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  • The Establishment

  • And How They Get Away With It
  • By: Owen Jones
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,056 ratings)
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The Establishment

By: Owen Jones
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Editor reviews

British journalist, author and left-wing political activist Owen Jones has written a revealing exposition of the U.K political and media systems in his best-selling new-release The Establishment, which has been narrated in this unabridged audiobook edition by Jonathan Keeble. The quality of Jones’ research is profound. Find out enlightening details of the secret system behind the system, of the immensely powerful, faceless and nameless figures in control of the media. The more you listen to this incredible audio, the more you realise just how little is known about the systems governing the very fabric of the society in which we live and trust in. Available now from Audible.

Summary

Behind our democracy lurks a powerful but unaccountable network of people who wield massive power and reap huge profits in the process. In exposing this shadowy and complex system that dominates our lives, Owen Jones sets out on a journey into the heart of our Establishment, from the lobbies of Westminster to the newsrooms, boardrooms and trading rooms of Fleet Street and the City. Exposing the revolving doors that link these worlds, and the vested interests that bind them together, Jones shows how, in claiming to work on our behalf, the people at the top are doing precisely the opposite. In fact, they represent the biggest threat to our democracy today - and it is time they were challenged.

©2014 Owen Jones (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"This is the most important book on the real politics of the UK in my lifetime… You will be enlightened and angry." (Irvine Welsh)

"[A] fine writer, and this is a truly necessary book." (Phillip Pullman)

"Fantastic, timely, eye-opening." (Armando Iannucci, New Statesman, Books of the Year)

What listeners say about The Establishment

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Won't do your blood pressure any good....

Like a lot of people, I believe the ‘Ruling Class’ to be a self-serving bunch, concerned only with feathering their own nests and maintaining a political status quo in which the class systems of yesteryear ensure they continue to enjoy the best this land can offer whilst the proletariat are kept in their place. Boy, does this book pander to my prejudices!

I think it’s fair to say that most people realise that the ‘democracy’ we live under is not a perfect system, as indeed can any system of government be called perfect. The people at the top of the heap make the laws to suit themselves whilst amassing ever-growing fortunes, whilst the rest of the population are left to get on with it and be around to clean up the mess when things go wrong, as in a Banking Crash, A Royal Castle burning down, or the occasional war. (Which Tony Blair once referred to as a ‘Blood Debt to the USA’, of course not meaning his blood or that of his rich chums)

But the depth to which the “Us and Them” attitude reaches is astonishing. The author looks at each component of the UK Establishment in turn, and what he finds is both disturbing and, in some cases, quite depressing. The whole thing is basically Animal Farm, writ very large indeed, and it's where we all now live.

From the politicians who consider their six-figure salaries insufficient and so opt to maximise their expenses to a staggering degree, and then refuse to pay the money back when an official enquiry tells them they must, through the large accountancy firms who advise the government on tax law and then turn straight around and tell their clients how to get around the new laws, through to the big corporations who enjoy a stable and lawful environment in which to conduct their business, and yet who refuse to pay anything toward its’ maintenance in the form of tax, the rot and arrogance permeates all.

But for me the most depressing chapter was about the police force, and especially The Met. I am from a generation who have an in-built respect for the blue uniform and the men and women who wear it. I know I could not do their job, but I still deeply need those men and women to live up to the levels of honesty and trust we expect of them. But as a Londoner, I know that The Met and large crowds can often a volatile mix, especially when the officers themselves dress in ski-masks and remove all badges and identifying marks from their uniforms so that any subsequent identification is impossible. The author revisits the case of the G7 March in London, where an elderly newspaper seller was pushed to the ground by an officer who had a history of using excessive force, and who subsequently died as a result; The case of Stephen Lawrence, bungled by the police who decided to ‘put a team’ on the Lawrence family to see if they could find evidence that the attack was somehow related to Stephen’s lifestyle; and the lesser case of the Chief Whip who, leaving Downing Street, lost his temper with the officers on duty there, and was pilloried for it. And in every case the Met lied, about what happened, about who was responsible, about their own actions, falsified evidence to support the lie and continued to lie even when their lie was exposed, and all the while supported in their deception by our “Free and impartial” press. Yeah, right.

As you might sense, this book will not do much for your blood pressure, but the subjects it discusses will stay with you, and make you look at events in the news in a whole new, and much harsher, light.

Narrator Jonathan Keeble is, as ever, superb. His delivery is clear and informative, and keeps the listener engaged throughout.

Very, very highly recommended

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98 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Q. Who really runs Britain? A. It isn't you!

What made the experience of listening to The Establishment the most enjoyable?

The best book I have read on who really runs Britain. I am a middle aged, white bloke with a good job and steady income but this book inspired the revolutionary in me. The realisation of so much unnecessary injustice across the UK made me both angry and now a enthusiastic campaigner for change! Having just read Russell Brand's latest (but enjoyable) book, I decided to investigate his position further by buying this audiobook. The thinking behind this work is much better expressed and it is clear that the whole book is based on a huge amount of research and interviews with leading figures across society.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Establishment?

Owen Jones' main premise is that a number of institutions, such as politicians, the media, police and big business collude to give the impression of a democracy whilst actually serving their own interests. The results are huge injustices and levels of ignorance and almost disenfranchisement of much of the population.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in politics or society or anyone just wanting to understand the reality behind what the politicians say or what the papers print.

I hope that, like me, you come away with a realisation that our society is unfair but that it doesn't have to be that way. Their power comes from our obedience.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Keeble’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any previous performances. The narration is very good although the use of accents employed during the quotes was not really necessary. That said, having tried to read the book originally in print form (and giving up after the first couple of chapters because I am not a very good reader) the narrator really brings the text to life and adds a new dimension to the text.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

The book is split into separate chapters describing each of the protagonists before coming to a final conclusion on how to tackle this establishment.

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60 people found this helpful

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Tedious

I didn’t know much about Owen Jones when I bought this title so approached it with an open mind. However, I soon found the narrator annoying and preachy, to the extent I lasted about 20 minutes before abandoning it - and was the first time I had sought a refund. As a comparison title; Jeremy Paxman wrote ‘Friends in High Places’ on the same subject, which is a superb piece of writing. Paxman was also scathing of class inequalities in the UK but managed to do it in a far more sophisticated and engaging way. His writing has real acerbic wit and charm, which is ultimately far more likely to get the listener/reader bought into the underlying argument. ‘The Establishment’ was a real disappointment and the manner of delivery meant I couldn’t stick with it to hear, what I imagine to be, very worthwhile arguments.

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Interesting start, descending into hidden agenda

Quite interesting for initial part but then quickly flips to author basically challenging anything and everything that he doesn't agree with. In effect proposing a complete abolition/overhaul of the government, police, press etc. I feel I paid to hear somebody grinding their axe

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23 people found this helpful

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An alternative way

An excellent overview of the current "democratic" system and its entrenchment of power and wealth. Highly recommend for those with an open mind.

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A VERY important book... read before the election

What did you like most about The Establishment?

This book is a shocking look at how the powerful run our country and how our democracy is threatened. If everyone in the UK were to stop what they are doing now and read this, it would make change the result of the general election. The most frightening thing is the realization of the power newspaper owners have to dictate policy and how politicians kowtow to them.

What did you like best about this story?

Its clarity

What does Jonathan Keeble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Excellent voice and very good at saying quotes in a different voice that approximates who is being quoted.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Should be made into a documentary ... tagline "The Establishment... the threat to our democracy"

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Fascinating and terrifyingly real

Superb and well researched book. Absolutely fascinating and terrifyingly real. Owen Jones is a legend for shouting about all this, VERY well played.

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13 people found this helpful

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Great insight into the world of our rulers

loved the book. it resonates with millions of Britons. stand up and be counted.

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Bias, but interesting

Very interesting but the last chapter is a bit of a reveal on his thought process and disappointingly moves away from a previously factually based assessment of the establishment.

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Excellent!

Would you listen to The Establishment again? Why?

No, but I will read it.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narration was very high quality and would be excellent for many books. However, I found it far too theatrical for this book. I was so distracted by it for the first several chapters that I missed much of the content. Those who choose to listen to it are very likely to be quite familiar with Owen Jones. His work really requires a more contempory voice for narration, preferably his own! That said, my partner had no problem with the narration!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am familar with the issues here (although not some of the dinner parties with senior Police Officers). Despite this, hearing the recent and current examples here made me angry and depressingly pessimistic at times.

Any additional comments?

This is a perfect book for both students of academic Sociology, and those who simply want to know the truth of how modern British society works.

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