Listen to a sample
Great Britain?
- Author
- Torsten Bell
- Narrator
- Torsten Bell
- Publisher
- Random House
- Publish Date
- 13 June 2024
- Run Time
- 6 hours 39 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Political science and theory, Political economy, Social forecasting, future studies, Left-of-centre democratic ideologies and movements, Elections and referenda / suffrage, Political structures / systems: democracy, Central / national / federal government policies
- Rating
- 5.0 (1 review)
What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
We all want to know what on earth is going on. Why real wages are flatlining but taxes are rising, and public services are still collapsing. Why our children can’t afford a house and our neighbours are using foodbanks. We are all yearning for a way out of the repeated economic crises, generational divisions and political dysfunction that dominate our lives. Most of all we want our – and Britain’s – future back.
Great Britain? is a much-needed antidote to the pervading sense that Britain is going backwards rather than forwards. It is both a clear-eyed and rigorous diagnosis of the problems facing our country – a unique toxicity of huge inequality and stagnant economic growth – and a hopeful case for reclaiming a different future: by building an investment nation of good work, resilient communities and secure homes, a society in which both burdens and prosperity are shared. As Torsten Bell shows in his bold vision for the alternative, the Britain of today contains the raw materials to build a better Britain for tomorrow.
In this treasure trove of analysis, Bell argues that our era of crisis and cynicism needs neither utopia nor nostalgia, but a practical patriotism of radical incrementalism to raise the living standards of middle- and lower-income households. He expertly and passionately points us towards a Britain that we can actually build – a future worth fighting for.
©2024 Torsten Bell (P)2024 Penguin Audio
Critics Review
-
If one wants to understand some of the best thinking in the governing Labour party … this is an invaluable analysis and a call to arms
FT Books of the Year, 2024
-
A roadmap to the new normal … surprisingly hopeful … required reading for the new intake … this is an incisive, upbeat vision of how a Labour government could turn things around even in difficult times
Observer
-
An economic blueprint for a Starmer administration
New Statesman
-
Bell is an excellent writer with a talent for putting things so clearly and crisply that they lodge easily in the brain ... Although Bell is pretty bleak about Britain’s condition, he is refreshingly optimistic about our chances of catching up with our peers
The Times
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
This is stellar: brilliant, incredibly pragmatic and serious about the country we are. It presents a wonderful opportunity for an incoming government.
Rory Stewart
-
Spiced with wit, this is a masterful, fact-packed indictment of modern Britain after its decade of decline. But there is also hope and optimism in its practical prescription for a great social and economic restoration.
Polly Toynbee
-
A refreshingly honest and nuanced analysis of our economic decline, and a clear-headed appraisal of what needs to be done to pull ourselves out of it
MoneyWeek
-
Fascinating stuff - recommended reading
Henry Mance
-
No one has done more to re-inject sanity into our national policy debates – Torsten Bell writes with optimism and clarity about the things we are getting right, as well as the stuff we should be desperate to improve. Authoritative, forensic and humane – a critical voice for our troubled times.
Emily Maitlis
-
An incisive, challenging and brilliantly researched agenda to deliver what Britain needs: inclusive and sustainable growth.
Gordon Brown
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
-
5.0 5.0
Torsten is a great reader and a thoughtful commentator and campaigner who I’m glad is now elected and working in the cabinet office.
QuietNerding 2024-07-22
Details
- Author
- Torsten Bell
- Narrator
- Torsten Bell
- Duration
- 6 hours 39 minutes
- Release Date
- 13 June 2024
- ISBN
- 9781529933048
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Random House
- Genre
- Political science and theory, Political economy, Social forecasting, future studies, Left-of-centre democratic ideologies and movements, Elections and referenda / suffrage, Political structures / systems: democracy, Central / national / federal government policies
- Rating
- 5.0(1 review)
- Narration
- 5.0(1 review)
Synopsis
Brought to you by Penguin.We all want to know what on earth is going on. Why real wages are flatlining but taxes are rising, and public services are still collapsing. Why our children can’t afford a house and our neighbours are using foodbanks. We are all yearning for a way out of the repeated economic crises, generational divisions and political dysfunction that dominate our lives. Most of all we want our – and Britain’s – future back.Great Britain? is a much-needed antidote to the pervading sense that Britain is going backwards rather than forwards. It is both a clear-eyed and rigorous diagnosis of the problems facing our country – a unique toxicity of huge inequality and stagnant economic growth – and a hopeful case for reclaiming a different future: by building an investment nation of good work, resilient communities and secure homes, a society in which both burdens and prosperity are shared. As Torsten Bell shows in his bold vision for the alternative, the Britain of today contains the raw materials to build a better Britain for tomorrow.In this treasure trove of analysis, Bell argues that our era of crisis and cynicism needs neither utopia nor nostalgia, but a practical patriotism of radical incrementalism to raise the living standards of middle- and lower-income households. He expertly and passionately points us towards a Britain that we can actually build – a future worth fighting for.©2024 Torsten Bell (P)2024 Penguin Audio
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.