Hain has had an extraordinary life and I found out a lot about him through this book (as you would hope). It's a decent read, though slightly spoiled by his seeming lack of modesty or retrospection. Every event he describes makes him out to be brilliant, even when he clearly wasn't. For example, he talks about backing the Iraq war without seeming to have any doubts about it, despite it now being shown to be a ludicrous political mistake.
It is also very disappointing that he starts off as a fighter, but over time clearly becomes very establishment, to the point that at one time he is campaigning against somebody he personally backs because the Labour party asked him to. Principled? Hardly. But in Hain's world this is merely pragmatism.
Digested read: People keep telling me I'm brilliant. And they're probably right.
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Outside In Hardcover – 23 Jan. 2012
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Peter Hain
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Peter Hain
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Print length464 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherBiteback
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Publication date23 Jan. 2012
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Dimensions24 x 4 x 16.1 cm
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ISBN-101849541183
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ISBN-13978-1849541183
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Product details
- Publisher : Biteback; First Edition (23 Jan. 2012)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 464 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1849541183
- ISBN-13 : 978-1849541183
- Dimensions : 24 x 4 x 16.1 cm
-
Best Sellers Rank:
1,297,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 6,842 in British Historical Military Biographies
- 10,733 in Political Biographies
- 14,681 in European Historical Biographies
- Customer reviews:
Product description
Review
'what sets Outside In apart from many of the other post-Blair autobiographies is that it is so much more than a personal justification for being part of a government that got into bed with the most right-wing President in the history of the United States, took us into two unpopular, unsuccessful and largely discredited wars, and handed out billions in no strings loans to the banks. There is a real sense of authenticity in these pages and much of this stems from the fact that, unusually for a politician s autobiography, it is almost certainly written by him.' - Simon Kinnersley, Tribune
Disarmingly understated ... refreshingly honest ... Peter Hain has lived life to the full, which is more than most of our politicians can say. -- John Kampfner, The Observer.
'one of the best, provides a fascinating view of events'-- Choice Magazine
His account of growing up in apartheid South Africa in a family fighting racism and willing to put themselves in the firing line is fascinating... This is a fascinating and personal account by Hain of the campaigns and of the way that the British sporting and conservative establishment (including a series of right-wing judges) tried to stop him. -- Africa Journalism
'readers of the volume will find themselves being offered an interesting fare of frank talk and recent political history' -- The Commonwealth Lawyer
'a man of great courage and conviction... a remarkable and sometimes inspiring read. For this alone, his footprint in history will be much larger than that of most of his more illustrious contemporaries... In the end he won and shamed public opinion into acknowledging the true evil of apartheid... This excellent book charts his rise through the ranks to become the coitus interruptus of the cabinet... there are some cracking anecdotes... a voice worth listening to --Jerry Hayes, Spectator Coffee House
Disarmingly understated ... refreshingly honest ... Peter Hain has lived life to the full, which is more than most of our politicians can say. By John Kampfner, The Observer. --http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/26/peter-hain-outside-in-review
Fascinating themes are covered with wit, candour and insight in this fascinating volume of autobiography, penned throughout in a highly readable, personal writing style which compels the avid reader, now totally hooked, to continue reading on... Highly engrossing volume of political memoirs. --Morgannwg: The Journal of Glamorgan History
Disarmingly understated ... refreshingly honest ... Peter Hain has lived life to the full, which is more than most of our politicians can say. -- John Kampfner, The Observer.
'one of the best, provides a fascinating view of events'-- Choice Magazine
His account of growing up in apartheid South Africa in a family fighting racism and willing to put themselves in the firing line is fascinating... This is a fascinating and personal account by Hain of the campaigns and of the way that the British sporting and conservative establishment (including a series of right-wing judges) tried to stop him. -- Africa Journalism
'readers of the volume will find themselves being offered an interesting fare of frank talk and recent political history' -- The Commonwealth Lawyer
'a man of great courage and conviction... a remarkable and sometimes inspiring read. For this alone, his footprint in history will be much larger than that of most of his more illustrious contemporaries... In the end he won and shamed public opinion into acknowledging the true evil of apartheid... This excellent book charts his rise through the ranks to become the coitus interruptus of the cabinet... there are some cracking anecdotes... a voice worth listening to --Jerry Hayes, Spectator Coffee House
Disarmingly understated ... refreshingly honest ... Peter Hain has lived life to the full, which is more than most of our politicians can say. By John Kampfner, The Observer. --http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/26/peter-hain-outside-in-review
Fascinating themes are covered with wit, candour and insight in this fascinating volume of autobiography, penned throughout in a highly readable, personal writing style which compels the avid reader, now totally hooked, to continue reading on... Highly engrossing volume of political memoirs. --Morgannwg: The Journal of Glamorgan History
About the Author
Peter Hain is the Labour MP for Neath. He has served as Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Wales in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2013
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2018
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The life and times, intricate as they were of Peter Hain....from South Africa, in steps to Wales'
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 February 2018
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Great book, great service. Many thanks
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2015
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He has had an interesting life. Born in South Africa and eventually representing Neath in the House of Commons.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2015
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Worth the stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2014
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why is this intelligent articulate passionate man not prime minister..... love him.
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Peter Hain, one-time anti-apartheid campaigner turned Cabinet Minister, here describes his fascinating political life both outside and inside mainstream politics. For more than four decades he has been an active campaigner and politician, during which he was involved in some of the most important events of this period.
Hain starts his account with the story of his early life in South Africa as the son of anti-apartheid campaigners at a time when this was a dangerous thing to be. When his parents eventually felt they could no longer stay in South Africa, the Hain family moved to London where they continued the struggle, with young Peter gradually becoming a major player in the British anti-apartheid movement, leading the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign (the proposed all-white South African cricket team tour of England). During this period, Hain was very much outside mainstream politics and in fact was tried for conspiracy and, rather surreally, for bank robbery - charges he clearly believes were politically motivated. Hence, his description of himself as an 'outsider'.
Having joined the Labour party and working for the Union of Communication Workers, Hain's political career as an 'insider' began with his election to Parliament in 1991. During a lengthy Cabinet career, Hain held a number of positions though never quite the top rank ones. From his own account, Hain was neither a party hack nor involved to any great extent in the in-house political manoeuvring of the Labour Party. Instead, his aim seems always to have been to achieve something substantive in each of his roles - following the mantra 'all or something' rather than 'all or nothing'. As European Minister, he was involved in the negotiations that subsequently led to the Lisbon Treaty; he was a minister in the Welsh Office during the devolution referendum campaign; he was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the St Andrews Agreement was reached, resulting in the restoration of devolved government.
Hain writes interestingly and enthusiastically about all these events, and if he perhaps blows his own trumpet a little too loudly at times, well, that's a common failing in political memoirs. He also gives us a little on the Blair-Brown saga, but thankfully not too much. I found this book a refreshing change because of Hain's concentration on the politics rather than the politicians of his time in office - it's also better written than many political autobiographies. Whether you agree with his politics or not, this is a well-told tale of a fascinating political life. Highly recommended.
Hain starts his account with the story of his early life in South Africa as the son of anti-apartheid campaigners at a time when this was a dangerous thing to be. When his parents eventually felt they could no longer stay in South Africa, the Hain family moved to London where they continued the struggle, with young Peter gradually becoming a major player in the British anti-apartheid movement, leading the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign (the proposed all-white South African cricket team tour of England). During this period, Hain was very much outside mainstream politics and in fact was tried for conspiracy and, rather surreally, for bank robbery - charges he clearly believes were politically motivated. Hence, his description of himself as an 'outsider'.
Having joined the Labour party and working for the Union of Communication Workers, Hain's political career as an 'insider' began with his election to Parliament in 1991. During a lengthy Cabinet career, Hain held a number of positions though never quite the top rank ones. From his own account, Hain was neither a party hack nor involved to any great extent in the in-house political manoeuvring of the Labour Party. Instead, his aim seems always to have been to achieve something substantive in each of his roles - following the mantra 'all or something' rather than 'all or nothing'. As European Minister, he was involved in the negotiations that subsequently led to the Lisbon Treaty; he was a minister in the Welsh Office during the devolution referendum campaign; he was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the St Andrews Agreement was reached, resulting in the restoration of devolved government.
Hain writes interestingly and enthusiastically about all these events, and if he perhaps blows his own trumpet a little too loudly at times, well, that's a common failing in political memoirs. He also gives us a little on the Blair-Brown saga, but thankfully not too much. I found this book a refreshing change because of Hain's concentration on the politics rather than the politicians of his time in office - it's also better written than many political autobiographies. Whether you agree with his politics or not, this is a well-told tale of a fascinating political life. Highly recommended.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2012
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Good read for anyone interested in the Labour Party. Good quality product, received well within the agreeed time limit. Would really recomend this book
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