Crap: A Guide to Politics

Crap: A Guide to Politics

by TerryArthur (Author)

Synopsis

Behind the jokey title and the lively, entertaining style, Terry Arthur has produced a devastating expose of the intellectual confusion, political deception and economic ignorance that have come to dominate public pronouncements. His precision of thought, clarity of language and lightly-worn scholarship have resulted in a book that would have won the warm approval of George Orwell. - Antony Jay, Co-author, Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister . Mr Arthur has presented us with a user's manual to politicians. Anyone who reads it will not merely laugh out loud, but will be armed against all future attempts by the political class to lie, obfuscate and prevaricate. To this end some philanthropist should pay for a copy to be sent into every household in the land. - Simon Heffer, Associate Editor, Daily Telegraph .Taking its inspiration from Terry Arthur's thirty year-old classic 95 per cent is Crap: A Plain Man's Guide to British Politics , this is a down-to-earth expose of the crap still being peddled by leading politicians today. Humorously but devastatingly written, Arthur exposes twelve very different sorts of political crap. Irreverent yet brilliant, this guide is essential reading for everyone who is sick of 'spin' - or worse.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
Published: 30 Sep 2007

ISBN 10: 0826491391
ISBN 13: 9780826491398

Media Reviews
On every page intellectual idols are pushed from their pedestals and balloons of pomposity pricked. A highly entertaining spectacle, and a salutary one. The more people who read this book, the better I shall be pleased; it should help to armour them against the enemies of freedom and common sense.
Title mention in Actuary, March 2008
On every page intellectual idols are pushed from their pedestals and balloons of pomposity pricked. A highly entertaining spectacle, and a salutary one. The more people who read this book, the better I shall be pleased; it should help to armour them against the enemies of freedom and common sense. Anthony Lejeune
Onthe surface Terry Arthur's Crap looks like a much lighter book. But open it almost at random and you willfind a withering analysis of most government exhortations, plans and pledges, putting into simple English the analysis of the American Public Choice schoolof political economists. The authorfalls down, however, in boasting that he never votes as he has no chance ofinfluencing what happens. He confuseshere the rational voter theorem, which states that a self-interested egoist hasno incentive to vote, with a more general cynicism about politics and policies. -Samuel Brittan, Financial Times
Compelling... it will make you weep with laughter and fume with anger simultaneously Birmingham Post, December 2007
On the surface Terry Arthur's Crap looks like a much lighter book. But open it almost at random and you will find a withering analysis of most government exhortations, plans and pledges, putting into simple English the analysis of the American Public Choice school of political economists. The author falls down, however, in boasting that he never votes as he has no chance of influencing what happens. He confuses here the rational voter theorem, which states that a self-interested egoist has no incentive to vote, with a more general cynicism about politics and policies. -Samuel Brittan, Financial Times
Arthur rips through the rhetoric and sets matters straight. Witty and pointed, he nails the contradictions and lies that spin effortlessly and continuously from politicians and bureaucrats. Arthur - an adjunct faculty member of the Mises Institute - has the skills and breadth of knowledge to find the hidden non-sequiturs, the logical Where's Waldo of the political spin machines. He pulls the nonsense out of the wash and tears through it with his sharp pen. Funny, witty, and topical, Crap is a book that will keep you laughing through the night, leaving you to think, That's true, and funny. Why didn't I think of it? -Jim Fadako--Sanford Lakoff
Author Bio
Terry Arthur is an actuary holding several non-executive directorships. He writes regularly for the broadsheet press.