Nothing But the Truth cover art

Nothing But the Truth

Dark Humour and Shocking Truths Learned from a Life in the Law

Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

From the Number One bestselling author, a memoir full of hilarious, personal and surprising stories from their working life in the law.

* The Sunday Times Bestseller *
* A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week*

‘The SB is a gifted writer. Words tumble out with extraordinary fluency . . . entertaining and instructive’ – The Times

__________

Just how do you become a barrister? Why do only 1 per cent of those who study law succeed in joining this mysteriously opaque profession? And why might a practising barrister come to feel the need to reveal the lies, secrets, failures and crises at the heart of this world of wigs and gowns?

Nothing But The Truth is The Secret Barrister's bestselling memoir. It charts an outsider’s progress down the winding path towards practising at the Bar, taking in the sometimes absurd traditions of the Inns of Court, where every meal mandates a glass of port and a toast to the monarch, to the Hunger Games-style contest for pupillage, through the endlessly frustrating experience of being a junior barrister – as a creaking, ailing justice system begins to convince them that something has to change . . .

Full of hilarious, shocking and surprising stories, Nothing But The Truth tracks the Secret Barrister’s transformation from hang ‘em and flog ‘em, austerity-supporting twenty-something to campaigning, bestselling, reforming author whose writing in defence of the law is celebrated around the globe.

With a keen eye for the absurd and an obsessive fondness for Twitter, SB reveals the uncomfortable truths and darkest secrets about life in our criminal courts.
__________

‘With compassion, wit and intelligence, The Secret Barrister shows why is it that any of us plunge into the harrowing depths of criminal law’ – TLS

‘Masterful, compassionate and hilarious’ – Adam Rutherford

‘The Zorro of the criminal bar’ – The Times

Law Professionals & Academics Memoir Witty Funny Inspiring Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

Entertaining and instructive . . . A gifted writer . . . The Secret Barrister's picaresque journey to barristerhood is served up with large helpings of humour
Wonderful and insightful . . . With compassion, wit and intelligence, the Secret Barrister shows why is it that any of us plunge into the harrowing depths of criminal law
Excellent . . . at once a vicious polemic, a helpful primer and a cringe-inducing account of one barrister’s travails
As entertaining as ever in this third foray into the courtroom
Eye-opening. The candour is, at times, breathtaking . . . it is both human and urgent . . . A no-holds-barred book that tells an unvarnished story of a broken system an the people who hold it together
As compelling and illuminating - and as full of gob-smacking stories - as its predecessors, it is also fascinatingly personal. Anyone thinking of a career in the law should certainly read it
All stars
Most relevant
OMG - how did it come to this... I thought the UK exported its values of justice around the world. Very insightful - had me reaching for the insurance policies to check that I am covered.

Utterly terrifying

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I enjoyed listening to the book
It demystifies how poorly this arm of the profession are paid

An interesting insight into a criminal barrister

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I slightly preferred the original 'The Secret Barrister', so if you are only reading one maybe go for that, but if you loved the first (as I did) then this is an enjoyable sequel.

More autobiographical

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very interesting and enlightening book about British justice system. Seems the system may need overhauling!

Enlightening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I found it really insightful, likely to read again at some point, recommended, some sad stores, I hope we learn from them

great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews