'Fascinating and zeitgeisty.' David Aaronovitch, The Times 'Must be read by every incumbent and wannabe representative of the people.' The Herald, best books of 2013 'Two of our most brilliant political analysts focus entertainingly on an endless succession of great British cock-ups...thoroughly entertaining and erudite.' Observer 'A powerful new book.' Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Mail 'Illuminating and disturbing.' Philip Johnston, Telegraph 'Timely and intelligent.' Prospect 'Fascinating.' Alan Johnson MP, New Statesman 'Grimly entertaining...This book should be a compulsory text for every would-be minister and permanent secretary.' Financial Times 'Compelling...David Cameron is said to have read about Winston Churchill's early warmongering during his summer holidays. It would have been much better for all of us if he had read this.' Independent on Sunday 'One of the hottest books of the season...a deeply depressing catalogue of major projects championed at the highest level that have turned into turkeys.' Scotsman 'Rivetingly told...a feast of fiascos, a banquet of balls-ups.' Francis Wheen, Literary Review 'This is a very apposite book and should be read by ministers, shadow ministers, parliamentarians and civil servants.' Total Politics
'This is an astonishing achievement - that very rare thing, a genuinely original book and an immediately essential guide to the failures of British politics. King and Crewe go deep, without a shred of pomposity or a phrase of false rhetoric. From now on, every political journalist, civil servant and would-be minister needs to start here.' Andrew Marr, Journalist and author of
'My trade: A short history of Journalism' 'Enthralling.' David Dimbleby
'This book will make you gasp in disbelief and stamp your feet in rage, and quite frequently reduce you to helpless laughter... it is hard to overpraise.' Peter Wilby Guardian
'One of the hottest books of the season.' Scotsman
'Excellent... This book is essential reading.' Alistair Darling
'A powerful new book.' Dominic Sandbrook Daily Mail
'Illuminating and disturbing.' Daily Telegraph
'From two of our most brilliant political analysts... [a] thoroughly entertaining and erudite history of great British debacles.' Observer
'Entertaining.' Independent
'Clever and absorbing.' The Times
'The closest politics gets to pornography.' Simon Jenkins Guardian
'Rivetingly told... a feast of fiascos, a banquet of balls-ups.' Francis Wheen Literary Review
'Timely and intelligent.' Prospect
'Grimly entertaining... This book should be a compulsory text for every would-be minister and permanent secretary.' Financial Times
'Compelling... David Cameron is said to have read about Winston Churchill's early warmongering during his summer holidays. It would have been much better for all of us if he had read this.' Independent on Sunday
'An entertaining journey through the cock-ups of governments.' A non
-fiction choice in the Independent's 50 Best Winter Reads Independent 'Fascinating and zeitgeisty. David Aaronovitch The Times
'This is a very apposite book and should be read by ministers, shadow ministers, parliamentarians and civil servants.' Total Politics
'In a refreshing break from the customary finger-pointing tribalism of British politics, Anthony King and Ivor Crewe lay bare the ways in which governments of all hues have wasted mountains of cash on titanically misconceived projects in the past few decades... astonishing.' Metro A notable indictment of modern British politics and administration
... a splendid dipping-into volume to feed fashionable public distain for the fragile art of politics. Best Politics Books of 2013 Guardian
'If Britain's politicians are among the world's most honest, hardworking and well-meaning, why do they mess up so badly and so often? A trenchant book that will make you see red, even as you laugh.' Best Books of 2013 Economist
'Must be read by every incumbent and wannabe representative of the people.' Best Books of 2013 The Herald
Author
About Anthony King, Ivor Crewe
Anthony King is Millennium Professor of British Government at the University of Essex. He broadcasts frequently on politics and elections for the BBC and writes on the same subjects for the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and the Observer.
Sir Ivor Crewe is the Master of University College, Oxford. He was formerly Professor of Government and Vice Chancellor at the University of Essex.
