Devil's Advocate |
 |
 click here for more details, find new or used items |
John Humphrys
|
|
Pages: 271 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0099279657
Pub: Arrow Books Ltd
Pub date: 2000-10-05
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 289909
Editorial Review:
John Humphrys has been a journalist since he left school at the age of 15. He is now one of the most respected broadcasters of his generation and his interviews on Radio Four's Today programme are regarded by some as compulsive and compulsory listening. In his debut book, Devil's Advocate, he draws on 40 years of experience to look at the changes that have been happening in Britain and possible future scenarios. The first section of the book is devoted to what he calls "the shoulder-shrugging society" and he doesn't paint a very pretty picture. He argues that the British have lost the concept of shame--an excuse is always found if someone does something wrong; children are losing their innocence at an earlier age; people increasingly think of themselves as victims; they are terribly sentimental, confusing genuine caring with wearing a ribbon; and feeling good is the goal of modern life. So what is to blame for this appalling malaise? Humphrys believes it's "consumer populism"--everything being judged according to its commercial value. The situation is exacerbated by the media, which is also under commercial pressure, and becoming increasingly trivial in a bid to chase the ratings. He doesn't offer any quick-fix solutions to the problems, but encourages readers to dissent and keep questioning the accepted wisdom. This book is very strongly argued and there is plenty to agree and disagree with. It achieves exactly what Humphrys is famous for--stimulating debate. --Carina Trimingham
Reader Reviews:
More than just a rant (0/0 people found this helpful)
Indeed it is more than just a rant although it is clear that Mr Humphrys must be a bit annoyed by what he sees in the way things are going.
He covers so many subjects in this book it is hard to do them justice here so I will not even try! I think his views are well argued and generally convincing and this book is certainly worth a read. Indeed it can be read in sections so the reader can dip in and out by chapter. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on commercialism and sentimentality!
THIS BOOK MADE ME ANGRY (in a good way) (6/6 people found this helpful)
Having never listened to the Today programme on the radio, or really watched many of his interviews on TV, I've never heard much of what John Humphrys has had to say. Given how highly he's regarded as a a journalist and interviewer I was intrigued to see what he would have to say.
The book is basically a rant... He tells us all that's wrong in the world, why it was all better in the old day and how to improve it. Despite his suggestions of improvement being fairly minimal (and in my view not a highlight of the book), overall this is a great read - he delivers his thoughts on where things are wrong with a perceptive eye, excellent wit and once you start reading this book it is difficult to put down.
I found myself nodding in agreement with much of the book (especially his views on the developing victim culture) and definitely recommend this as an excellent read.
Big on opinions, shorter on evidence (6/7 people found this helpful)
I enjoyed much of this book's description of the modern state of the UK. However, too often I found myself irritated by Humphrys' more subjective outbursts. He has a lot to say that is interesting and diverting (if not always wholly stimulating) but when he enters one of his tirades against the latest modern malevolence he becomes almost unreadable. In fact, the incoherent and randomly argued opening pages almost made me give up on it.
I'm glad I didn't. When he gets to his own turf - journalism and TV news in particular - he has a lot more of substance to say; and a lot more evidence for his views.
Humphrys states in his book that teenagers have treated sex as though they are the first ever to discover it since time began. He ought to remind himself that old codgers have bemoaned the state of things for almost as long.
A big disappointment (9/13 people found this helpful)
What a let down. John Humphrys may be a brilliant political broadcaster but his book is just one long, tiresome whinge about the country's ills. Much of his assertions lack any academic rigour and his remedy, which takes up a fraction of the book, is that we should simply be "dissidents".
Stick to broadcasting, John.
Political Correctness takes a hit (5/6 people found this helpful)
...As per his column in the Sunday Times, not afraid to speak his mind and wage a contrarian view against the rampant political correctness the seems so prevalent in society today. No more so in this book, particulary in a chapter called "Sentimentality" he calls in question the hysteria that surrounded Lady Diana's death as irrational and admits to still leaving him "puzzled"....Utterly compelling and lucidly written. A chance to get into the mind of one of the best journalists of the modern age.
Similar Products
In God We Doubt: Confessions of a Failed Atheist
Lost for Words: The Mangling and Manipulating of the English Language
The Welcome Visitor: Living Well, Dying Well
Beyond Words: How Language Reveals the Way We Live Now
Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Biography -> Political -> Britain -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> History -> Cultural History -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Society, Politics & Philosophy -> Government & Politics -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size