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  • People Like Us

  • What It Takes to Make It in Modern Britain
  • By: Hashi Mohamed
  • Narrated by: Hashi Mohamed
  • Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (131 ratings)
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People Like Us cover art

People Like Us

By: Hashi Mohamed
Narrated by: Hashi Mohamed
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Summary

Hashi Mohamed came to Britain aged nine, a refugee from the Somali civil war. He attended some of Britain's worst schools and was raised exclusively on state benefits. Yet today he is a successful barrister, with an Oxford degree and a CV that includes appearances on the BBC.  

In People Like Us, Hashi explores what his own experience can tell us about social mobility in Britain today. Far from showing that anything is possible, his story's conclusion is far from typical: our country is still riven with deep divisions that block children from deprived backgrounds from accessing the advantages that are handed to others from birth.  

Confronting the stark statistics that reveal the depth of the problem, the problems of imagination and confidence that compound it, and offering inspirational advice for those hoping to change their own circumstances, People Like Us is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand modern Britain - and how we could change it for the better.

©2020 Hashi Mohamed (P)2020 Hachette Audio UK

What listeners say about People Like Us

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Excellent

This book should be on the school curriculum. An excellent dissection of todays UK class structure and the barriers it creates for the upwardly mobile. A must read for any working class person that finds themselves within upper or middle class systems struggling to make sense why some things remain intangible and unattainable no matter what.

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inspirational Book

great book, very relevant to the western society we live in today.

every immigrant and their children need to read 'people like us'.

the book captures that resourceful and relentless Somali spirit.

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Insightful and Inspiring

Great book! As a fellow Somali immigrant with similar life experiences as Hashi, I found myself relating to many of his personal stories. The topic of social mobility is an important topic and for too long policies shaping social mobility have excluded "people like us" (no pun intended). I hope that Hashi continues to push this conversation on his platforms, hopefully something like a podcast with exceptional people who have experienced similar obstacles and hurdles in life. We need the next generation to believe in what is possible and that hardships in life are defining moments were they need to step up and be counted..

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.

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Excellent

Can’t imagine a more perfectly written book on the subject. Important, informative, balanced, humble. A must read.

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Fantastic storytelling

Sensitive unpacking of the challenges and facilitators of social mobility told by an immigrant that started from scratch. Inspirational!

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A book of Real life experiences and not fantasies

This book is captivating from the beginning to the end. Each chapter is full of practically applicable lessons. Furthermore, the writer went to great length to untangle the structural challenges and barriers for “people like us”. The chapters on Mentoring and Language gets me smiling on every sentences. This is because from my own experience, I know these are so vital in fostering social mobility. A must read for anyone looking for a new way of rediscovering and unleashing their full potential in this our unequal world.

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An important book

This is an important and insightful book that is delivered passionately and clearly by its brave and charismatic author. I was drawn to Hashi Mohamed’s story after hearing him in a panel discussion on the radio. ‘People Like Us’ is interesting for those grappling with issues of identity, diversity and ethics but also for adolescents thinking about embarking upon careers and unsure how much they dare dream.

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3 people found this helpful

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UK's Cast System Exposed With Sensible Solutions

Beautifully written with a large dose of honesty, Hashi has cleverly prised out the value and insights his personal story projects as both a critique of the UK's obsession with preserving power, wealth and resources for the privileged few, and a stark message to empower the disenfranchised.

His social mobility journey as a Somali refugee from Kenya allows us all to unapologetically redefine how we think about our own backgrounds in a skewed system as people of colour- often blighted by relentless challenges in society from school to employment and everything in between. Our personal experiences have often been beset for many by setbacks, insecurity, poverty, guilt and shame, but these need not be a cause to bury painful truths, rather they give us the resilience to work towards becoming our authentic selves for better or worse.

This book is thought provoking, so much so that I had to repeat many a sentence simply because my mind had wondered and I wanted to absorb every single insight on offer.

My sister and I listened to this at the same time. She believes Hashi has articulated things she knew but hadn't the words to describe the landscape so eloquently. I am inclined to agree.

I will continue to recommend and quote from this book for all time because there is invaluable information that can assist families and people on their social mobility journey's that will undoubtedly provide comfort, advice and the reassurance that there are invisible barriers that others also face and overcome.

This book is an incredible gift from Hashi Mohamed that should be adapted to be taught in schools and colleges in the UK and beyond.

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A must read for anyone interested in levelling the playing field

Hashi’s story and experiences will really hit a nerve with anyone who aspires for something better than what their means can give them. Raw in its honesty in relating what growing up in poverty looks like, yet incredibly uplifting and inspiring.

It’s full of well researched insights as to how the world works when it comes to social mobility, the prejudices we all have and inspiration of how individual stories overcome the statistics, especially when aware of the pitfalls.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Well Researched Well Presented. Well Done!


HM is insightful, educational , inspiring. Excellent voice with or without his "acquired" received pronunciation.

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