WTF?

by Robert Peston

Hardcover, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

320.9

Collection

Publication

Hodder & Stoughton (2018), 288 pages

Description

THE 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 In WTF? Robert Peston 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. 'A manual for our times that everyone should read.' Matthew d'Ancona… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member infjsarah
This was a complete contrast to my preceding read "Enlightenment Now" - this is centred on UK alone and very much the "how terrible everything is" brand of writing. It's also much more personal than Peston's previous books - his attempt to be neutral journalist writing is abandoned here. It's quite
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short and easy to read. It finishes with the suggestion that the Grenfell Tower fire WILL change things politically and economically. Sorry Robert but nearly 11 months on it is all business as usual for politicians who are solely occupied with Brexit and social justice has no votes in it.
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LibraryThing member oataker
Written I suspect in reaction to the Brexit vote. Accepts it and tries over several chapters to describe why people chose to reject the elite, the experts and the usual authorities. Tries to describe what has happened to discourse in the digital world, its all become about emotions not facts. Has a
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chapter on immigration and how its perceived by the poor, another about our poor record in productivity, about the left-behind, and another showing that the robots are coming for our jobs.
He ends with a chapter of suggestions followed by one addressed to his father in the light of Grenfell saying that something just must be done.
He starts by accepting the Brexit vote but ends up pretty despairing of the prospect. The only national problem area not covered is global warming.
an enjoyable and it seems thorough treatment of our situation.
An unwise title for the book in my view, its a pity to needlessly offend potential readers.
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LibraryThing member arewenotben
Strongly disagree with Peston's argument that the rise in Labour's polling during the 2017 election was due to their Brexit agenda, but otherwise this is a pretty clearheaded and concise analysis of the post-financial crash world and some potential ways forward.

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

288 p.; 6.38 inches

ISBN

1473661293 / 9781473661295

Barcode

91100000180904

DDC/MDS

320.9
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