our future.
Shenker shows how a new kind of politics - local, personal and utterly fearless - is evolving beyond the confines of Westminster. Drawing on exceptional access to grassroots movements and rebellious communities, he introduces us to the citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
'The picture that unfolds is shocking, but also inspiring, with rays of hope that a better future may be within reach' Noam Chomsky
'Shenker's elegantly written book not only describes how the calamity of Britain today was long in the making, it outlines a future about which one can reasonably feel hope' Pankaj Mishra
'The author's passion...is infectious. You have to applaud him for finding the untold stories' Observer
304 pages, Hardcover
Published September 19, 2019
17 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 31, 2020
A very competent and precise writer/journalist. Easy reading. The book is a reportage-style snapshot of the contemporary active left, and the state of the nation more broadly. He touches on many or most of the key spots that seem most relevant in 2019. But ultimately the political message isn't particularly challenging. Its all very Sunday Supplement, Guardian venturing out of the office.
Occasionally a critical question is asked, but anything resembling a deeper analysis or even musing is missing. Though I guess that depends on your starting point. It's published by Bodley Head (Penguin) and I think they're going for a much wider audience. But there's not really anything new here for me.
On the plus side I guess he's trying to raise the profile of what resistance there is.
Occasionally a critical question is asked, but anything resembling a deeper analysis or even musing is missing. Though I guess that depends on your starting point. It's published by Bodley Head (Penguin) and I think they're going for a much wider audience. But there's not really anything new here for me.
On the plus side I guess he's trying to raise the profile of what resistance there is.
September 12, 2019
An absolute must-read for anyone who gives a shit about taking the UK to somewhere better than we currently are. This book not only seeks to dissect the situation we currently find ourselves in, but also follows our main struggles back to their beginning(s), banishing once and for all the common neoliberal/centrist narrative that 'things were fine before 2016; remember the Olympics opening ceremony?'.
Jack's compassionate writing and thorough investigations expose the worst crimes of the Conservative rule, and often of New Labour rule, but this book is more hopeful than you would think possible; Jack spends a lot of time with those who are upsetting the status quo and fighting to change the offending systems, often through unionisation and collective power.
If you look at the state of things now, and ask yourself what can be done—read this book. It will stoke your anger, show you how we've gotten here and introduce you to the people and the organisations trying to get us out.
Jack's compassionate writing and thorough investigations expose the worst crimes of the Conservative rule, and often of New Labour rule, but this book is more hopeful than you would think possible; Jack spends a lot of time with those who are upsetting the status quo and fighting to change the offending systems, often through unionisation and collective power.
If you look at the state of things now, and ask yourself what can be done—read this book. It will stoke your anger, show you how we've gotten here and introduce you to the people and the organisations trying to get us out.
January 7, 2020
In the days after the recent UK election I was feeling pretty despairing, hopeless, and struggling to make sense of what was happening when my town had voted so differently to most of the country. Thankfully @heatherparryuk came to the rescue and recommended I read Jack Shenker's Now We Have Your Attention: The New Politics of the People which really turned things around for me.
Shenker explores current British politics by leaving Westminster and focusing on its impact on the ground. He visits deprived areas like the one I grew up in where things have been in constant decline since Thatcher's reign and talks to the people there about how policies have impacted them and the messages they've received about politics (largely that poverty is the fault of immigrants rather than neoliberalism). It really helped me to understand why masses of white working class people have abandoned Labour and traditional politics more widely, and to understand some of my own family who are part of this demographic.
The book's also a really hopeful one, and for each aspect of politics Shenker considers (including housing, borders, parties, work) he highlights new ways that people are finding to resist, from precarious migrant workers organising to grassroots housing activism. The key message I took away was that as the last 40 years of neoliberal politics has changed the country, the old ways of resisting might not work, but new innovative ways pop up instead. I joined my local renters' union as soon as I finished reading!
I'd really recommend this for anyone looking for some hope, understanding or inspiration in British politics, and would love some more recommendations for political books to read this year.
Shenker explores current British politics by leaving Westminster and focusing on its impact on the ground. He visits deprived areas like the one I grew up in where things have been in constant decline since Thatcher's reign and talks to the people there about how policies have impacted them and the messages they've received about politics (largely that poverty is the fault of immigrants rather than neoliberalism). It really helped me to understand why masses of white working class people have abandoned Labour and traditional politics more widely, and to understand some of my own family who are part of this demographic.
The book's also a really hopeful one, and for each aspect of politics Shenker considers (including housing, borders, parties, work) he highlights new ways that people are finding to resist, from precarious migrant workers organising to grassroots housing activism. The key message I took away was that as the last 40 years of neoliberal politics has changed the country, the old ways of resisting might not work, but new innovative ways pop up instead. I joined my local renters' union as soon as I finished reading!
I'd really recommend this for anyone looking for some hope, understanding or inspiration in British politics, and would love some more recommendations for political books to read this year.
May 11, 2020
A very timely exploration of the left-behind of British society and how they're coming to terms (or not) with late-stage capitalism. The actors range across the spectrum, as do the politics the various people embrace.
It's such a current book, written just before the Conservatives' crushing win in the 2019 general election, that it's hard to assess some of the observations. Momentum, the left-wing insurgency within Labour, had a hand in massively improving the party's showing in 2017, and Shenker clearly outlines their goals and strengths. But even with that, Labour didn't win – and went on to lose even more severely in 2019. Perhaps it will take time to assess whether Momentum's integration of party politics and activism can be properly harnessed to win power.
There's also what feels like a curious, sharp, turn in the last chapter to include more consideration of climate change and climate activism. It's closely argued and clearly very important, and that makes it surprising that it wasn't woven more tightly inot the rest of the argument.
It's such a current book, written just before the Conservatives' crushing win in the 2019 general election, that it's hard to assess some of the observations. Momentum, the left-wing insurgency within Labour, had a hand in massively improving the party's showing in 2017, and Shenker clearly outlines their goals and strengths. But even with that, Labour didn't win – and went on to lose even more severely in 2019. Perhaps it will take time to assess whether Momentum's integration of party politics and activism can be properly harnessed to win power.
There's also what feels like a curious, sharp, turn in the last chapter to include more consideration of climate change and climate activism. It's closely argued and clearly very important, and that makes it surprising that it wasn't woven more tightly inot the rest of the argument.
October 12, 2023
Really resonates in its shirking of the typical format of modern political analyses: where usually we see lengthy diagnostics leading to wholly unconvincing, straw-clutching solutions, Shenker roots his work in the answers from the get-go, starting with progressive responses to our current challenges and working back to the root causes from there. As his acknowledgements say, to be truly radical is to make hope possible, rather than despair convincing. He's nailed that.
October 23, 2019
Extremely engaging and inspiring. Reminder that politics doesn't begin and end at Westminster
December 6, 2020
Whilst politicians and the press presents the consequences of the 2008 financial crash in abstract data, graphs, and charts; Shenker humanises the real-life struggles of real people in late-capitalist Britain, and what they are doing to fight against it. As perpetuators of inequality ourselves coming from a position of privilege, it is both our duty and responsibility to put an end to the vicious cycle of injustice, as Shenker explores through the lived experiences of people from different parts of Britain.
November 13, 2019
Radically different view on British politics, but one that sounds like the future understanding that will eventually be reached by the political mainstream. Offers some slivers of hope, while being wholly honest and realistic.
Worth a read to understand the dynamics behind this election/the tectonic plates shaping Brexit, etc.
Worth a read to understand the dynamics behind this election/the tectonic plates shaping Brexit, etc.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews