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How to be a Politician: 2,000 Years of Good (and Bad) Advice
'Always forgive your enemies - but never forget their names.' JFK
'What do you want to be a sailor for? There are greater storms in politics than you will ever find at sea. Piracy, broadsides, blood on the decks. You will find them all in politics.' David Lloyd George
' Unchallenged master of the self-inflicted wound.' Nicholas Soames on Boris Johnson, apropos his switch to campaigning for Brexit
Structured to follow the arc of a life in politics - from childhood aspirations and first attempts at getting elected, to navigating the back benches, ascending the greasy pole, dealing with detractors, facing crises, and finally escaping - this unique collection weaves together the wittiest, wisest and most acerbic political quotations from the last 2,000 years. Punctuated throughout by candid insights from Sir Vince Cable, How to Be a Politician is a timeless and entertaining education in the dark arts of politics.
'What do you want to be a sailor for? There are greater storms in politics than you will ever find at sea. Piracy, broadsides, blood on the decks. You will find them all in politics.' David Lloyd George
' Unchallenged master of the self-inflicted wound.' Nicholas Soames on Boris Johnson, apropos his switch to campaigning for Brexit
Structured to follow the arc of a life in politics - from childhood aspirations and first attempts at getting elected, to navigating the back benches, ascending the greasy pole, dealing with detractors, facing crises, and finally escaping - this unique collection weaves together the wittiest, wisest and most acerbic political quotations from the last 2,000 years. Punctuated throughout by candid insights from Sir Vince Cable, How to Be a Politician is a timeless and entertaining education in the dark arts of politics.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2024
9 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Vince Cable
42 books18 followersJohn Vincent "Vince" Cable is a British politician and Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He was the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from 2010 to 2015 and the Member of Parliament for Twickenham from 1997 until losing his seat in the 2015 election. He regained his seat in the 2017 election and became leader of the Liberal Democrats soon after.
Cable studied economics at the University of Cambridge and the University of Glasgow, before becoming an economic advisor to the Government of Kenya between 1966 and 1968 and to the Commonwealth Secretary-General in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1968 to 1974 he lectured in economics at Glasgow University. Later, he served as Chief Economist for Shell from 1995 to 1997. In the 1970s Cable was active in the Labour Party, becoming a Labour Councillor in Glasgow. In 1982 he joined the Social Democratic Party – which later joined with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats – and he unsuccessfully stood for Parliament in the general elections of 1970, 1983, 1987 and 1992 before being elected as the MP for Twickenham in 1997.
Cable became the Liberal Democrats Treasury Spokesman in June 2003, and was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in March 2006, becoming Acting Leader for two months in 2007 following Sir Menzies Campbell's resignation until the election of Nick Clegg. He resigned from both of these position in May 2010 after becoming Business Secretary.
Cable studied economics at the University of Cambridge and the University of Glasgow, before becoming an economic advisor to the Government of Kenya between 1966 and 1968 and to the Commonwealth Secretary-General in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1968 to 1974 he lectured in economics at Glasgow University. Later, he served as Chief Economist for Shell from 1995 to 1997. In the 1970s Cable was active in the Labour Party, becoming a Labour Councillor in Glasgow. In 1982 he joined the Social Democratic Party – which later joined with the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats – and he unsuccessfully stood for Parliament in the general elections of 1970, 1983, 1987 and 1992 before being elected as the MP for Twickenham in 1997.
Cable became the Liberal Democrats Treasury Spokesman in June 2003, and was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in March 2006, becoming Acting Leader for two months in 2007 following Sir Menzies Campbell's resignation until the election of Nick Clegg. He resigned from both of these position in May 2010 after becoming Business Secretary.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 28, 2025
I rather like veteran Liberal Democrat politician Sir Vince Cable, but this book, while entertaining, is barely a book.
Each chapter starts with a short essay by Cable and is followed by lots of quotes from the great and the good (and bad), some of them in huge fonts (like a student padding out an assignment). On the plus side, there's a copious index (essential in non-fiction). Unsurprisingly, there are lots of Churchill and Thatcher quotes; many novelists and US politicians are included too. But there is more Enoch Powell than I might have expected.
As this was first published in 2022, Trump is referred to in the past tense (bold is mine):
“The political master of social media was Donal Trump. Love him or hate him, he knew how to communicate.”
I don’t think I’d heard of US politician Adlai Stevenson (actually, three generations of them), until last week when Quo mentioned one of them in a comment on my review of a Hilaire Belloc short fiction in On Something, HERE, but one of them said a lot of quotable things, including:
“I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.”
- Adlai Stevenson.
Image: Sir Vince Cable, surrounded by Lib Dem supporters holding placards (Source)
I doubt this book has many profound lessons for budding politicians, but it would make an amusing stocking-filler for them. Or for politics students wanting snappy quotes to season their essays - assuming politics students still write essays.
The two-hour talk he gave about it in a local community library was rather better. He spoke fluently and engagingly for more than half an hour, with a few slides, but no notes, followed by half an hour in conversation with a former Conservative MP, David Gauke, before opening the floor to questions. A charming man, with a wealth of experience, and some excellent anecdotes, who didn’t show his age (he’s just turned 81 and he chose to step down from front-line politics in 2019).
Each chapter starts with a short essay by Cable and is followed by lots of quotes from the great and the good (and bad), some of them in huge fonts (like a student padding out an assignment). On the plus side, there's a copious index (essential in non-fiction). Unsurprisingly, there are lots of Churchill and Thatcher quotes; many novelists and US politicians are included too. But there is more Enoch Powell than I might have expected.
As this was first published in 2022, Trump is referred to in the past tense (bold is mine):
“The political master of social media was Donal Trump. Love him or hate him, he knew how to communicate.”
I don’t think I’d heard of US politician Adlai Stevenson (actually, three generations of them), until last week when Quo mentioned one of them in a comment on my review of a Hilaire Belloc short fiction in On Something, HERE, but one of them said a lot of quotable things, including:
“I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.”
- Adlai Stevenson.
Image: Sir Vince Cable, surrounded by Lib Dem supporters holding placards (Source)
I doubt this book has many profound lessons for budding politicians, but it would make an amusing stocking-filler for them. Or for politics students wanting snappy quotes to season their essays - assuming politics students still write essays.
The two-hour talk he gave about it in a local community library was rather better. He spoke fluently and engagingly for more than half an hour, with a few slides, but no notes, followed by half an hour in conversation with a former Conservative MP, David Gauke, before opening the floor to questions. A charming man, with a wealth of experience, and some excellent anecdotes, who didn’t show his age (he’s just turned 81 and he chose to step down from front-line politics in 2019).
March 13, 2023
Well Worth Reading
Excellent book for those who are thinking of going into politics or those interested in politics. The focus is on the United Kingdom with many references to the United States.
I especially liked the quotes at the end of each chapter.
Excellent book for those who are thinking of going into politics or those interested in politics. The focus is on the United Kingdom with many references to the United States.
I especially liked the quotes at the end of each chapter.
November 30, 2023
Quick read & interesting. 3.5 stars.
May 21, 2025
genuinely rubbish. about a third quotes that are totally unconnected to whatever chapter. then just basic it's all a game type. terrible
November 25, 2025
An interesting and thoughtful read
The quotations alone made this book an interesting read but the text was also a worthwhile thing to read through, perhaps more than I'd expected.
I have no personal ambition to do with politics at all, save that generally we have a government who looks after all the people of this country. I'd also like them to spend less time talking and more time doing. Achieving some practical and lasting would be good too.
Nevertheless, I liked this book. Good people and talented people still seem to manage their way into politics but God save us from the career politicians and those who feel entitled to high political office without any experience of proper working life.
A 4-star read for me.
The quotations alone made this book an interesting read but the text was also a worthwhile thing to read through, perhaps more than I'd expected.
I have no personal ambition to do with politics at all, save that generally we have a government who looks after all the people of this country. I'd also like them to spend less time talking and more time doing. Achieving some practical and lasting would be good too.
Nevertheless, I liked this book. Good people and talented people still seem to manage their way into politics but God save us from the career politicians and those who feel entitled to high political office without any experience of proper working life.
A 4-star read for me.
December 9, 2023
The full trajectory in UK politics is mapped out in the book, from the fledgling career going up "the greasy pole" to bitter retirement.
The author is witty enough and provides enough of his own insights to make the material not too dry, but by far the biggest star of the book are the quotes from various political figures compiled by Nick Comfort.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm".
I got some of the "how" of being a politician, along with a collection of memorable quotes, but personally at the end of the book I am even more left with the ponder "why would I ever be one".
The author is witty enough and provides enough of his own insights to make the material not too dry, but by far the biggest star of the book are the quotes from various political figures compiled by Nick Comfort.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm".
I got some of the "how" of being a politician, along with a collection of memorable quotes, but personally at the end of the book I am even more left with the ponder "why would I ever be one".
April 21, 2024
From Machiavelli to today's leaders, there are some seriously cool quotes and surprising facts. The writing style keeps you hooked. I would recommend. Just keep in mind the book talks mostly about UK politics and not USA.
April 21, 2024
A fascinating collection of reflections and quotes but not much more than that. I can see myself delving in there for sermon illustrations at some point.
May 27, 2024
Fun book, although I don’t want to be a politician so only 4 stars
May 10, 2025
90% of the book's value is the collection of quotations found at the end of each chapter. The rest of the book can be skimmed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews