Britain in the 1980s

This is overall a competent summary of the social, political and economic history of the UK in the 1980s. I stress the word "summary" which is exactly what it is. It is quite short and lacks any real analysis. My immediate comparison is Dominic Sandbrook's series which has a much greater amount of analysis and in particular characterisations of the main players. The narration of Sandbrook's books is also more entertaining with voice characterisations. But overall an enjoyable listen.

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Competent review of the 80s

A satisfying review of the major events of the decade. Descriptive rather than analytical, with major strands in politics and culture well defined

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A memorial to a turbulent decade.

A well read reminder of the decade that changed Britain for good. Political, sometimes shocking but mostly a head nodding reminder of the 1980's.

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5 stars all the way

Interesting and even fascinating if you grew up in the 80s. It will bring back many fond memories.
One of my top 10 in over 200 various books.

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fascinating, well structured and delivered

really well structured with themes per chapter like comedy/ sports/ northern Ireland/ the banks/ music. Engagingly read and pitched just right

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Solid enjoyable read

If you could sum up No Such Thing as Society in three words, what would they be?

A very good history/general knowledge book of the UK in the 1980s. Well worth your time.

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Great

I really enjoyed this as I grew up in the 80s. Lots of very interesting stuff in this book.

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Interesting listen

Really interesting to hear more about things I heard growing up, putting some things into a little more perspective and understanding. Well written and well read too

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What the movie "The Iron Lady" should have been

For all those who were sorely disappointed at the recent movie "The Iron Lady" (a 90-minute movie that had about 10 minutes about Thatcher and the 80's), this book is for you.

It covers much more than just Margaret Thatcher; it truly covers all the 80's and what a breadth of coverage and perspective.

It explains the changes that occurred in the 10 years before Margaret Thatcher was elected (with hugely informative examples on inflation), to explain the context of her election in 1979. It explains how the UK in 1979 was a place that would be "alien" to most of us (banks did not do mortgages; building companies did, and they did not offer bank accounts, only 33% of Britons had a bank account, most salaries were paid in cash, credit cards were almost unheard of, waiting to get a phone line was 3-6 months, ....) and then contrasts how the UK had changed totally by the end of the 80's.

I gave this book 5 stars because anyone interested in the subject matter should read (listen to) it. However, it is not perfect.

The author has a clear anti-Thatcher, anti-Falklands bias. Yet, although the bias is palpable, the information is so detailed and well presented that one does not mind the bias (which has the merit of being honest). I think that what make the author's bias palatable is the fact that he pulls no punches when describing those he obviously cares for (Bob Geldof, the Labour Party, the Miners' Union) making his barbs at Thatcherism even-handed.

The author also seems to be a specialist of obscure "musicians" whose main claim to fame is anti-establishment lyrics, rather than any musicality, and this emphasis does make the chapter on the music of the 80's overly long and, past the halfway point, uninteresting.

The reader of this audiobook was fine (I cannot really remember what he sounded like, which must be a compliment)

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Great listen for an eighties child

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book. I was a young child in the eighties and it's fascinating to hear what I lived through - even if most of it passed me by. This period still resonates today - and in a few more years I'm sure the next generation will idolise it much like we do the sixties. My only gripe, and the reason I docked a star, is that it is heavy on Thatcher and politics. I am a big politics fan, so it feels strange for me to criticise that. I think the eighties were about more than one lady.

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2 people found this helpful