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The Secret Political Adviser: The Unredacted Files of the Man in the Room Next Door
This hilarious journal contains satirical advice to politicians ranging from Boris Johnson to Kim Jong-un, from The Man in the Room Next Door
Just who is the secret political adviser calling himself The Man in the Room Next Door? No one knows. We don’t even know his name.
But now the lid is about to be blown clean off, because the secret files of the world’s most influential* political media adviser are published in this book. Packed with letters, memos, texts, tweets, emails, journal entries, leaked documents and crude doodles, these pages will reveal who The Man in the Room Next Door is and, more importantly, his thoughts on those who employ his services, including Donald ‘dangerous puffin’ Trump, Boris ‘posh motorboat’ Johnson and some of their least competent colleagues.
This book is the evidence that anyone can be a world leader. Just as long as they’re wearing the right earpiece.
*fictional
Just who is the secret political adviser calling himself The Man in the Room Next Door? No one knows. We don’t even know his name.
But now the lid is about to be blown clean off, because the secret files of the world’s most influential* political media adviser are published in this book. Packed with letters, memos, texts, tweets, emails, journal entries, leaked documents and crude doodles, these pages will reveal who The Man in the Room Next Door is and, more importantly, his thoughts on those who employ his services, including Donald ‘dangerous puffin’ Trump, Boris ‘posh motorboat’ Johnson and some of their least competent colleagues.
This book is the evidence that anyone can be a world leader. Just as long as they’re wearing the right earpiece.
*fictional
- GenresPoliticsNonfictionHumor
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2020
39 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 29, 2020
Cleverly presented as leaked background material which shines a light on Michael Spicer's shady online alter-ego, The Man Next Door, this is a pretty readable addition for the fans.
Creating a nebulous company allegedly pulling the strings behind world leaders as way of explaining Spicer's presence is a neat device, and the text and email chains add to what we already know.
The problem is, the online videos are so good, so perfect in their delivery, putdowns and nihilism, the surrounding text doesn't show as well. It's nice and has 'Christmas gift' stamped all over it, but I wonder if you had never seen the clips, whether you'd get how great Spicer's work is?
Creating a nebulous company allegedly pulling the strings behind world leaders as way of explaining Spicer's presence is a neat device, and the text and email chains add to what we already know.
The problem is, the online videos are so good, so perfect in their delivery, putdowns and nihilism, the surrounding text doesn't show as well. It's nice and has 'Christmas gift' stamped all over it, but I wonder if you had never seen the clips, whether you'd get how great Spicer's work is?
October 4, 2020
Perhaps unsurprisingly, does not work as well in book form, but definitely a must-read for any fan of "Room Next Door". Very enjoyable.
August 11, 2022
Funny but painfully true
Read this and alternate between giggling and squirming, but do read it. You may find it alters your view of politics - or confirms it
Read this and alternate between giggling and squirming, but do read it. You may find it alters your view of politics - or confirms it
October 28, 2020
If you've enjoyed any of the short videos Spicer has shared on social media or made for the Late Late Show, you're sure to enjoy this book. Laugh out loud funny. His specialty continues to be inventive insults without resorting to profanity - brilliant!
February 3, 2024
Chuckled, sniggered, laughed out loud on many occasions until my sides ached! This is outrageously funny, the best political satire I have ever read. How on earth did Michael Spicer get away with this?! So many politicians named and lampooned mercilessly.
A hard drive was sent to the offices of the publisher Canongate (all part of the spoof) containing emails, texts, journal entries, social media messages, internal memos, phone transcripts (one bloody hilarious one between Clinton and Blair), and various other pieces of classified intel all written by the same man over a four year period. In all correspondence he is known simply as 'M', a special adviser employed by a covert organisation to guide western politicians and other public figures through moments of crisis and upheaval. His thoughts on those who employ his services include Donald 'dangerous puffin' Trump and Boris 'posh motorboat' Johnson.
The Secret Political Adviser is just SO, SO funny and right on the money. I am relieved to have finished it to give my aching sides a rest!
A hard drive was sent to the offices of the publisher Canongate (all part of the spoof) containing emails, texts, journal entries, social media messages, internal memos, phone transcripts (one bloody hilarious one between Clinton and Blair), and various other pieces of classified intel all written by the same man over a four year period. In all correspondence he is known simply as 'M', a special adviser employed by a covert organisation to guide western politicians and other public figures through moments of crisis and upheaval. His thoughts on those who employ his services include Donald 'dangerous puffin' Trump and Boris 'posh motorboat' Johnson.
The Secret Political Adviser is just SO, SO funny and right on the money. I am relieved to have finished it to give my aching sides a rest!
January 22, 2021
I received this as a birthday present and had not previously been aware of this author. I did find it very funny to begin with but, after reading half of it, I became a little weary of his humour.
I think I would have done better to have dipped in and out and read a section at a sitting. I would recommend it as a book for the smallest room.
I think I would have done better to have dipped in and out and read a section at a sitting. I would recommend it as a book for the smallest room.
October 25, 2020
Short, but hilarious. My family have been somewhat irritated by my laughter as I have been reading. Michael Spicer has a fine line in insults to be applied to useless politicians.
Loved it.
Loved it.
October 6, 2020
Really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. Some great bits of political humour highlighting just how bad this bunch of politicians we have are.
October 1, 2020
I love the videos that allowed this book to exist. They are usually the only guiding light to come out of the latest political media shit show. This book however feels rushed and a tad cliche. Maybe it’d work better as an audiobook?
December 9, 2020
As someone who has given me a tremendous lift in 2020 with his brilliant, spiky, witty and timely Room Next Door videos I wanted to support Michael Spicer by getting his book.
I managed to get a signed copy from a small bookshop and I have enjoyed racing through this slim volume. There are parts that will be familiar to those who have watched all the videos but there is enough new stuff which will make you laugh out loud too.
It's not a work of literary genius, it won’t take you more than a couple of hours to read (I eked it out over several weeks to keep the enjoyment going) but it is one of the better comedy, or tie-in, books I have read. It takes me back to my 80s schooldays reading The Young Ones’ Bachelor Boys or the Spitting Image book.
Well worth supporting Mr Spicer if you have enjoyed his free work on social media. It will hopefully ensure he's around for some time to come as I suspect we'll need a laugh next year when Brexit kicks in.
I managed to get a signed copy from a small bookshop and I have enjoyed racing through this slim volume. There are parts that will be familiar to those who have watched all the videos but there is enough new stuff which will make you laugh out loud too.
It's not a work of literary genius, it won’t take you more than a couple of hours to read (I eked it out over several weeks to keep the enjoyment going) but it is one of the better comedy, or tie-in, books I have read. It takes me back to my 80s schooldays reading The Young Ones’ Bachelor Boys or the Spitting Image book.
Well worth supporting Mr Spicer if you have enjoyed his free work on social media. It will hopefully ensure he's around for some time to come as I suspect we'll need a laugh next year when Brexit kicks in.
November 8, 2020
I love the you tube "man in the room next door" sketches (they'd get the 5 stars from me!), but unfortunately I found it didn't convert well to book form. The off-the cuff, imaginative insults which work so well as a reaction to in-the-moment interviews or media conferences didn't really work on documents which were seen before the time; I think I'd have needed to see evidence of the competence of the political advisor established, albeit in a humorous way, on the advance documents.
I'd definitely be interested to read another book of Michael Spicer's if he brings out another though, he's a great comedian and seems like he has a ton of wonderful ideas up his sleeve.
I'd definitely be interested to read another book of Michael Spicer's if he brings out another though, he's a great comedian and seems like he has a ton of wonderful ideas up his sleeve.
October 22, 2020
Although this is a really funny book I had to knock off half of a star because comedy that works brilliantly when performed loses a little something when committed to the page. The other half of a star was lost because the diary entries were printed in a font that made it difficult to read. If I’d wanted to read something written that was difficult to decipher I would’ve gone up to the loft to get one of my old school exercise books!
May 30, 2023
‘I have it on good authority that you have just compared yourself to the Hulk, for ‘throwing off the shackles of the EU’. May I suggest that a more accurate reason for calling yourself the Hulk is because you’re irrational, destructive and always in need of a tailor.'
Pretend notes and diary entries from a political advisor to political figures over the last 5 years (the above, to Johnson, 15/09/2019).
Wildly unfunny with a self-congratulatory tone the whole way through. £9.99 is too much.
Pretend notes and diary entries from a political advisor to political figures over the last 5 years (the above, to Johnson, 15/09/2019).
Wildly unfunny with a self-congratulatory tone the whole way through. £9.99 is too much.
January 17, 2021
I managed to read and laugh through this in one sitting. If you have ever seen Michael Spicer's videos the man is a comedic genius with his put downs and the book is no exception. My advice is to watch his videos prior to reading. It enabled me to see and hear his narrative in my mind's eye better. Absolutely brilliant - I hope there's more
January 4, 2021
4.5
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Wish he was still doing vids but totally understand why not. Where to bloody start, for example. Delighted to have discovered him on Twitter and look forward to what he's going to do next
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Wish he was still doing vids but totally understand why not. Where to bloody start, for example. Delighted to have discovered him on Twitter and look forward to what he's going to do next
January 25, 2021
Witty, with well-constructed insults, but lacking the depth or substance for longevity. Read my full review of Michael Spicer's 'The Secret Political Adviser' here: http://buckysbookreviews.com/2021/01/...
February 22, 2021
If you’re a fan of Michael Spicer’s ‘Room Next Door’ videos that have kept Twitter entertained over the last 12 months, then this book is a must-read. It flows well, made up of a series of fictional diary entries, texts, and other messages. I can’t see it winning any awards, but a fun read
June 10, 2021
Spicer is a great satirist. The Secret Political Advisor conveys the frustration of a an intelligent and witty political adviser, as he attempts to guide some of the most brain dead politicians of our decade. Providing behind the scenes "insight" into some of the most ridiculous lies of the last 5 years. This page turner will have you grinning at M's hilarious insults, and groaning over the sheer stupidity of our world leaders!
November 19, 2022
If you enjoy and find Michael Spicer’s videos funny then you will enjoy this book. A very cleverly crafted narrative using ‘leaked’ documents gently reminding us just how inept and ludicrous the government was pre covid.
January 13, 2024
What a hoot! This "expose" of the inner workings of a political consultancy firm will keep you laughing for days. If you like "The Thick of It", "Yes Minister", "VEEP" and "House of Cards" style shows, then this is a book for you. Marvellous fun!
October 20, 2020
Entertaining and definitely got into its groove is it went on, but it lacked something without the comic timing and delivery that make the videos so great.
January 2, 2021
Entertaining. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at other times just an enjoyable read.
March 8, 2021
A witty look back on the most unbelievable four years - Trump, May, Boris, Brexit, Covid-19, you couldn’t make it up! At least Spicer has made it uncomfortably funny...
September 5, 2021
Easy to read and funny!
December 21, 2021
It has some very funny lines and has some interesting satirical jokes, but ultimately doesn't really reinvent the wheel of British satire
December 22, 2021
Translates well to the page and well done to MS for not cashing in. He's very good on the uselessness of politics and insulting Trump, Johnson and especially May.
June 19, 2022
This book is so damn funny. I love everything about it.
September 19, 2022
Was an okay read and was funny - it could get a bit repetitive and superfluous at times.
October 27, 2020
Entertaining, in both content and layout. You can hear Michael Spicer in quite a lot of the pieces, and I mean 'hear' if you ever seen his Twitter/Youtube contributions. A useful reminder of the political madness on both sides of the Atlantic over the last four years. I enjoyed it.
October 2, 2020
After seeing some of Michael Spicers hilarious videos, i just had to read this! Funny!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews