Ben Elton's Identity Crisis

gone you can exchange any book on audible. Just swap it.

Just came on to say I saw Ben Elton on his tour this week and he was bloody brilliant! He's so good on identity politics and such a feminist supporter. I love him. He had me genuinely laughing out loud and sobbing at times too, especially when he talked about his dad who had Alzheimer's in his latter years. I so wish they'd filmed it like with Ricky Gervais so we could all watch it. If you liked him in the 80s, I promise you, he hasn't lost it!

I absolutely loved it. I found it incredibly insightful and hilarious in parts.

Mumsnet name check was cool. The wrong side of history stuff.

Identity politics is absolutely shit and I think this nails it.

I'm buying everyone it for Christmas.

On the strength of the thread I wasted an Audible point on this. It might tick all the right topical ideoligical boxes, but I really hate the way he writes. Totally unengaging and dull. Like he's got all these ideas sparking away in his head and just brings them down, with only the slightest of frameworks to carry a story.

I'm reading it now. It really is very good.

I served him in a pub in the 90's. He was so polite and genuine.

Finally got my hands on the paperback and enjoying this already.

'He (Matlock) read the Guardian. He knew that language and attitudes were changing.'

I've finished listening to it on audible. It's properly gripping. He's a great writer

and YY to the person up thread who says he definitely reads Mumsnet

interesting section about the 'highgate' women's pond. juxstaposing the 80's hooray henries who sought to destroy it with poor, tearful, vulnerable Sammy. I think he did get that no matter how nice Sammy was, they were still male, so the net result of the incursion was still the same. That could be my confirmation bias though because I luffs him a bit

It was a really interesting comment on the brexit referendum. is all this gender identity clash being brewed up by the russian government?

They definitely do forment unrest online. do they come here and do it?

I think it underlined for me that I need to be very careful and clear about understanding why I hold certain beliefs, and strenuously avoid throwing out death threats (100% success rate on that so far - go me!)

I'd have been very surprised if he wasn't gender critical. Only people who believe in fairies could swallow that codswallop, and he has a functioning brain.

Off to see if it's available on kindle.

According to Amazon the paperback is due out August 9th.

Will be snapping this up.

I thought this was very good - the stand out moment was probably when Matlock and his stepdaughter were watching a video of a feminist standing up to men wanting to use a women’s pond in the 80’s. Stepdaughters reaction was that feminist was awesome.

Fast forward 30 years, and same feminist is challenging a trans woman at the same pond, reaction was ‘terf bitch’.

Summed it up for me, I think Ben Elton presented the many issues well.

He doesn’t seek to take sides, but I definitely felt he was highlighting the obvious hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance on the TRA side.

I’ve just finished the book. Thought it was a very easy read and more of a comment on modern society with some on the nose descriptions and a story that has real possibility of being true.

In the last few chapters I enjoyed Matlock refusing to describe a victim as their chosen identity and as how he viewed them - he told others they could use whichever name they wished. I think that’s probably his stance and a fair one in my opinion.

There was a lot of MN style feminism in there, also particularly enjoyed Malika’s monologue on why men buying women underwear is a bit cringe!

Overall a good holiday read and possible view into the future with an eye on how we’ll get there down the rabbit hole!

I'm seeing him live in the autumn and will report back!
His "got to get a double seat" sketch was a favourite of mine back in the day.

I've finished it.

I’m still going to have to wait for the paperback, I’m afraid, but I’m pretty sure it will still be topical.

Am really enjoying this, can't wait till people have read it so we can discuss it properly. And he definitely reads Mumsnet!!

I listened to this about 6 weeks ago on audible.
I really enjoyed it, found it to be very perceptive about a number of issues going on today. Particularly the England out campaign and the social media manipulation.
It was a little too on the nose at times though, like he was making a point with a sledge hammer. Pretty funny though and from my perspective pointed the finger at pretty much everyone.

I think a strength of the book is that it touches on those issues just enough to make people think. He couldn't write a full scale GC book as it would have been shut down. He can write a book that lambasts different sides of the gender debate but that is clear on the primacy of material reality.

He also makes very clear points about male violence.

The book isn't perfect but I think he is right to be relatively subtle.

He recognises material reality, but there isn't any discussion of women's spaces. The Hampstead Ponds are briefly referenced, but I think that's the closest he gets? I don't think that recognising that sometimes it's useful to know that someone is trans because it might suggest another motive for a crime tells us very much about how he thinks we should navigate the issues of eg refuges or sport.

Finished this and thought it was really good. Sends all sides up but fairly GC as he comes down firmly on the side of material reality. His sympathies lie with the generation who don't believe TWAW but keep being told that they are and are trying to do/say the accepted thing. He sends up the ridiculousness of people/organisations being swayed by on-line pile ons on people for wrongthink - particularly as these are very easily manipulated.
Worth a read.

I think he’s GC but he’s also a comedian. He isn’t going to miss the opportunity for a good joke just because it’s aimed at his own side. Comedy that only targets the other side isn’t satire, it’s propaganda. It’s the kind of thing that politicians force themselves to laugh at during conference speeches. Good comedy should make you cringe now and then.

I've just downloaded it as I need something to read on a plane tomorrow. If it turns out he has drunk the koolaid you will hear me shouting from over your heads somewhere!
(Haven't bought a kindle book at more than 99p for some time)

I'm about half way through and finding it so perceptive. He's really captured so much of the zeitgeist. I'm reading it as fairly GC at the moment but not sure yet where it will end up so I'll reserve judgment.

I have always been a big fan of Ben Elton.
I downloaded this the other day and have just started listening to it.