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Review
...one heck of a good read. --Guardian
...a balanced, thoughtful , sober account of arguably the greatest crisis of the 21st Century... --Mail on Sunday
[Alistair Darling] writes compellingly about the market meltdown and ensuing recession, spicing the narrative with a droll wit and acidic observations about the arrogant and stupid bank chiefs. If this story has been told before, it is still informative to have the scary view from the edge of the precipice as Britain teeters on the brink of a complete collapse of its banks. --Observer
...a balanced, thoughtful , sober account of arguably the greatest crisis of the 21st Century... --Mail on Sunday
[Alistair Darling] writes compellingly about the market meltdown and ensuing recession, spicing the narrative with a droll wit and acidic observations about the arrogant and stupid bank chiefs. If this story has been told before, it is still informative to have the scary view from the edge of the precipice as Britain teeters on the brink of a complete collapse of its banks. --Observer
Review
'...one heck of a good read.' Guardian '...a balanced, thoughtful , sober account of arguably the greatest crisis of the 21st Century...' Mail on Sunday '[Alistair Darling] writes compellingly about the market meltdown and ensuing recession, spicing the narrative with a droll wit and acidic observations about the "arrogant and stupid" bank chiefs. If this story has been told before, it is still informative to have the scary view from the edge of the precipice as Britain teeters on the brink of a complete collapse of its banks.' Observer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
92 of 92 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Were you to have asked me, prior to reading this book, who was my favourite political biography, I would have replied, Chris Mullin. The reason for that choice was based upon the fact that here was a man who could laugh at himself, as well as others. Mullin has no pomposity and the same can be said of Alistair Darling. The advantage which Darling holds over Mullin is that he held a senior government position (Chancellor of the Exchequer) during a significant historical era (the financial crash of 2008).
It is refreshing to read a political biography in which the main character was not the only person who realised, the exact situation, from day one, and how it should be handled. Alistair Darling is generous with his praise and quick to acknowledge the input of his colleagues, even when they are not bosom buddies.
Reading this book made me realise just how serious the banking crisis had been. One of the great problems with life today, when news is to hand twenty-four hours a day, is that a news programme needs sensation. Everything becomes the most serious crisis that man has ever faced and, naturally, the listener becomes blasé. Darling's book is written in a much more modest style and so, when he paints a picture of near collapse, it is so much more chilling. The section dealing with the banks is more gripping than any financial thriller that one may have read. Darling is honest enough to admit that nobody, himself included, really knew how to deal with events and leads us through the path that he, and Gordon Brown, took to reaching an effective course of action.
Darling is also of great interest when dealing with the Labour Party leadership. He served at close quarters with both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He does not make one into a saint, and the other into a sinner, as so many of these biographies have. His account of the Brown government is particularly valuable. Gordon Brown is something of an enigma: he is obviously intelligent, clearly not strong upon personal relationships and he undoubtedly had some bad luck. Darling adds to this by showing a certain level of paranoia. Brown seems to have genuinely believed that the Treasury was trying to bring down his premiership: were I to be a psychologist, I might suggest that this was a guilt complex brought about by his clear attempts to topple Tony Blair from this branch of government. But, I am not, and so I wont!
This book was one of the lower key releases subsequent to the demise of the Labour Government. I believe that, in the long term, it will be considered one of the most significant. Anybody interested in the World financial situation, or the British Labour Party, will find this book demands a place of pride upon their bookshelf.
It is refreshing to read a political biography in which the main character was not the only person who realised, the exact situation, from day one, and how it should be handled. Alistair Darling is generous with his praise and quick to acknowledge the input of his colleagues, even when they are not bosom buddies.
Reading this book made me realise just how serious the banking crisis had been. One of the great problems with life today, when news is to hand twenty-four hours a day, is that a news programme needs sensation. Everything becomes the most serious crisis that man has ever faced and, naturally, the listener becomes blasé. Darling's book is written in a much more modest style and so, when he paints a picture of near collapse, it is so much more chilling. The section dealing with the banks is more gripping than any financial thriller that one may have read. Darling is honest enough to admit that nobody, himself included, really knew how to deal with events and leads us through the path that he, and Gordon Brown, took to reaching an effective course of action.
Darling is also of great interest when dealing with the Labour Party leadership. He served at close quarters with both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He does not make one into a saint, and the other into a sinner, as so many of these biographies have. His account of the Brown government is particularly valuable. Gordon Brown is something of an enigma: he is obviously intelligent, clearly not strong upon personal relationships and he undoubtedly had some bad luck. Darling adds to this by showing a certain level of paranoia. Brown seems to have genuinely believed that the Treasury was trying to bring down his premiership: were I to be a psychologist, I might suggest that this was a guilt complex brought about by his clear attempts to topple Tony Blair from this branch of government. But, I am not, and so I wont!
This book was one of the lower key releases subsequent to the demise of the Labour Government. I believe that, in the long term, it will be considered one of the most significant. Anybody interested in the World financial situation, or the British Labour Party, will find this book demands a place of pride upon their bookshelf.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Really enjoyed this book. A few days of holiday reading and it kept me gripped thru til the end, what it did tell me was that Darling was a grafter, he glued the Labour financial programme together in the last few years of the administration and importantly, helped the UK thru some very trying times. A lot of respect for this man, who comes across as a genuine and honourable man.
Well recommended if you want to learn more about economics and politics...
Well recommended if you want to learn more about economics and politics...
66 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a view of the financial meltdown from a man right at the very heart of it. There are good books that pull together facts from interviews and other sources (I recommend Too Big to Fail: Inside the Battle to Save Wall Street thoroughly), but this view from someone on the inside was what compelled me to read.
Much has been in the media of the relationship with Gordon Brown, and the criticisms Darling has for his boss, but the book contains much more than that. Darling is both frustrated and filled with contempt when the bankers can't quite grasp the situation they are in and the lengths the Government have to go try and clean up their mess. He is lucid about the stress of the situation that he is put under, from the lack of sleep to the strains of dealing with the media and his own people. And yes, he is candid about Gordon Brown's leadership - particularly about the strain of the "election that never was".
Don't get me wrong - I don't particularly like the way this has come out. Couldn't he have said something at the time? Done something different? Had more backbone? I don't know. Suffice to repeat my old Grandad's phrase - "you make your bed, you lie in it". Despite that, I found it to be a good read - I'm not usually into books from politicians but the writing style is good and it flows well.
Much has been in the media of the relationship with Gordon Brown, and the criticisms Darling has for his boss, but the book contains much more than that. Darling is both frustrated and filled with contempt when the bankers can't quite grasp the situation they are in and the lengths the Government have to go try and clean up their mess. He is lucid about the stress of the situation that he is put under, from the lack of sleep to the strains of dealing with the media and his own people. And yes, he is candid about Gordon Brown's leadership - particularly about the strain of the "election that never was".
Don't get me wrong - I don't particularly like the way this has come out. Couldn't he have said something at the time? Done something different? Had more backbone? I don't know. Suffice to repeat my old Grandad's phrase - "you make your bed, you lie in it". Despite that, I found it to be a good read - I'm not usually into books from politicians but the writing style is good and it flows well.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Back from the Brink by Alaistair Darling
I could not put this book down, it was excellent in describing the problems arising from the default of Royal Bank of Scotland, Northern Rock etc. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Gerald Bass
Refreshing modesty
Alistair Darling is by no means a great literary stylist. However, as Chancellor of the Exchequer during some of the most turbulent times in recent financial history, he has an... Read more
Published 1 month ago by G. L. Haggett
Darling states his case
Alistair Darling's three years as Chancellor of the Exchequer, from 2007 to 2010, covered one of the most dramatic periods in British politics and particularly in the challenges... Read more
Published 2 months ago by David Herdson
Readable if dry memoir of a tumultous period
Alistair Darling's misfortune was to be in the Chancellor's seat when the music stopped. He recounts his time at No 11, at the helm of Britain's finances, clearly and with a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Tim Frost
Boring
This is for those of you who find reading the Phone Book last thing at night fails to cure insomnia. Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. Macfarlane
Brilliant read
I throughly enjoyed this book which I couldnt put down and read in a couple of days. It provides a fascinating insight into his days as Chancellor and the financial crisis of 2008. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Graemey
Not Me Guv
Alistair Darling was one of three people to serve in the New Labour government from 1997 until it left office in 2010. The others were Gordon Brown and Jack Straw. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Neutral
Steady as she goes
This account of Darling's time as Chancellor has the virtue of being comparatively short and well written. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rf And Tm Walters
A very readable account of Darling's time in office.
It is certainly part of the motivation for buying this book to get a view from the inside of dealing with the then prime minister Gordon Brown. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Love Books
The Hollow Men
If you have an interest in the collapse of Western Capitalism in 2008 and 2009, here is an account of what it was like to be in the teeth of the storm. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Mcgregor
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