A beautifully-written and thought-provoking collection of essays on social, political and literary issues as diverse as the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand controversy, violent crime on Britain's streets, the effects of the welfare state, modern architecture and the respective merits of Shakespeare and Dr. Johnson. Dalrymple uses examples from his long career as a prison doctor and his travels to every corner of the globe to illustrate his central view - that Britain is in the throes of social, cultural and political decline.
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About the Author
Theodore Dalrymple is a British doctor and writer who has worked on four continents and has most recently practiced in a British inner-city hospital and prison. He is a contributing editor for City Journal in the United States and writes a column for the London Spectator. His earlier collections of essays, Life at the Bottom and Our Culture, What's Left of It, have been widely praised.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Parthurbook
Format:Hardcover
Dalrymple (a pseudonym) is a doctor and psychiatrist who has worked with the poor and the criminal, and witnessed first hand the effects of being trapped in the underclass. While he writes brilliantly, and captures the essence of the decline of a culture, after the first half of the book, the tone becomes unremitting. Best savoured as essays in their original form, this is a book to be read in a series of short bursts: it's too depressing (although terrifyingly accurate) to be swallowed whole
49 of 51 people found the following review helpful
By Teed Breezy
Format:Hardcover
At times it was tough, having challenged so many of the 'liberal intelligentsia' principles, so hated by Mr Dalrymple and that I (perhaps unquestionably) hold dear, but it was always worthwhile having them examined by such thoughtful and well-reasoned argument. It took me a long time to read because every time I finished a chapter it felt like I had been sent away with my tail between my legs!
55 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By Todd Cutler
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Theodore Dalrymple is the most astute essayist writing in English today. His analysis of the decay of modern Western society is too subtle and complex to be labelled simply 'right wing,' too pessimistic to be palatable to the left-liberal elite, and far too important to be ignored. Dalrymple's despair at the collapse of values and standards amongst a once-proud British working-class is exceeded only by his disgust at the cowardice and evasion of the better educated classes who refuse to acknowledge there is a problem. This elite, the old 'clerisy', regard our current slow-motion catastrophe with a sophisticated smile and a refusal to face it truthfully. 'Trivial' is one of Dalrymple's favourite adjectives of condemnation, as is 'frivolous.' His latest, brilliant collection of essays is witty and incisive, but also deeply serious and committed. Read it and consider very hard where we are going.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decline and Fall
More short essay-style pieces providing some (one hopes) accurate insight into the behaviour of some residents of the UK. Sorry reading, but entertaining.
Published 1 month ago by Clarsach
4.0 out of 5 stars
recommended first read of Dalyrmple
I have reviewed several of the authors books, but this one spans all the main subjects the author is authoritative on. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. M. Macrae
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
This is an excellent read with the author expressing his views on many topics in an interesting and very candid manner. Read more
Published 11 months ago by M. Illingworth
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cannot keep reading this man.
Theodore Dalrymple documents the relative decline of British society with great reflection and common sense. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Andy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Certainly not a whimper
This book was recommended to me after I recently finished reading "Wasting Police Time" by David Copperfield. I was told that if I enjoyed that book I'll probably enjoy this. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Paul Stevens
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not even a whimper
There's nothing like a good, entertaining, right-wing polemic. Unfortunately this is nothing like a good... Old joke, sorry, but this is more bad-tempered than well argued. Read more
Published 20 months ago by D. Cheshire
3.0 out of 5 stars
Curate's Egg
This finely written collection of essays is just a bit too uneven. There are a number which draw on the author's work as a psychiatrist in prisons; at once thought-provoking and... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Embra Boy
2.0 out of 5 stars
...oh dear
I bought this book on a whim, having been flicking through the Kindle politics section looking for an interesting read with a gift token I got. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Elias Q Funtybunt
4.0 out of 5 stars
Powerfully argued, honest and compassionate
This is a collection of Theodore Dalrymple essays on various aspects of British life which, Dalrymple contends, are affected by malaise and decline, both moral and cultural. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2011 by Missy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magical Mushrooms and the Flabby Truth!
Theodore Dalrymple is big in Holland. Now what does that tell us? That we Brits are in serious decline and that the Dutch psyche, powered by psychedelic mushrooms, can easily slip... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2010 by Halifax Student Account
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