How Not to Be a Politician: A Memoir

Description

Named a Best Book of the Year by Foreign Affairs , Financial Times , and Kirkus Reviews The #1 Sunday Times bestseller, published in the UK as Politics on the Edge. “One of the best books on politics our era will see . . . A book of astonishing literary quality.” — Matthew Parris, The TLS “[Rory Stewart] walked across Asia, served in British Parliament, and ran against Boris Johnson. Now he gives us his view of what’s wrong with politics, and how we can make it right.” —Adam Grant, “The 12 New Fall Books to Enrich Your Thinking” From a great writer—legendary for his expeditions into some of the world’s most forbidding places—a wise, honest, and sometimes absurdist memoir of a most remarkable journey through British politics at the breaking point Rory Stewart was an unlikely politician. He was best known for his two-year walk across Asia—in which he crossed Afghanistan, essentially solo, in the months after 9/11—and for his service, as a diplomat in Iraq, and Afghanistan. But in 2009, he abandoned his chair at Harvard University to stand for a seat in Parliament, representing the communities and farms of the Lake District and the Scottish border—one of the most isolated and beautiful districts in England. He ran as a Conservative, though he had no prior connection to the politics and there was much about the party that he disagreed with. How Not to Be a Politician is a candid and penetrating examination of life on the ground as a politician in an age of shallow populism, when every hard problem has a solution that’s simple, appealing, and wrong. While undauntedly optimistic about what a public servant can accomplish in the lives of his constituents, the book is also a pitiless insider’s exposé of the game of politics at the highest level, often shocking in its displays of rampant cynicism, ignorance, glibness, and sheer incompetence. Stewart witnesses Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and its descent into political civil war, compounded by the bad faith of his party’s leaders—David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss. Finally, after nine years of service and six ministerial roles, and shocked by his party’s lurch to the populist right, Stewart ran for prime minister. Stewart’s campaign took him into the lead in the opinion polls, head-to-head against Boris Johnson. How Not to Be a Politician is his effort to make sense of it all, including what has happened to politics in Britain and the world and how we can fix it. The view into democracy’s dark heart is troubling, but at every turn Stewart also finds allies and ways to make a difference. A bracing, invigorating mix of irony and love infuses How Not to Be a Politician . This is one of the most revealing memoirs written by a politician in living memory. Review: Mr. Stewart Goes To Westminster - While it isn't an exact analogy by any means, as I read Rory Stewart's memoir of his years as an MP and candidate for Prime Minister I was often reminded of the Jimmy Stewart movie from the 1940s "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington." Not exact at all, because Rory Stewart was already an extremely accomplished man: the author of several well received books, a diplomat who had worked in some of the most dangerous areas on earth, and a Harvard professor. But his determination to be a force for reform and improvement and his earnest desire to help his constituents had little or no chance against the cynicism and entrenched mindsets against which he found himself battling during the decade he held office. Stewart's account begins with his decision to stand for Parliament in a northern English constituency, across the border from his Scottish home. He made his way through the tangled process of getting "selected" as a candidate by the Conservative Party in his area, won a seat in the 2010 General Election, and became an MP. He served under Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, held ministerial office in several different departments, and worked very hard to accomplish something. As Prisons Minister he had some success, but in which ever office he served he had to deal with cut throat politicking, both by other MPs and by the Civil Service. His time in office was dominated by the Brexit controversy, but he also had to deal with numerous other issues in what will surely be remembered as one of the more miserable periods for British politics. Eventually he made a run to become Prime Minister during the summer of 2019, lost to Boris Johnson, and was then forced out of office. As an American I really enjoyed this book because it taught me a lot I never knew about the process of becoming and serving as an MP. Being an Anglophile of long standing, I had developed some romantic ideas about British politics being far superior to the US variety, but I was quickly disabused of those notions by Stewart's account. Stewart is an excellent writer with an eye for a revelatory anecdote. He is not reticent and makes his feelings towards the Prime Ministers, other ministers, and other MPs with whom he dealt very clear. I came away from How Not To Be A Politician feeling sad that Rory Stewart no longer holds public office, and hoping that eventually he will find his way back to the fray. He's one of the good guys, and there are far too few of them in politics these days. Review: Clear view into real life British Politics - As an American reader long familiar with US politics I had little understanding of how British politics worked at the practical level. Rory Stuart presents a first hand view from the inside. This includes an intimate look at the doings of current politicians. He is unsparing in criticism as well as appreciation of these people. For me it was of greatest value in coming to understand how Parliament works in the UK, both in structure and in practice. Certainly very different from in the US. I could elaborate but that wouldn't substitute for reading his experience. Overall not a rosy picture there. I typically judge a book on both its informative value and its enjoyment to read. As I say above, the informative value is very great. The reading enjoyment for me is primarily in its candor, both introspective as well as in interactions with others. Probably more thorough editing could improve it somewhat, but it kept me engaged and wanting more throughout. The time period covered is from David Cameron as prime minister through the election of Boris Johnson to that post. Mr. Stuart served in Parliament and was a member of the ruling Conservative party. But certainly not an "old school" conservative, and clearly much more energetic than most.