In this irreverent and provocative book, Lewis Page exposes the scandalous state of our armed forces: how British soldiers are sent off to war with some of the worst guns around, how the MOD keeps financing useless toys (at huge expense to taxpayers), and how decisions seem to be made with an eye, above all, for the interests of British Aerospace. He shows how politicians and the top brass are hopelessly entrenched in yesterday's wars and pouring their talents and energies into making sure that money is wasted right, left and centre. (20050217)
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He... writes with force and wit...Page's book deserves attention... Offers a guide to the armed forces and their problems which anybody who cares about them should read... Page does a splendid job of sharpening axes. (Max Hastings Sunday Telegraph )
'Lions, Donkeys and Dinosaurs is a Fast Food Nation for the armed forces... It is very unlikely that anything this entertaining or important will be written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller, and perhaps it will be if red-faced civil servants are sent out to buy up every copy before the public can get their hands on it.' (Independent )
'Devastating... In my own recent book on modern follies I suggested that defence procurement policy was so corrupt...that only a satirist could do it justice. Page is that satirst.' (Francis Wheen Daily Express )
It's very unlikely that anything this entertaining or important will be written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller (Independent on Sunday )
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 (Sir Max Hastings Sunday Telegraph )
'Lions, Donkeys and Dinosaurs is a Fast Food Nation for the armed forces... It is very unlikely that anything this entertaining or important will be written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller, and perhaps it will be if red-faced civil servants are sent out to buy up every copy before the public can get their hands on it.' (Independent )
'Devastating... In my own recent book on modern follies I suggested that defence procurement policy was so corrupt...that only a satirist could do it justice. Page is that satirst.' (Francis Wheen Daily Express )
It's very unlikely that anything this entertaining or important will be written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller (Independent on Sunday )
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 (Sir Max Hastings Sunday Telegraph )
Book Description
A biting, controversial and hilarious polemic on the curious ways of the British armed forces by a brilliant young former Naval Officer. With a preface by Harold Evans (the legendary former editor of the Sunday Times) and a brand new afterword by the author, bringing the book right up to date. (20050217)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By MJW
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Not having any forces experience I can't comment directly 'from the front line' of the UK military; but experience of the prevalent culture and working practices of another government-funded monolith - the NHS - makes me suspect that most of what 'Lions, Donkeys and Dinosaurs' has to say about our Army, Navy, Airforce and MoD in general is depressingly accurate.
Top-heavy leadership and ring-fencing of vested interests, 'jobs for the boys', misallocation of resources, hard-working and dedicated people making do with what's given rather than what's needed...unfortuately it's all too familar. The comparison could run for pages.
However, I do note in the news recently that the Commons Defense Committee has expressed 'serious concerns' - after 8 years and 800 Million pounds (!) - about the Nimrod MRA4 program. It has also recommended that the MoD 'look carefully' at the Joint Strike Fighter (which will, of course, not be ready when its aircraft carriers are) along with the M400M transport project - all of which feature prominantly in Mr Page's book.
Possibly all those letters to MPs which readers of 'Lions, Donkeys' were urged to write has had an effect after all..?
One can but hope.
Top-heavy leadership and ring-fencing of vested interests, 'jobs for the boys', misallocation of resources, hard-working and dedicated people making do with what's given rather than what's needed...unfortuately it's all too familar. The comparison could run for pages.
However, I do note in the news recently that the Commons Defense Committee has expressed 'serious concerns' - after 8 years and 800 Million pounds (!) - about the Nimrod MRA4 program. It has also recommended that the MoD 'look carefully' at the Joint Strike Fighter (which will, of course, not be ready when its aircraft carriers are) along with the M400M transport project - all of which feature prominantly in Mr Page's book.
Possibly all those letters to MPs which readers of 'Lions, Donkeys' were urged to write has had an effect after all..?
One can but hope.
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By researcher
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.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A. McKenzie
Format:Paperback
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 incompetence, inter-service rivalry, political skulduggery, and a persistent and enduring determination to base all defence decisions on military strategy that is always 3 decades out of date.
I've told several people about this book and have considered buying a copy for my MP, but they and I have found there is a shortage. Could do with a reprint and/or update.
I've told several people about this book and have considered buying a copy for my MP, but they and I have found there is a shortage. Could do with a reprint and/or update.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this. Three of the reasons why:
1) The writing style, laced with black humour, is easy to follow - it is indeed a page turner, which is perhaps surprising given the subject matter.
2) It serves as a very good 'noddy's outing' to the roles and utility of different parts of the forces and the equipment they use (I now know why a Lt General is senior to a Maj General, what a frigate is for etc).
3) Although unashamedly polemical, most of the arguments presented by the author are consistent and coherent. Rather than spending the whole book detailing the flaws in different weapons systems, the author credibly challenges the strategic rationale underpinning much of our procurement policy and capability as a whole. For example why do we wish to have and continue to develop, massive anti-submarine warfare capability in the post cold war era?
Anyone interested in current or military affairs should read this.
1) The writing style, laced with black humour, is easy to follow - it is indeed a page turner, which is perhaps surprising given the subject matter.
2) It serves as a very good 'noddy's outing' to the roles and utility of different parts of the forces and the equipment they use (I now know why a Lt General is senior to a Maj General, what a frigate is for etc).
3) Although unashamedly polemical, most of the arguments presented by the author are consistent and coherent. Rather than spending the whole book detailing the flaws in different weapons systems, the author credibly challenges the strategic rationale underpinning much of our procurement policy and capability as a whole. For example why do we wish to have and continue to develop, massive anti-submarine warfare capability in the post cold war era?
Anyone interested in current or military affairs should read this.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By R. Purvis
Format:Paperback
Thoughtful but entertaining writing style bringing to life what would otherwise be a difficult subject. The fact is that defence of the realm is the single most important point of a government and as this book makes clear our political leaders and policy makers have used it as a very large job creation scheme, and even on these terms they have not been very successful.
Both his theories and background information carry a great deal credibility and as a consequence we citizens of the UK should be hounding our politicians to sort out the mess that is British defence procurement. The complicity of senior armed forces officers and civil servants in the ongoing catastrophe just makes it worse and more vital that we tackle our leaders over this. The very sad truth of this book is that we could have armed forces that were the envy of the world and a scourge to our enemies with the £32bn that we spend every year. Due to massive incompetence and blinkered empire building we are far from it, and our real fighting soldiers, sailors and airmen bear the brunt of this failure.
Lewis Page has done a great service to our country, perhaps more than he did when in uniform, if by this excellent book he initiates change at the MOD and in our government.
Both his theories and background information carry a great deal credibility and as a consequence we citizens of the UK should be hounding our politicians to sort out the mess that is British defence procurement. The complicity of senior armed forces officers and civil servants in the ongoing catastrophe just makes it worse and more vital that we tackle our leaders over this. The very sad truth of this book is that we could have armed forces that were the envy of the world and a scourge to our enemies with the £32bn that we spend every year. Due to massive incompetence and blinkered empire building we are far from it, and our real fighting soldiers, sailors and airmen bear the brunt of this failure.
Lewis Page has done a great service to our country, perhaps more than he did when in uniform, if by this excellent book he initiates change at the MOD and in our government.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT
top notch book, which is bang on target, just wish a lot more people would read it.
Especially our Primeminister
Especially our Primeminister
Published 3 months ago by PAUL CUNNINGHAM
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just what I needed
The book was recommended to me by a student so I needed a copy to speed read through. The one I received was exactly what I wanted.
Published 3 months ago by D J Ridley
5.0 out of 5 stars
oliver cromwell had the right idea
A good read, and lets you see nomarks are still making jobs for the boys a bit like most companys these days
Published 4 months ago by R.J.Barker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Our soldiers have been betrayed
Me: Previously infantry.
First read this not long after it came out but have now felt I had to write a review because it deserves more than 4 stars. Read more
First read this not long after it came out but have now felt I had to write a review because it deserves more than 4 stars. Read more
Published 5 months ago by P. O'Neill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Defence waste exposed
If you have ever wondered why, despite a large defence budget, British soldiers don't have the right sort of boots, here's your answer. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Senior Citizen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Insights
Lewis's book is a wealth of insights to our proclivity to tribalism and self interest. It raises far more questions than it answers. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Adrian Clark
4.0 out of 5 stars
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 15 months ago by Anthony R. Dixon
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 18 months ago by Gracchus
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 23 months ago by Len Collin
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 9 Jun 2011 by JWH
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