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An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain: or Sixty Years of Making the Same Stupid Mistakes as Always [Paperback]

John O'Farrell (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 15 April 2010

Following his hugely popular account of the previous 2000 years, John O'Farrell now comes bang up to date with a hilarious modern history asking 'How the hell did we end up here?'

An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain informs, elucidates and laughs at all the bizarre events, ridiculous characters and stupid decisions that have shaped Britain's story since 1945; leaving the Twenty-First Century reader feeling fantastically smug for having the benefit of hindsight.

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An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain: or Sixty Years of Making the Same Stupid Mistakes as Always + An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years Of Upper Class Idiots In Charge) + All the Countries We've Ever Invaded: And the Few We Never Got Round To
Price For All Three: £21.54

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Product details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Black Swan (15 April 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0552775460
  • ISBN-13: 978-0552775465
  • Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 3.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 19,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

An engrossing and agonising read. And fortunately, a funny one too....The best historical harbingers are also comedians (Independent on Sunday )

An enlightening run through the last 60 years of British history (Woman & Home )

This very readable account of how 21st-Century Britain was made is a roller-coaster of a ride through fashion and fascism, terrorism and television, soccer and sex. (Good Book Guide )

All history is subjective, while O'Farrell's take is comically so...Will bring a smile to grumpy old men everywhere. (Daily Mirror ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description

John O'Farrell is back with his utterly impartial, cantankerous journey through history, bringing us right up to the present day
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Inside This Book (Learn More)
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 73 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was looking for! 27 Oct 2009
By Mr. W. Snow
Format:Hardcover
If you're like me (never bothered studying history, have only recently started reading newspapers and becoming interested in politics) and have a vague sense of the political scene and are looking for a modern history book to fill you in, then this is probably the one you want.

Over the years I've soaked up a folklore history of politics (Thatcher vs. Miners etc etc) but never really known the ins and outs of everything from post World War II. John O'Farrell not only takes you through this fascinating modern history, but the dry wit of his comedy never misses the mark: every paragraph, at least, I was chuckling along.

But the greatest aspect of the comedy is how he can turn it off to go "But in all seriousness, pay attention for a second because here is my view on..." which he does a few times to great effect. He challenges commonly accepted views and media-created folklore (the dire life of post-war rationing, the 'golden age' of the 1950s, the 'swinging sixties' etc) to really make you think about what a privileged society we live in today, despite all of its ills, and for you to really think next time you hear someone say things were better in their day.

The chapters are well devised and structured (with great section headers throughout), and though it is written from a generally pro-Labour standpoint don't think it's all a lovey-dovey lefty stance. If you're a level headed person who wonders how on earth the current political-economic situation came around, then you'll agree with what's said.

If you want to know how on earth the Middle-East situation, or any other number of foreign affair issues, came about then buy this book and you'll be as dumbfounded as I was about just how the 'auld empire' gave its countries back to their people.

In short, I was looking for a mid-length enjoyable read to fill me in on everything from 1945-2008 so I could know our modern history before the next general election - and got exactly what I was looking for.

If you enjoyed the previous book (An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge)) then you'll love this. And vice versa.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars OK, but not as good his previous book 21 Aug 2010
By Music/Book/Film Fan
Format:Paperback
After reading the "An Utterly Impartial ..." book I was quite looking forward to reading this one. It is a good book which nicely distils 60 years of post war British history into an enjoyable book.

Sadly the humour in this book isn't as funny as in the previous book - although still quite amusing in places. And the other thing that probably has an impact is that British post war history quite frankly isn't that uplifting, it's basically one long story of steady decline.

However, for a good, quick overview of modern British history it is worth reading. So go for it, you won't regret it.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars a good read 24 Nov 2009
By R. Herbert
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book after seeing John Farrell on the tv one morning, i enjoyed it as i lived through most of the content,
a good insight into the ruling classes,i normally get bored with a book half way through,but i finished this one,which is all one needs to know, a jolly good read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Making modern history interesting and funny
As I enjoyed the previous book, An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years Of Upper Class Idiots In Charge) so much I decided I definitely wanted to read the sequel... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Culture Vulture
5.0 out of 5 stars Great satire.
I loved his style and humour. Very readable with more than a hint of truth in the satire. Highly recommended
Published 24 days ago by C. ENGLISHBY
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliantly observed
Brilliantly observed, & funny - sometimes hilarious - but at the same time deadly serious.

Like a rich fruit cake, I found it best to eat in small slices to avoid... Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Benn
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
well worth reading and very amusing. A well written light way to look at history and it encourages you to study more history
Published 2 months ago by Sheana McKerracher
1.0 out of 5 stars a socialists guide
If you are after a one sided socialist view of the history of Modern Britain, look no further - i had hoped just a good balanced guide to our history but felt like i was reading a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mack
1.0 out of 5 stars Left wing dross
This book is very, very funny but certainly not in the way the author intended. I wasn't that far into it when I read in disbelief that the according to O'Farrell, post-war... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gareth Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good book.
This book is very enjoyable and very amusing too. If you are into History I would definitely recommend reading this book.
Published 3 months ago by suzienne
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Entertainment
Not as enjoyable as his earlier review over the longer period.
Final sections rather ordinary whereas the the early sections were engrossing. Read more
Published 3 months ago by John E.Cawley
4.0 out of 5 stars Easy learning
An amusing and efficient method of following modern history - in a word how to to presenr facts with humour
Published 4 months ago by A J Shelton
5.0 out of 5 stars What a laugh
If you don't like history this is the book for you. I promise once you have finished it you will love history. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Prof.Del
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