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How to Be Right
- ...in a world gone wrong
- Narrated by: James O'Brien
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
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Summary
Random House presents the audiobook edition of How to Be Right, written and read by James O'Brien.
Forget agreeing to disagree – it’s time to learn How To Be Right.
Every day, James O’Brien listens to people blaming benefits scroungers, the EU, Muslims, feminists and immigrants. But what makes James’s daily LBC show such essential listening – and has made James a standout social media star – is the careful way he punctures their assumptions and dismantles their arguments live on air, every single morning.
In How To Be Right, James provides a hilarious and invigorating guide to talking to people with faulty opinions. With chapters on every lightning-rod issue, James shows how people have been fooled into thinking the way they do, and in each case outlines the key questions to ask to reveal fallacies, inconsistencies and double standards.
If you ever get cornered by ardent Brexiteers, Daily Mail disciples or little England patriots, this book is your conversation survival guide.
‘I have had a ringside seat as a significant swathe of the British population was persuaded that their failures were the fault of foreigners, that unisex lavatories threatened their peace of mind and that ‘all Muslims’ must somehow apologise for terror attacks by extremists. I have tried to dissuade them and sometimes succeeded.... The challenge is to distinguish sharply between the people who told lies and the people whose only offence was to believe them.’ (James O’Brien)
Critic reviews
"O’Brien is an exceptional broadcaster with a peerless ability to calmly point out the absurdity of certain viewpoints, a quality which similarly runs through this book ... provides a much-needed examination of the blustering rhetoric of politicians and media pundits, and brings a sliver of comfort to readers that they are not alone in their despair." (The Guardian)
"Almost indecently enjoyable." (Robert Webb)
"I know few broadcasters as consistently, forensically, brilliant as James O’ Brien. Here, he shows us -- with empathy, edge and exquisite comedy -- how it happens." (Emily Maitlis)
What listeners say about How to Be Right
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- A. Fox
- 02-11-18
I had high expectations & they were surpassed.
I’m a grumpy man who will agree 90% with James but like to concentrate on the 10% we may differ. I found myself slightly annoyed that after this book it’s up to 99%. I save the 1% so I don’t look like a fanboy.
Really well read & meticulously thought out.
He was kind & tried to be understanding to people he didn’t necessarily agree with.
Makes sense of much we feel ourselves but are to frustrated to articulate.
Oh I’ve found a complaint. Too short. Needs a second in the series.
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44 people found this helpful
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- D. Oliver
- 17-06-19
Holding up the mirror of what is happening today.
O'Brien is one of those annoying stalwarts, like an old school maths teacher that insist the facts are correct before forming an opinion on them. He is of course right, 2+2 will never equal 5 and Brexit is junk preventing us from facing up to reality we don't want to see. The truth is its easier to blame someone else for our own problems and mistakes that have divided our society. This is a book all about unglossy home truths. It is about honest.
O'Brien is the mirror that our society needs to repair itself. Not the photoshopped version of the 'truth' many major media outlets peddle to cash in our fears.
It is about time that we follow the example James demonstrates in this book, research facts for ourself because 'Journalist' for the Sun, Mirror and Daily Express are nothing more than fiction writers making money. It is time we insisted on the warts and all facts without the window dressing of opinion and the path ahead will become clearer.
This is a book that sadly reflects the state of affairs we are in today. Essential reading for anyone that cares about fixing our society and wished they had listened to old maths teachers.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Mark Counsellor Cambs.
- 04-07-19
Illuminating the Depths
An illuminating work. It is both informed and informative and clearly delivered by James himself.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-09-19
James is the best broadcaster of our generation.
This is even better in audio format than reading the book in my opinion. The way it's read is as if you're listening to snippets of his radio show whilst he's narrating what's going on in his head. It's fantastic and I recommend that everyone should give it a listen. Thanks James for hours and hours of entertainment.
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-10-19
Hilarious, horrifying- hooked till the end
Brilliant book- O’Brien is sharp, poignant and very funny. The subject matter is far from comedy- it is a really eye opener to the vast ranging views of humanity today, and without awareness and action, how we could fall trapped into horrors of the past.
I’ve found myself playing clips of this audiobook to friends and family, enthusiastically recommending they buy.
100% recommend, regardless of which side of the fence you sit on with O’Brien’s opinions!
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- MDRedwood
- 09-01-20
Makes one think
I picked this by chance, not being familiar with the author’s work, having perused a few pages in a bookshop.
Glad I got it. Very well presented. The author does rant a bit (with reason, to be fair).
Worth a read/listen, but if you want a proper challenge, also listen to a book with the opposing views!
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- Lee Taylor
- 01-04-19
I wish this book didn't have to exist..
...but it does and it's brilliant. I don't get to listen to James's LBC show due to work but I do see tweets and the occasion excerpt of his more spectacular conversations.
Well written, well performed and a fascinating insight not only into the attitudes of people, but also the underlying reasons for their "beliefs" . Thanks James
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-08-19
You won't regret it
This book was a short but incredible journey through a multitude of social and political landscapes detailing how James O'brien reached his current views and opinions of each topic over his time as a radio host.
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- Daniel Becker
- 05-04-19
James O'Brien at his best
I have enjoyed this book and learned valuable lessons from it.
My only disagreement with James would be in his dismissal of Jordan Peterson as an alt-right figurehead, he denounces the alt-right as dangerous all the time. Peterson's mention of 'enforced monogamy' has been widely misunderstood. I would encourage James and everyone else to listen to Jordan speak and read what he has written in depth before casting judgement.
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- Andrew
- 10-08-19
Interesting
I enjoyed this audiobook, it was thought provoking and engaging . I would recommend it, thank you.
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