Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
A Journey
- Narrated by: Tony Blair
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £11.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
Tony Blair is the politician who defines our times. His emergence as Labour leader in 1994 marked a seismic shift in British politics. Within a few short years, he had transformed his party and rallied the country behind him, becoming prime minister in 1997 with the biggest victory in Labour’s history, and bringing to an end 18 years of Conservative government. He took Labour to a historic three terms in office, as the dominant political figure of the last two decades.
A Journey is Tony Blair’s first-hand account of his years in office and beyond. Here he describes for the first time his role in shaping our recent history, from the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death to the war on terror. He reveals the leadership decisions that were necessary to reinvent his party, the relationships with colleagues such as Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson, the gruelling negotiations for peace in Northern Ireland, the battles over education and health, the implementation of the biggest reforms to public services since 1945, and his relationships with leaders on the world stage, including Clinton, Putin, and Bush. He analyses the belief in ethical intervention that led to his decisions to go to war, in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and, most controversially of all, in Iraq.
A Journey is a book about the nature and uses of political power. In frank, unflinching, often wry detail, Tony Blair charts the ups and downs of his career to provide insight into the man, as well as the politician and statesman. He explores the challenges of leadership, and explains why he took on public opinion to stand up for what he believed in. Few British prime ministers have shaped the nation’s course as profoundly as Tony Blair, and his achievements and his legacy will be debated for years to come. Amid the millions of words written about him, this book is unique: his own journey, in his own words.
Critic reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about A Journey
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christopher J. Campbell
- 07-04-21
50% Iraq justification, 50% PLP internal struggles
Mr Blair spends many chapters discussing the fall-out of 9/11 and the subsequent run up to invasion. He provides no previously undisclosed information on his reasoning so as such, this may weary the already war-weary among us. Gordon Brown is painted as an almost caricature villain by the closing chapters (maybe he was?) which is a fairly amusing thought. An already deep-rooted interest in the British Labour Party is required in order to push through this book. Be warned: Mr Blair writes rather indulgently.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
- Louise
- 21-07-11
One of my favourites!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book - and have listened to it numerous times. Very interesting insight into the life and tales of British Prime Ministerial-ship - the politics, visits with the Royal Family, life at Number 10, relationships between party members and the experience of being a Prime Minister - the ups and downs. It's very personal, beautifully and candidly written, and shows the warmth and integrity of the author. Great read/listen - made even more so given it's narrated by Tony Blair himself. I highly recommend it to all readers. You don't need to be heavily into politics to thoroughly enjoy this - it's written in a very personable, down-to-earth style.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 28-07-17
Must read
An in depth look into a labour government and a priminster who changed the direction of the country. For better or for worse he was
The most successful labour leader and priminster to date who won three general election wins.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Lisiane
- 16-02-11
Brilliant.
Blair takes you to the centre of the action where decisions have to be made everyday. One of the most engaging political autobiographies I've read. It's very direct, sometimes funny and witty. A must read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 27-06-23
Very insightful (although his perspective)
I found this a fascinating listen about his time in charge of the country and the life and death decisions that he had to make. A really good listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- I. A. Clark
- 30-09-10
The work of a consummate barrister
My first impression when I heard the narrator was: gosh, they?ve found an actor who talks just like Tony Blair! Then I discovered it was the man himself reading his own book.
As I heard more, however, I began to wonder if I wasn?t listening to an actor after all.
My first impressions were of a thoroughly nice guy: a little too convinced, perhaps, of the irrepressible goodness of human nature, especially his own. He robustly defends his record, and it all sounds convincing until you stop to think about what he?s saying. Soon I found myself reversing the spin on every one of his utterances, like so many subatomic particles. The result didn't sound anything like so good.
But that very realisation makes me more inclined to believe his version of events. There are one or two places where I felt he had missed out a vital consideration, but that could be put down to understandable blind-spots in a busy person, who gets little spare time to go boning up on anything but the matter in-hand. I am convinced that nowhere does he actually say what just isn?t so. Especially when reversing the spin confirms my darkest suspicions. But of course he is a trained barrister, hence he chooses words to show his utterances in the best possible light.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Brian
- 13-11-21
Excellent book
Fantastic autobiography, a very honest and open account of his time as PM. He doesn’t hide from any of the difficult issues and comes across with good balance and empathy. All the better as it is read by the man himself
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Saundg
- 16-09-15
Great insight into the Blair years
Ok, I have to admit to being somewhat biased, as I was always a great admirer of Blair & New Labour policies. I had already read the book, but felt that listening to the author added an extra, more personal dimension to the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 25-04-24
Simple, clear and insightful
I loved his style of narration similar to his delivery style at PMQ. A journey is a a must read to understand the geopolitical issues in the UK at the end of the last Millenium and the dawn of the new Millenium.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Judy
- 26-11-10
Very interesting!
A really interesting insight into the machinations behind being a world leader. Certain situations - the negotiations in Northern Ireland, the social eruption after Diana's death - are rivetting. His voice is interesting too - despite himself, it gives clues as to how he feels/felt about the situations he is recalling. I'm not an habitual Labour voter so was able to listen without feeling deeply one way or another about what he was discussing or promoting. What does come across is his real intelligence, force of character, great energy and, ultimately, how ten years at the top takes its toll. Fascinating.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful