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teokajlibroj's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting and very detailed description of the Brexit campaign and referendum. Overall, I enjoyed it, although there were a few flaws.
1) It's excessively detailed. There's way too much information and detail in the book which caused the book to drag. After every single minor event we are given the opinion and interpretation of half a dozen advisors.
2) It's set inside a bubble. If you weren't active in Westminster or the media campaign, you don't appear in this book. According to this book, the entire Brexit campaign was fought in the media by people in London.
3) The focus is incredibly narrow, the book mainly talks about Tories and the Leave campaign, Labour is an afterthought and no one else is mentioned. The author seemed to view Brexit mainly as an internal matter for the Conservative Party, rather than something that affected the whole country.
4) It suffers from hindsight bias. Every decision by the Leave campaign is treated as crucial to its success and every decision by the Remain side is treated as a mistake. Even things that were seen as successes are rewritten as mistakes. This gives an inaccurately one-sided view.
1) It's excessively detailed. There's way too much information and detail in the book which caused the book to drag. After every single minor event we are given the opinion and interpretation of half a dozen advisors.
2) It's set inside a bubble. If you weren't active in Westminster or the media campaign, you don't appear in this book. According to this book, the entire Brexit campaign was fought in the media by people in London.
3) The focus is incredibly narrow, the book mainly talks about Tories and the Leave campaign, Labour is an afterthought and no one else is mentioned. The author seemed to view Brexit mainly as an internal matter for the Conservative Party, rather than something that affected the whole country.
4) It suffers from hindsight bias. Every decision by the Leave campaign is treated as crucial to its success and every decision by the Remain side is treated as a mistake. Even things that were seen as successes are rewritten as mistakes. This gives an inaccurately one-sided view.
nadia's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Wow — blown away by how detailed and broad this political history was, while still remaining interesting the whole way.
I did lose focus at times while listening to this, but I think that's mostly my own fault...
I haven't done any research into what else is out there but to me this is the definitive guide to everything Brexit, including how we got there and the immediate aftermath. I'd be hard-pressed to find a book as detailed and interesting. It really covered every angle!
Loved the appendices as well, especially the Boris Johnson articles.
I did lose focus at times while listening to this, but I think that's mostly my own fault...
I haven't done any research into what else is out there but to me this is the definitive guide to everything Brexit, including how we got there and the immediate aftermath. I'd be hard-pressed to find a book as detailed and interesting. It really covered every angle!
Loved the appendices as well, especially the Boris Johnson articles.
mubeenirfan's review against another edition
5.0
In a hundred years from now, someone writing about rise of neo-nationalism in western world might begin with 'It all gained momentum with Britain voting for Brexit'. This is the severity of Britain's vote in 2016 to leave EU. Or we can end up seeing it as something that happened and did not impact UK and the world in long run. It all remains to be seen. However, standing in 2017 when all the drama has already taken place, this one is a very good read to understand how, when and who played as actors in this political stage show called Brexit.
From 1950s onwards, the gravitational pull of third world has shifted from UK to America and Britain has slowly become that friend who just cannot resist the pull of her outgoing loud mouth friend. Thus, we are naturally more attracted towards what is happening in the USA (Trump vs Brexit) and when I saw this title in a local book store describing this book to be a comprehensive account of Brexit I picked it up to acquaint myself thinking this can come in handy in some future drawing room conversation. I have not been disappointed. It is book about the British political class and brings to life all the maneuvering of 'House of Cards' you never thought could be accurate.
The author does not take sides of the argument but instead defines the argument including the characters pleading the case and later stabbing each other to get in front of the race. I was not aware of probably 80% of the names in there and had to google them to understand the references but that is because I do not know UK's politics. I will not go into who did what in this game of winning the referendum because that is for you to go through and live the pages like I did. A thoroughly entertaining read despite the size.
From 1950s onwards, the gravitational pull of third world has shifted from UK to America and Britain has slowly become that friend who just cannot resist the pull of her outgoing loud mouth friend. Thus, we are naturally more attracted towards what is happening in the USA (Trump vs Brexit) and when I saw this title in a local book store describing this book to be a comprehensive account of Brexit I picked it up to acquaint myself thinking this can come in handy in some future drawing room conversation. I have not been disappointed. It is book about the British political class and brings to life all the maneuvering of 'House of Cards' you never thought could be accurate.
The author does not take sides of the argument but instead defines the argument including the characters pleading the case and later stabbing each other to get in front of the race. I was not aware of probably 80% of the names in there and had to google them to understand the references but that is because I do not know UK's politics. I will not go into who did what in this game of winning the referendum because that is for you to go through and live the pages like I did. A thoroughly entertaining read despite the size.
bluestars991's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been on the lookout for a book about the Brexit Referendum and was really happy when I found this!!
Brilliantly written by Tim Shipman (Always been a fan) looking forward to the follow up books!!
Brilliantly written by Tim Shipman (Always been a fan) looking forward to the follow up books!!
n_nazir's review against another edition
4.0
This is a comprehensive account of the debacle that was last years referendum and it's fast paced, interesting, humorous and insightful throughout. Despite the moments of levity, it's hard not to feel some anger at the approach of the main players to the issues - from all sides. Reading about just how pro-European Osborne and Cameron actually are, for example, was frustrating given the strident anti-EU tone they both adopted and played to throughout their political careers. No one really comes out of this bathed in any kind of glory and despite the author's admirable attempt to be even handed, I didn't find many of my assumptions and impressions of the people involved, to be changed. A great read for anyone interested in an incredibly tumultuous period of British political history.
vnnbrg's review against another edition
Na zo’n 300 blz (van de 688) afgehaakt. Leek me een boeiende bijspijkercursus over deze clusterfuck en hoewel vermakelijk geschreven, ook extreem gedetailleerd en daardoor vaak erg langdradig. Net als bij de echte Brexit vind ik het halverwege tijd om wat leuks te gaan doen.