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Product Description
Independent on Sunday
I'ts very unlikely that anything this entertaining or important will be
written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller.
written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller.
Sir Max Hastings, Daily Telegraph
Page writes with force and wit...I hope he soon gets the job he deserves,
as a defence correspondent in the national media. The MoD and chiefs of
staff might tremble in their boots about the consequences, but that is as
it should be. Page does a splendid job.
as a defence correspondent in the national media. The MoD and chiefs of
staff might tremble in their boots about the consequences, but that is as
it should be. Page does a splendid job.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've always been bemused by my government friends' complaining about the constant infighting between the 3 services (apparently there's a huge argument brewing right now between the RAF and the Navy, which has nothing to do with war and everything to do with the respective authority and budgets of the two forces). No longer.
This book does an excellent job of demonstrating that for all the attempts at bi-partisanship between Tories and Labour over the war, the political tensions within the forces are alive and well and never went away.
And, of course, he shows up massive incompetence within MoD and BAe, which won't be a surprise to anyone who has observed any government project up close.
The writing style is similar to that of Ben Goldacre, of "Bad Science" fame, and Lewis Page seems to have similar concerns about the competence of journalists to hold the government to account on defence expenditure.
Non-military buffs like me will definitely need to use the glossary - a lot.
This book does an excellent job of demonstrating that for all the attempts at bi-partisanship between Tories and Labour over the war, the political tensions within the forces are alive and well and never went away.
And, of course, he shows up massive incompetence within MoD and BAe, which won't be a surprise to anyone who has observed any government project up close.
The writing style is similar to that of Ben Goldacre, of "Bad Science" fame, and Lewis Page seems to have similar concerns about the competence of journalists to hold the government to account on defence expenditure.
Non-military buffs like me will definitely need to use the glossary - a lot.
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To most of us defence expenditure is not the most exiting subject. Page gets around this by writing in an exiting, informative and often humorous manner. I have no reservations about recommending this book to anyone. Indeed, it is an essential read for anyone who worries how their tax is being spent. Thirty billion pounds a year is an awful lot of cash to be spending on rubbish kit.
After some checks - it seems factually correct to me. Indeed, I can't find the inconsistancies profered by his detractors and wonder about their motivations.
After some checks - it seems factually correct to me. Indeed, I can't find the inconsistancies profered by his detractors and wonder about their motivations.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked up this book as I've always been interested in military history, and thought it would be interesting to read something about the way the UK military works today.
This book is a real eye opener. Now and again you get a story in the press about some sort of procurement issue, but this book goes into reasons why the ones that make it to the press aren't the biggest problems.
It is pitched at a perfect level, stopping to explain acronyms, and a very useful chapter on the way things are organised in the services, so even if you don't know anything about the military, it's easy to read.
The danger of a book like this is that it gets bogged down in details and it all ends up a bit dry and boring. Mr Page avoids this with his excellent, fairly light and entertaining style.
I would thoroughly recommend this book if you have want an insight into how our armed forces are funded, and how it should be improved.
This book is a real eye opener. Now and again you get a story in the press about some sort of procurement issue, but this book goes into reasons why the ones that make it to the press aren't the biggest problems.
It is pitched at a perfect level, stopping to explain acronyms, and a very useful chapter on the way things are organised in the services, so even if you don't know anything about the military, it's easy to read.
The danger of a book like this is that it gets bogged down in details and it all ends up a bit dry and boring. Mr Page avoids this with his excellent, fairly light and entertaining style.
I would thoroughly recommend this book if you have want an insight into how our armed forces are funded, and how it should be improved.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great exposé of a scandalous state of affairs
In the 12 years I've worked in the defence industry, one thing has become clear to me; vast sums of money have been poured into black holes masquerading as defence projects. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Anthony R. Dixon
MoD: The Waste Land
This informed and clever analysis of the chaos (and the reasons for it) of British defence procurement establishment explains the systemic failures of both politicians and military... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Gracchus
Funny, Informative and Deeply Worrying.
I have written quite a lot of military dramas in my time so have had dealings with soldiers of varying rank from Colonels down to Privates and a few politicians as well. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Len Collin
Passionate Plea for Reform of British Defence
A very impassioned look at the state of British Defence, both in terms of the organization of the forces but also the way the procurement system works. Read more
Published 11 months ago by JWH
Right wing, sensationist, rubbish.
Now military incompetence is something I like to write about myself, and military spending is something I'd like to see a lot less of BUT this book is still tripe. Read more
Published 17 months ago by M. Porter
Exposing the truth
An excellent expose of how the MOD and military operate in the UK and how civil servants waste our money on arms and equipment that frequently fail to do the job. Read more
Published 18 months ago by R. Bluffield
A 'Must Read' book
I was aware of several of our defence procurement shambles over the years, but this book, written in plain & simple language, sets them in the context of unbelievable MOD... Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. McKenzie
More Lions - Less Donkeys
I was nothing short of gobsmacked at the amount waste uncovered in this book.
As ex-Forces, I have been on the receiving end of some of the dire decisions made by MOD... Read more
As ex-Forces, I have been on the receiving end of some of the dire decisions made by MOD... Read more
Published 23 months ago by P. Rutter
Military Equipment Procurement
Brilliant - a very well researched book that needs to be taken seriously by both Industry and the MoD
Published on 3 Mar 2010 by John A. Harrison
Lions, Donkeys etc
Bought as a gift so can't comment on content therefore star rating not applicable. Took a long time to arrive but Amazon sent another by special Delivery. Good service.
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by L. J. Sample
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