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Politics on the Edge

A Memoir from Within

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Politics on the Edge

By: Rory Stewart
Narrated by: Rory Stewart
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About this listen

The searing inside story of our broken politics from the former Cabinet minister and co-host of The Rest Is Politics.

Over the course of a decade, Rory Stewart went from being a political outsider to standing for prime minister – before being sacked from a Conservative Party that he had come to barely recognise.

Uncompromising, honest and darkly humorous, this is his story of the challenges, absurdities and realities of political life. Instantly praised as a new classic, it is an astonishing portrait of our turbulent times.

BRITISH BOOK AWARDS NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024

‘Rory Stewart’s Politics on the Edge digs deeper than most. As well as a fascinating insider account of the Cameron-May-Johnson premierships, it is a scathing portrait of our flawed political system and a “rebarbative profession” that, despite Stewart’s appetite for public service, chewed him up and spat him out’ GUARDIAN

‘Genuinely eye-opening…always riveting, often horrifying’
iNEWS

‘Hugely entertaining’
EVENING STANDARD

‘The most exceptional political memoir I’ve ever read’
ALAN JOHNSON

‘An instant classic’
MARINA HYDE

‘At last a politician who can write’
SEBASTIAN FAULKS

* A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE FT, GUARDIAN, SUNDAY TIMES, TELEGRAPH, TIMES, OBSERVER, i NEWSPAPER, NEW STATESMAN, PROSPECT, CHURCH TIMES AND SCOTSMAN *

©2023 Rory Stewart (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Elections & Political Process Europe Great Britain Politicians Politics & Government Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty
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What listeners say about Politics on the Edge

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Excellent Insider Account of the Shallowness of UK Politics

A comprehensive take down of the disastrous last 13 years of government, politics & media in the UK. Full of shocking and occasionally hilarious anecdotes of duplicitous, venal, and idiotic government ministers & MPs. Rory Stewart comes across as serious, analytical, and honest, in a Conservative government that is the opposite. The PM we needed, but got Johnson & Truss instead.

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9 people found this helpful

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Fascinating Insights into the Political Process

I am one of those who believes that Rory Stewart is the best PM that we never had, however, this book did dent that opinion somewhat. He is clearly a gifted observer of human nature and his experiences in Afghanistan and elsewhere have given him a fantastic insight into other cultures, which the Conservative government were mad to ignore. However, and it pains me to say this, he does seem to lack a certain humility, and I suspect that his lack of success may be down to his poor interpersonal skills. It becomes tiresome to hear time and time again how he was right and everyone else was wrong. And, a minor criticism, his attempts at impersonation of various people and dialects gets very tiresome after a short while. Nevertheless, I found this a fascinating review of the declining years of the Conservative government.

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6 people found this helpful

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Parliament no place for good people

Having read the first few glowing reviews of this inside personal Account I was sceptical.
I am now adding to the praise.
An unflattering account of failure of Govt. whatever your political opinion.

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Explains a great deal….

Very well written and delivered exposé on the outdated mechanics of power in the UK. Following the sequential governmental pile-ups of the recent past, Rory shines a light on the characters and root causes. Highly educational. Hopefully the basis for a more informed electorate.

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Fascinating account

Compelling listening, Stewart comes across as a decent guy in a sea of excrement. It’s a pity we elect such morons.

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Curtain ripped back in a searingly honest description of our crumbling democracy

His sharp brain coupled with incredible application to the task are brought to light so vividly. Parliament is a far worse place in his absence.

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Excellent hugely insightful take on what’s gone wrong in the last 10 years

I devoured this audio book and found the insights into the way politics work absolutely fascinating. Rory reads the book himself - and is great at it. He is such an impressive person and our politics is poorer without him (and I say that as a Labour member). I would urge anyone horrified with the last ten years of Tory rule to listen to this! And congratulations to the author on an impressive achievement.

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So resonates with me

Thank you for sharing your journey Rory - can’t help reflecting on what might have been!

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Brilliant

What an amazing man, how very sad that he didn’t become Britain’s PM. I found every moment fascinating and am deeply sad to learn about how government is so dis functional. A great listen

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great listen

interesting with great descriptions. well worth a reading if interested in politics or how it runs

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