Political memoirs or similar - recommendations?

[Yika]

Just read All Out War about the Brexit campaign, found it riveting. I would like to read some more 'behind the scenes' books about politics or political memoirs. Does not necessarily have to be UK or recent politics. Any recommendations?

[tobee]

My dad was given Gyles Brandreth's diaries Breaking the Code. He thought it was going to be terrible but was pleasantly surprised by it. Explaining how it works as a new mp and quite self deprecating. Also Barbara Castle diaries and Tony Benn's are highly regarded.

On the more historical side Margot Asquith's Great War Diaries. As wife of the prime minister at the start of World War One you can't get much closer. Plus she was a pretty extraordinary woman in her own right.

For something focussing on scandal Washington Babylon is fascinating, charting US presidents, from George Washington onwards, sexual and financial misdemeanours.

These are just a few, there are so many more!

[Yika]

Those all sound very appealing, thanks!

[buggerthebotox]

I'm quite fancying the Ken Clarke one A Kind of Blue (I think).

One to avoid is the Tony Blair. .

[Yika]

OK good tip. I like Ken Clarke.

[MsAmerica]

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I felt like putting in a good word for Barack Obama's first book, "Dreams From My Father." It's pre-politics, really (except for the section about being a community organizer in local politics), but surprisingly interesting.

[SerfTerf]

Chris Mullins. Alan Clarke. Very different but both very good.

[cowgirlsareforever]

Alan Johnson's autobiography. William Hague wrote a good book about David Lloyd George.

[OllyBJolly]

Elizabeth Warren's (US democrat) autobiography is very good. I also enjoyed Barack Obama's.

Agree with bugger - I rarely give up on books but Tony Blair's is unreadable.

[GherkinSnatch]

I'm reading Hillary Clinton's Hard Choices - interesting to read the background perspective of her time in the Obama administration as Secretary of State.

[OCSockOrphanage]

Alan Johnson's (so far) two volumes of autobiography are great reads. I also enjoyed Alistair Darling's Back from the Brink about the financial crisis (2008) and James Naughtie's The Rivals about the Blair Brown years. I have not yet read the Ken Clarke book but am looking forward to it. And the ultra-snobby Alan Clark Diaries are quite fun too.

[AccrualIntentions]

Chris Mullins. Alan Clarke. Very different but both very good.

Came on to recommend both of these.

[JassyRadlett]

Agree with most mentioned above - Nick Robinson's Election Notebook is a very readable one from the journalistic perspective.

[OCSockOrphanage]

If you are interested in polemic, Theodore Dalrymple is an essayist with a brilliant turn of phrase, a humanist conscience, an intellectual brain and a right wing sensibility. Unlike some of his ilk, as a prison doctor and inner-city GP he has walked the walk.

[FanDabbyFloozy]

Alan Johnson has written 3. The first about his awful childhood in a slum in Kensington is outstanding and the last about his time in parliament is also very good. The second is about his days as a postman and rising up the ranks at the post office union - not quite as riveting.

[Rockandrollwithit]

Second the Obama recommendation. I like both of his books but prefer 'Dreams from my Father'.

[OCSockOrphanage]

Oooh, must read vol 3 of Alan Johnson, and Chris Mullins too. Thanks, FanDabbyFloozy.

[BubblesBuddy]

Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign. Labour and Conservatives should read and learn.

[ClosedAuraOpenMind]

definitely Nick Robinson's Election Notebook
and can really recommend Project Fear by Joe Pike, which is a behind the scenes account of the Scottish independence referendum

[elkiedee]

Not sure I have recommendations - I have Harriet Harman's memoir in a pile of books to read and review under my desk but it could take me a while to get to it still! I have memoirs by Chris Mullin and Ken Livingstone on my Kindle.

I'm not getting it as I normally don't buy books by Tory MPs, but if anyone is getting it anyway A Kind of Blue by Ken Clarke is available on Kindle for £1.19 at the moment.

I must have missed the publication of Dennis Skinner's memoir last year - will have to look for that in the library catalogue at some point, also the third Alan Johnson book - as right wing as I will get. Though I do have Alan Clark's diaries here - special offer years ago from the Book People.

[Yika]

These are all great tips. So much choice - where to begin??! Have read Alan Clark - yes found that very entertaining.

[Yika]

Think I might begin with BO. Could do with a bit of the changey-hopey thing. Feeling a bit glum reading the news these days!

[bigkidsdidit]

I've just finished Shattered - Hillary Clinton's doomed campaign, which was riveting, although had a very strong agenda. Now I'm going back to All The President's Men

[DoctorTwo]

I have recently read 2 fascinating books, And The Weak Suffer What They Must? by Yanis Varoufakis, about the history and politics behind the Euro, and Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis by Professor Steve Keen.

[OCSockOrphanage]

The Ken Clarke memoir is a very good read and if "you don't read books by Conservatives" because they are all ........ , then try it. The world needs balance and sensible discussion. And if a child from the Nottinghamshire collieries can become Chancellor without nepotism or influence (other than what he won personally), through energy and ability, then there is hope for democracy. I recommend it if you are willing to believe that it IS possible to rise in politics without selling out your soul to the establishment. I don't think he is prejudiced in regard to race, sex or religion, only in favour of the success of the most able. And, ultimately, do we not have sometimes to trust in the goodwill of the most able to do their best for the least able?

[woman12345]

Primary Colors by James Lloyd: fictional account of HC's old man's election campaign.

Burr and Washington by Gore Vidal are good.