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The Welfare State We're In by [Bartholomew, James]

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The Welfare State We're In Kindle Edition

by James Bartholomew (Author)

22 customer reviews

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The welfare state is one of Britain's crowning achievements. Or is it? In this seminal book, now studied in universities in Britain and elsewhere, James Bartholomew advances the sacrilegious argument that, however well meaning its founders, the welfare state has done more harm than good. He argues that far from being the socialist utopia the post-war generation dreamed of, the welfare state has led to avoidable deaths in the NHS, falling standards in schools, permanent mass unemployment and many other unintended consequences. At a deeper level, he contends that the welfare state has caused millions to live deprived and even depraved lives, undermining the very decency and kindness which first inspired it. This landmark book changed the way many people think about the welfare state. It played a major role in the political debate that led to recent reforms. Now with a new introduction by the author assessing the value of these reforms, this classic text still shocks with the power of its arguments and the weight of its supporting evidence.

Length: 480 pages

Word Wise: Enabled

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Product details

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 15956 KB
Print Length: 480 pages
Publisher: Biteback Publishing; Revised ed. edition (16 Dec. 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language: English
ASIN: B00H6V0DPI
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Not Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled

Average Customer Review: 22 customer reviews
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #236,975 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #175 in Kindle Store > Books > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Poverty
- #16408 in Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Government & Politics

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Insight and understanding

14 April 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A great expanse of research, study and comment across the welfare state. Accesible format with lots of research findings to support key points. If only we paid heed to writings from earlier authors of centuries past our mistakes would not be so great. Recommended for anyone interested in society and people.

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Every person should read this book

10 August 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I cannot impress enough how important this book is.
If you live in the United Kingdom, you have to read this book.
It is insightful, self critical, and well written.
Whilst I do not agree with some of the assertions in this book, I do agree with the sentiment.

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A good book with points well made, but...

29 April 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a good book with some points very well made, and backed by some statistics. The chapters about education and NHS were strong. Yet, at times, the arguments, in my opinion, come across as simply made. E.g. This is bad because of the Welfare State or because of State interference.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

16 January 2014

Format: Paperback

I read this book when it was first published. I found it quite difficult, as it did not just think the unthinkable, it actually said it. But the arguments made a lot of sense.
Is it not a fact, that institutions, when they start their life, are really necessary?They come about because they answer some pressing need in society. They promise great improvements in the lives of their supporters -- and initially they deliver. Then they become more and more powerful and at some point their power, far from being beneficial, becomes oppressive to the individual and damaging to society. This is what happened to the trade unions.

It is more difficult to evaluate the long term impact of the welfare state. How could anyone object to the wonderful idealism behind the creation of the welfare state? Yet, the tree is known by its fruit.

It took a great deal of courage for James Bartholomew to publish "The Welfare State we are in" in 2004. It was received with great enthusiasm by those who already thought that there was something not altogether wonderful about the kind of nation 60 years of the welfare state led to, and of course with derision by those who are hostile to any challenge to their cherished views.

The new edition is a paperback (I wish it was an e-book).
It has been brought up to date with another 10 years of experience of the ills plaguing our society. I wonder whether James Bartholomew's well documented analysis will bring him yet more readers who get a sense of relief when reading what they themselves do not dare to say and whether he is still going to get the customary attacks from the wilfully blind.

0Comment 16 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

An Important Intervention.

8 November 2013

Format: Paperback

This book is not what other reviewers have labelled it. That is to say, it is not at all a treatise on the need for charities to assume the functions presently carried out by government, nor is it an attempt at class warfare.

Mr. Bartholomew does not, it seems to me, want to harm the poor or their interests; quite the opposite in fact. His book attempts to show the inadequacies of the welfare state; the problems that it has caused society as a whole and particularly those who find themselves, through necessity, most subject to it; and, finally, to debunk the notion, which has entered the realm of received opinion, that the welfare state is and has been nothing other than a force for good in Britain.

The tone of the work is neither condescending nor idealist, but rests firmly in the domain of realism. It is refreshing in its objectivity and relies on a lightness of style that makes what is ordinarily a dreary subject stand out from the page.

Though hinting at possible solutions, this book does not set out any firm means of progressive change. Therein lies its weakness. Overall, it is a well-evidenced, balanced, and erudite work characterised by a humanist's touch and a satirist's wit.

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The Leviathan state

27 November 2013

Format: Paperback

Bartholomew's book offers a telling and much needed exposure of how the modern welfare state has undermined the liberty and integrity of its citizens and created an evolving condition of servility and dependence. It is a must read for all those interested in reducing bureaucracy and enabling liberty and responsibility

0Comment 10 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

MR GLYN POWDITCH

14 October 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A data rich review dispelling many of the myths of the NHS and Department of Education to name but two. Of particular interest was the pre NHS health service which according to many, especially on the left, has been portrayed as failing and broken without voluntary access at the point of entry. This book shows nothing could be further from the truth.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Welfare State creates Yahoos.

9 May 2014

Format: Paperback

One of the central themes of the book is the decline of the British character. Whether this is directly attributable to the Welfare State as the book suggests is debatable but I would tend to agree. I live in a northern inner city and have done all my life and find in my experience the people who live their lives on benefits tend to be brutalised, vicious, aggressive, confrontational, and live utterly useless existences. They have the mentality of a parasite and live off the taxpayer like tics on a cat. Recently two families moved into houses in my street which had been bought by buy to let landlords, (another type of parasite). Since they have moved in they have intimidated and threatened the neighbours, decent hard working people who have lived there for years, decades even without any trouble with anyone. The older I get the more I think that institutions like the Welfare State, ideologies, Democracy, Communism etc are all attempts to curb the inherent murderous repugnant nature of human beings. Without them, life, as Thomas Hobbes said is 'nasty brutish and short.' More and more I fantasise about doing away with all the curbs on human behaviour and just letting the whole lot of them tear each other to pieces, which is all they deserve and all that many of them want if they had the opportunity. The philosopher Emile Ciorian said that human beings are 'the cancer of the earth'. I agree.

Anthony Daniels (Theodore Dalrymple), a retired doctor who worked in a deprived inner city, called Britain 'the Brutish Isles', based on his experiences. I recommend his book 'Life at the Bottom' for its depiction of modern Britain at the sharp end.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

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Most recent customer reviews

Amazon Customer

Perfect for my son's course.

Published 1 year ago

Eye opening and very interesting. Lots of history and great research. But feels a little like it is written from the perspective of someone who wants to dismantle the welfare...Read more

Published 1 year ago

Thought provoking and well argued, worth a read.

Critical of British society, but provokes thought and makes a lot of good arguments. Well worth a read.Read more

Published 1 year ago

Don't know much about writing a book but I recognise persistance, research, and commitment when I see it.Read more

Published on 2 October 2015

A well researched book

It highlighted the ills of our society as we are more reliant on the state. Highlighting the state of the nation before the establishment of these behemoth state driven...Read more

Published on 28 April 2015

This gives an alternative way at looking at Welfare Provision ...

This gives an alternative way at looking at Welfare Provision and how it impacts society, an interesting read that makes you think.

Published on 22 April 2015

A must read, even though it's 12 years old now. An insightful look into the reality of the British welfare state.Read more

Published on 25 February 2015

Required Reading

A very enlightning book. I would highly recommend it.

Published on 24 February 2015

This book should be compulsory reading for everyone; it is brilliant. The scope of the work and the author's grasp of his subject make it utterly compelling; and the conclusions...Read more

Published on 15 February 2015

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