I lived through all this.

A cracking read if you want to know how all sides were working. It was a tough decision for me and i liked the honesty of the Tim Shipman diagnoses and it would be interesting to know how he thinks his conclusions (such as they were) hold up after 6 months.

the naration was good, i get a sense he was amusing himself as much as anything with the attempts at accents and voices and in my view it was better for all that. I really enjoyed this book and if you read anything on Brexit, start here.

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2 people found this helpful

Fascinating

The story is well told and very detailed. Despite the in depth nature of the telling and the length the book never allows your interest to dwindle. One small issue was with the reading. For the vast majority of time the narration was excellent, I did find the attempted accents and impersonations a little distracting. They were neither consistent nor needed.

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Detailed, well written, amusing.

This book, written in such a short space of time, is impeccable. It includes accounts from behind the scenes that reveal why decisions were made by the campaign teams and ultimately led to Britain deciding to leave the European Union. Tim Shipman should be proud of a book written within weeks of the seismic events.

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An excellent insight into UK power play politics!

Entertaining and addictive book!
Highly recommended as it gets into the nitty gritty of UK modern day politics!

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Engaging with some short comings

If the topic interests you, I recommend this book, even if I’m not sure it hit me with any great revelations.

Probably the biggest shortcoming in my view is the absence of any discussion of the actions of the EU or European leaders, especially concerning the limited deal they offered Cameron. Whilst I can appreciate that the author consciously wanted to focus on the British angle, a chapter or two would have been of significant interest in contextualising events.

That aside, an engaging yarn, well told, without obvious, aggravating bias.

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Gripping, very well researched and brilliantly wri

Would you listen to All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain's Political Class again? Why?

Most definitely, I found it to be a riveting insight into the complexities of a national campaign

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dominic Cummings, he has the Bull Dog intensity for the fight and the never say never attitude that probably tipped the balance, I just wish he was on the other side

Which character – as performed by Rupert Farley – was your favourite?

To be honest, I actually found the whole thing of trying to be a character and attempting accents and impressions to be quite annoying and unnecessary and the main reason I decided to write this review

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I effectively did, apart from 8 hours sleep half way through, I listened to it in one sitting, even taking it to the kitchen, toilet and pub with me

Any additional comments?

For anyone interested in UK National politics, this book is an essential listen/read and I am looking forward to starting the next book, Fall Out, as soon as possible

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6 people found this helpful

Through the Tory Looking Glass

An entertaining and informative insight into how the British political establishment sees itself - as the rightful owner and keeper of who gets to decide what it means to be British. More of an extended gossip column than an historical analysis it should, nevertheless, be taken seriously as a lesson in how a tiny number of people in positions of power can cause so much chaos and not take any responsibility beyond "I love my country and I did what I thought was right". As one of the 500,000 'insane' who voted for Jeremy Corbyn to be leader of the Labour Party (twice) - and a remainer - I wasn't expecting any reinforcement of my political views from this author but the extent of the vitriol directed at Corbyn and anyone left of Alan Johnson was surprising. Understandaby the choice of quotes and sources was probably limited to unsympathetic voices but, unlike with every other character, there was virtually no attempt at mitigation of the vicious attacks. Even Tony Blair, no favourite of mine - of course - gets blamed for seeding Brexit in changing the British political landscape and paving the way for David Cameron to become Tory leader. Shipman's story ends when Teresa May takes over - so Johnson's promise of cake and eat it (and many other sunlit uplands depicted in his appendixed letter) are not exposed for the fantasies, if not lies, that they are proving to be. The narration makes easy listening and is fun but, like the rest of the book, should be treated as a political cartoon caricature - Gove and Mandelson delightfully understated but Labour MPs and any contributor north of Watford verge on the patronising.

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent, in-depth and detailed

If you're interested in the political aspects behind BREXIT, especially what happened behind closed doors then this book is for you.

It's fantastically detailed with countless first hand experienced of what turned the wheels behind the various campaigns.

The amount of backstabbing is phenomenal and the linkage of other non related issues quite eye opening. (the tampon tax being used as a pressure tool and Osborne for instance).

Overall I enjoyed every single minute of it and would highly recommend it to anyone.

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1 person found this helpful

excellent.

perfect outline of the Brexit debacle, concise, detailed and informative. an excellent piece of work

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Fabulous and frightening insight.

The people have spoken, the bastards - but politicians seem even bigger bastards. This was a great but frightening tale of stupidity, naivety, deceit, indecision, opportunism, condescension, cowardice and incompetence shown to a staggering degree by the political elite of
all shades. The same people who lecture us about governing for all, understanding the concerns of us ordinary citizens, who ask us to tighten our belts and pull together, who tell us they genuinely care about preserving and improving the NHS, about supporting effective mental health for all, funding our schools and libraries and looking after and actually caring for our old people - but year after year fail to deliver because in their narrow line of vision, self interest is a much higher priority than the national interest. However you voted, there are no heroes here. We are certainly governed by "Here today, gone tomorrow" politicians but it seems that most want to extract as much as they can for themselves today so they can enjoy a very comfortable tomorrow.

My Dad, like thousands of other men and women spent years of hardship and being shot at during WW2 to defend the concept of democracy. The suffragettes suffered abuse and prison to get the vote for women but despite this I increasingly feel disenfranchised. I no longer feel that voting for any party makes the slightest difference to the self serving political classes we now endure. Tim Shipman's book was excellent but it leaves you feeling even more despondent and impotent than before. I remember seeing the slogan " Dont vote, it only encourages them" as a joke but I now feel even more strongly that the joke is on me. We still have a parliamentary democracy in this country but the connection between the people and the government appears to be hanging by a thread and even that is being stretched by the self seeking career politicians, special advisers and assorted hangers on that this book exposes.

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13 people found this helpful