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You Can't Say That: Memoirs Hardcover – 3 Nov 2011

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Ken Livingstone (Author)
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Ken Livingstone (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 37 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 500 pages
  • Publisher: Faber and Faber; Main edition (3 Nov. 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0571280382
  • ISBN-13: 978-0571280384
  • Product Dimensions: 16.1 x 5.8 x 24 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 278,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'Names are names, enemies excoriated, friends praised . . . highly readable.' -- Chris Mullin, New Statesman

'A portrait of one of the most fascinating characters in British politics today.' --Decca Aitkenhead, Guardian

'Thoroughly entertaining and sharply amusing.' -- Rod Liddle, Sunday Times

'Thirty years on, Red Ken is still standing, having given the Thatcher government a bloody nose, faced down Tony Blair and emerged once again to contest the capital.' --Seumas Milne, Guardian

'Nuanced . . . interesting . . . entertaining.' John Kampfner, Observer

'Highly absorbing.' --Financial Times

'Thoroughly entertaining and sharply amusing.' -- Rod Liddle, Sunday Times
'Thirty years on, Red Ken is still standing, having given the Thatcher government a bloody nose, faced down Tony Blair and emerged once again to contest the capital.' --Seumas Milne, Guardian

'Nuanced . . . interesting . . . entertaining.' John Kampfner, Observer
'Highly absorbing.' --Financial Times --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Book Description

You Can't Say That: Memoirs by Ken Livingstone is the turbulent true story from one of Britain's foremost politicians on over forty years battling at the front line of social issues, as well as the Blair and Thatcher governments.

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsTurn again Ken
By oz on 26 Nov. 2011
Format: Hardcover
So, what was true? What was embroidered? Mmmm.
It was a hard read, turgid in places but the devil is in the detail and I think this is certainly Mr. Livingstone's voice. With the opprobrium heaped upon him I suspect he is an accurate diarist and has been very careful with the names and faces that have crossed his path.

I haven't kept notes reading the text but his portrayal of pliant hacks `obeying orders' out to smear him, reveal not so much a paranoia but more a patient acceptance of the dreks and their employers who confuse investigative journalism with `..has anyone here been raped and speaks English?' There doesn't appear to be any skeletons in his closet and this must frustrate those who can't put him down by debate.

He re-confirms New Labour's image `freakery' and I laughed at his realisation that he was manoeuvred just far enough away to be kept out of camera shot when in the same hall as Blair or Brown. A touch of the `Alastair Campbells' there then.

For someone not educated at `Oxbridge', with a `tick the boxes C.V.' and a dole out the `smarties' PPE degree, [sorry, my despair at the current crop of politicians] he reveals an innate intelligence [`cunning' to his detractors] and a remarkable ability to get on with the common man. I think he senses the basic integrity of people and wants their better nature to prevail. His initial success as an independent candidate for London's mayor confirms this connection.

IMO two episodes stand out. The first relayed to him by Brian Walden after an interview, where Walden admitted that it was only with Enoch Powell and himself who answered every one of his question directly. Whether you agree with him or not is beside the point.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsDetail over sensation
By Mr Neville on 28 Nov. 2011
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Having read Carvel and Hosken's biographies and followed Ken's career over the years I looked forward to this book and wasn't disappointed. So much has been written about Ken that understanding him requires reading his account from the eye of the storm. The book is a big myth buster. Mud sticks but the sewage thrown at Ken, particularly in recent years by the pre takeover Evening Standard gets the treatment. The book is an explanation of how he stayed relevant over the decades while the rest of the left has faded into insignificance. Ken applies left wing principles in the real world without dogma so has survived and thrived while those left wingers of his generation who were once political giants are now forgotten relics. The fact he also incurred the wrath of the left as well as the right shows he's been on the right track over the decades.

The recurring theme throughout the book apart from his love of London is the importance of experience and the mastery of detail. He points out how David Miliband was dominated by his civil service advisers after a short period of 'persuasion'. Miliband of course being another example of the Oxbridge Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree to policy wonk to MP to leadership route. No council experience, no job in the real world, a mass of knowledge and a dearth of experience. Ken points out that Miliband at 41 hadn't learnt the lesson he did at 26 when advisers on Lambeth council manipulated him. I found this quite disturbing, the failure to realise the Sir Humphreys know they'll always be around and see politicians as simply less competent people passing through. John Major's autobiography said the same, he followed the same route into politics as Ken and bemoaned the rise of the inexperienced professional politicians.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Worthwhile Read
By Yellerbelly on 6 Jan. 2012
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This memoir was an unexpectedly easy read, written with a lightness of touch which meant it didn't sink into just another turgid mass of political anecdote. It was an education for me: I learned far more about the workings of local and regional government from this book than I ever thought I needed to know. And what a canter through the political "names" of the late 20th century; characters whose names I'd forgotten I ever knew peopled these pages along with some we'd probably all prefer to forget!

The book reveals a real human being, not just a cardboard cut-out politician. I've often disagreed with his political stance and I'll probably never forgive him for saddling us with the olympics but I've always thought that KL is that rarity - an honest politician who does what he does because he genuinely believes it's in the interests of those he represents. This book has only confirmed that view. We should treasure Ken Livingstone, he's one of the few people around who have truly made a positive difference.
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4.0 out of 5 starsLabour's lost leader ?
By Paul Jeater on 21 Dec. 2011
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Before departing for Australia recently I bought Ken Livingstone's memoirs from Amazon, within days I was asked if I'd submit a review. It's a large volume weighing in at 680 pages, the perfect book for holiday reading as long as you've got surplus weight in your luggage.

From the outset it's worth mentioning that I have a certain affinity towards Ken. We were part of the same movements for many years, we both grew up in South London, just a few years and miles apart. We both joined the Labour Party and through that experienced local government. As a result the chapters of the book that deal with the GLC years bring back many memories.

As Ken points out he comes from a time when class defined politics and ideas and policies were what mattered rather than style and how you present yourself through often shallow "soundbites" on TV. It is convenient therefore to divide the book into two halves, the years leading up to his election as MP for Brent East and then the rise of New Labour and Ken's years as London Mayor.

In the second part he explains astutely that the Labour leadership group in 1997 including Blair lacked the experience of running anything. While traditionally aspiring politicians cut their teeth in local government, here was a group who had bypassed that route. As a result many ministers walked into government departments without the necessary skills and grounding.

The latter chapters detail his role in the campaign to bring the Olympic Games to London, the impact of 7/7 and finally his defeat by Boris Johnson. It is impossible to read these sections and indeed the early chapters on the GLC without mentioning the sustained press attacks that have riddled his political career.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsInteresting life

There aren't many like Ken anymore, he loves London and has worked all his life to improve the lot of fellow Londoners. Read more

Published 22 days ago by c stevenson
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

informative

Published 1 month ago by john austin
5.0 out of 5 starsKen Livingstone

Rated by OH as an excellent read.Full of surprises and Ken A really interesting person.

Published 4 months ago by Blondie
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Provides the back story to so much of the rubbish that the Evening Standard used to write about him!

Published 6 months ago by Amazon Customer
2.0 out of 5 starsA wasted opportunity

This book is something of a let. The first notable feature is the degree to which it draws on Livingstone’s biographers. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Dr. Matthew Cooper
5.0 out of 5 starsHe does say it, and very well too. ...

He does say it, and very well too. I knew lots of the history that this covers but had forgotten just how much the press and othe rmedia monstered him. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Jools Verne
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

what a loss for London

Published 10 months ago by Malcolm Leslie Blissett
4.0 out of 5 starsThe admirable Red Ken, warts and all is still a warrior of the left

Now I bought the hardback from Oxfam in Stratford Upon Avon: lugged it all around England, into Wales, across to Paris, Vietnam and back to Sydney. Read more

Published 11 months ago by "Belgo Geordie"
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great book. arrived on time.well done

Published 19 months ago by Jude Harrison
2.0 out of 5 starsI was really looking forward to reading this but I ...

I was really looking forward to reading this but I couldn't get past the first few pages because of the quality of the writing.
Sorry Mr L. but I found it far too basic. Read more

Published on 28 Jun. 2014 by Miss Brigitte Barnes

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