Okay, the sun may not be shining but let’s think about all we have to be grateful for, shall we? The Olympics are on, The Sun and the Daily Mirror have, this morning, provided paper cut outs of Bradley Wiggins’ hair, and despite the hysteria the tubes have been no more busy than usual – the suspicious scent remains but I’ve not been crushed yet. Plus, it’s a brand new month! That said, allow me to pinch and punch you with the best that Biteback has to offer you this August:
Outside In, by Peter Hain MP
Growing up as the son of anti-apartheid South Africans, Peter Hain was first in the public eye aged fifteen, reading at the funeral of a dissident friend hanged in Pretoria. Living in exile in Britain during his late teens, he led campaigns to disrupt whites-only South African sports tours. His political notoriety resulted in two extraordinary Old Bailey trials and a letter bomb. Now, Hain tells his story from outsider to trusted insider: anti-apartheid militant turned Cabinet minister, serving twelve years in Labour’s government.
Published 28th August 2012
Clockwinder Who Wouldn’t Say No: The Life of David Taylor MP, by Paul Flynn MP
Among the scandals and scoundrels of Westminster, David Taylor was a shining light: respected and admired by his constituents, his parliamentary colleagues and his political opponents alike. The shock and sadness of his sudden and untimely death in 2009 reverberated well beyond Westminster. This sensitive and insightful biography is a fitting testament to a much-loved man and an exemplary parliamentarian.
Published 22nd August 2012
Reframe, by Eric Knight
Why can’t we eliminate terrorism by killing terrorists? Why can’t we learn anything about climate change by discussing the weather? Often we compound our problems by focusing on the apparent crux of the matter. In Reframe, Eric Knight encourages us to step back and observe our world from afar. By tackling problems from original perspectives and discarding the magnifying glass, we will discover hidden solutions.
Published 2nd August 2012
Who Rules South Africa?, by Martin Plaut and Paul Holden
With South Africa’s politics poorly understood in the world, Holden and Plaut present the true story of post-apartheid South Africa. They depict a nation fighting against appalling unemployment, poor education, widespread corruption and organised crime. In a country where poverty is rampant and institutions are weak, the battle for power is set to intensify. Plaut and Holden seek to answer the burning question: is South Africa destined to become another African tragedy or is there still the promise of growth and a stable democracy?
Published 2nd August 2012
There’s Only One Stevie Bacon, by Steve Bacon and Kirk Blows
He has never scored a goal, lifted a trophy, worn the captain’s armband or even played for the club, but Steve Bacon is considered a genuine Hammers legend. As West Ham United’s official photographer for more than thirty years, Steve has become a cult hero at Upton Park Packed with terrific tales, amusing anecdotes and controversial characters, and illustrated with the very best of Steve’s photographs, There’s Only One Stevie Bacon offers an intriguing insight into life at the Boleyn Ground and one that no West Ham United fan will want to miss.
Published 16th August 2012 (currently on special offer for £11.99)
Prime Minister Boris and other things that never happened, by Iain Dale and Duncan Brack
What would have happened if... Richard Nixon had become President of the United States in 1961? Rupert Murdoch had not bought The Times in 1981? The UK had not gone to war in Iraq in 2003? And one for the future – what would happen if Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in 2016? Enter a world of political counterfactuals, things that never actually happened ... but could have. In a series of twenty-two studies, distinguished commentators, including journalists, academics and former MPs, consider how things might have turned out differently over a century of political history.
Published 28th August 2012
The Margaret Thatcher Book of Quotations, compiled by Iain Dale and Grant Tucker
When Margaret Thatcher speaks, the whole world listens. Love her or hate her, her influence on world politics is undeniable. From her followers she inspires devotion, from her detractors she induces unprecedented venom – but they listen all the same. As well as Margaret Thatcher’s own words, this book contains many quotes from her political allies and opponents, as well as from the foreign leaders to whom she invariably gave a good handbagging. On the day of her resignation as Prime Minister, Kenneth Baker said we would never see her like again. So far he has been proved right.
Published 30th August 2012