Have I Got Views for You |
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Boris Johnson
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Pages: 320 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0007242204
Pub: HarperPerennial
Pub date: 2006-07-03
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 91043
Reader Reviews:
Collection of articles (0/0 people found this helpful)
This book is a collection of article Boris has written elsewhere. I agree with the other reviewer who said it would help the reader for the date to appear next to each article.
I liked Boris' book and the fact that he pokes fun at those who take themselves too seriously. Also his willingness to laugh at himself is refreshing, especially in a politician! It must be difficult for him to being a journalist and simultaneously a politician, for him to not lose his objectivity but he walks this tightrope fairly well....and he is willing to criticise the Tories (to an extent!).
Witty, pertinent and insightful (2/2 people found this helpful)
Though I have some fairly strong political views myself, I'm not one that's prone to spending a lot of time reading books written by politicians.
But, with the London Mayoral elections coming up, and being no fan of Red Ken myself, I thought it might be worthwhile doing a bit of swotting up on the opposition, and Boris Johnson has always come across as a witty character, if often making jokes at his own expense.
Have I Got Views For You is a collection of old magazine and newspaper articles written primarily for the Spectator and the Telegraph. Whilst some of them must be approaching 10 years old, and yes, are commenting on political situations that now seem to be some distance in the past, his insight into the situations, as well as predictions for the future usually make very interesting reading. With views expressed on a wide range of subjects, it's inevitable that even the staunchest Tory-boy is unlikely to agree with Johnson on everything, but his overall stance on individual liberty, and his criticisms of the current government are often hard to argue with.
This book (or whatever you'd call it) is broadly well written, witty, amusing, and most importantly of all, it always has a point to make - points that are easily digestible, and easy to think through on your own.
Super (0/0 people found this helpful)
If you enjoy works from Michael Moore, than i am sure you will enjoy this. I purchased this book for a little light reading for the daily commute but immediately found myself engrossed and even missing the stop on the Tube. It is a highly amusing read with many truths in it and it is written in true Boris style. I have not quite finished it but from what i have read so far i would definatelty recommend this to cheer up a rainy day
Might I Just Point Out... (0/2 people found this helpful)
...that the Spectator called this book 'Very very funny'? Who is the editor of the Spectator? Boris Johnson.
Eccentric dellight (5/6 people found this helpful)
Boris is the living proof that the age of the English eccentric is not yet over. These days journalists become politicians and vice versa but no-one has done it with the eccentric humour of Boris. He is enough fun to make one reconsider voting Conservative. He writes with originality, good style and much humour. He is a one off.
The book is arranged topically going from politics to who are the British, Literary Heroes, foreign affairs, personal interviews, manners and morals etc. I found myself longing for the dates and sources to be put by each chapter for the book is not chronological. I think it would have been better arranged chronologically and not by category as the articles span 1995 to 2006.
Highlights are finding his daughter to be Belgian not British, his flight in the Americans' top fighter plane, his horror at the death of a stag together with his defence of hunting and the one piece of British journalism I have read in admiration of Dubya Bush. Boris is a man for clear blue water. If only Cameron was. He confirms to me one reason why I never passed on to the Conservatives approved candidates list. I had more than a whiff of Euroscepticism about me when interviewed in the same hotel as Boris.
I love his self deprecating humour. Why did he agree to go on the TV show from which he got his title? Honest Boris says, a thousand pounds, enough for a family holiday. Have we here that rara avis, an honest politician? He is certainly the only one who is such good fun.
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Categories
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Books -> Subjects -> Society, Politics & Philosophy -> Social Sciences -> 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