Grant Shapp's bookshelf and 'Zoom' background

[chomalungma]

Honestly.

He has an open 'Red box' - is it supposed to be a Government red box?
Then he has several books on the bookshelf possibly deliberately facing outwards so we can all see what he may be reading.

Plus the Union flag as well.

I wonder if he spends a lot of time preparing it for interviews?

Then he has several books on the bookshelf possibly deliberately facing outwards so we can all see what he may be reading.

How else would you face a book on a shelf except outward? Surely any other way would mean you couldn’t identify the book yourself?

Generally though, I expect you’re right. I’m mindful of my background when doing zoom calls and I only have to worry about what a handful of my colleagues might think. If I had the eyes of the nation on me I would set my backgrounds up carefully too.

No she means the face of the book pointing forward not just the spine... Like a Waterstones display. It basically shows someone obsessed with image and possibly an ego maniac the get up he had going.... On par with Matt Hancocks gigantic picture of the queen in his home 😂

Personally I prefer to modesty as that shows more character and integrity. Less likely to be swayed by all that glitters.

How else would you face a book on a shelf except outward? Surely any other way would mean you couldn’t identify the book yourself

It's Waterstones's style!

All it needs is a little card underneath with some recommendations.

He goes to a lot of effort to arrange that bookshelf. It seems to change ever so slightly each interview.

I noticed Craig Revel- Horwood's a couple of weeks ago- quite a few photos of him and only him!

I have never rearranged a background. I just check no pants on the floor and thats it

Didn't see this one but it's my new favourite game. I get so distracted by looking at the backgrounds, it's interesting to see what people want the background to say about them. I've decided that those people in power /celebrities who choose a blank background are people that believe in what they are saying, whereas those that need props feel they need to prove that their opinions are worth listening too. This is obviously very scientific.

@chomalungma

How else would you face a book on a shelf except outward? Surely any other way would mean you couldn’t identify the book yourself

It's Waterstones's style!

All it needs is a little card underneath with some recommendations.

He goes to a lot of effort to arrange that bookshelf. It seems to change ever so slightly each interview.

I completely agree. I have no idea what he was saying!

He's such a tosser

@chatterbugmegastar

He's such a tosser

I agree.

He came to visit one of my care services once in his constituency. Ignored me completely and spoke solely to my male boss. Only spoke to the residents when there was a camera on him. And he was rude to his PA. So I concur on him being a tosser. I noticed his red box a few months ago during one of his interviews. Obviously shows he's very busy and important . Probably nothing in it

The Queen portrait belongs to the Government, it's not in his home

I saw Jason Isaacs being interviewed about some rubbish movie he;d made and behind him on the shelves he'd made a poster saying "intellectual book collection".

that was funny.

I hate the ones who display the books "Waterstone's" style, it just seems like a blatant, and totally inappropriate, advert to me. I've seen plenty of people doing it displaying their own book. Just tacky.

I've come to the conclusion anyone in front of a massive bookcase is hugely insecure and desperate for you to think they're intelligent 😁

LOL he’s trolling you.

I’ve noticed that before, what a knob

Although NOTHING beats Matt Hancock’s oversized kitschy Queen portrait

What books is he reading?

Try again

@Littleposh re big portrait are you sure? This was early on in lockdown, it's not a traditional one it's quite modern and jazzy. I swear it was in his home, sure I remember seeing the caption of his location/or presenters saying he was live from his home?

@Littleposh

I don't watch the news so i don't have an opinion on all of this, but I have one room in my home where i can work. There are no plain walls in this room. The room is full of character. People may think I'm displaying or projecting what i want others to think of me and the thought embarrasses me. I always turn the self view off so that I'm not thinking about it even if others are.

www.artlyst.com/news/health-secretary-matt-hancock-spins-corona-yarn-front-damien-hirst-painting/

A quick google shows Matt Hancock’s Queen painting is by Damien Hurst and owned by the government.

There was an early morning weekend Matt Hancock interview way back in March in a tiny room with lots of pictures. I will not be told it wasn't his downstairs loo.