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Politically Homeless
- Narrated by: Matt Forde
- Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Politics & Government
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Summary
Part memoir, part behind-the-scenes insider view, Politically Homeless is both a fascinating and funny book for anyone who feels annoyed by the current state of politics. Which should be around 65 million people in the UK alone.
Matt Forde has been obsessed with politics ever since he was nine years old. Raised by a single mum on benefits in inner city Nottingham, he joined the Socialist Workers Party as soon as he could, foisted issues of Marxism Today on innocent bystanders and attended his first political party conference. From then on, despite some career suicide moments such as chatting to the prime minister at Number 10 while badly drunk, Matt's whole future looked wedded to the Labour Party as he started working for MPs in dingy back rooms in Nottinghamshire.
But then Labour started to fall apart and so did Matt's sense of purpose. With the rise of Corbyn, Brexit and Trump, his love for politics that had been so profound began to quickly crumble.
Exploring themes such as tribalism, the curse of complacency and why some politicians refuse to speak normally, Politically Homeless is a hugely entertaining book of (often hilarious) personal stories and thought-provoking insights into this complicated world. And despite everything, Matt's passion is still there. Through hosting his award-winning weekly podcast, The Political Party (over five million downloads) involving interviews with some of politics' most powerful and notorious figures, including Tony Blair, Nicola Sturgeon, Sadiq Khan, Michael Heseltine, Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and performing critically acclaimed stand-up comedy shows, Matt has been able to keep enough faith that politics will get better. Maybe.
Critic reviews
"Rarely is such an important book this funny. And rarely is such a funny book this important." (Richard Osman)
"Funny, fierce and genuinely moving." (J. K. Rowling)
"The second funniest book I have read about being a Labour supporter from Blair to Brexit." (John O'Farrell)
"Matt Forde is brilliant at finding the comedy which often accompanies political life. This book made me laugh out loud - and wince in recognition." (Tony Blair)
What listeners say about Politically Homeless
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- left4bed
- 11-10-20
No
Having to listen to Forde squeal out his strange obsession with Tonty Blair was even worse than possibly reading it, I have cancelled my subscription for this reason alone.
9 people found this helpful
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- Sue H
- 22-11-20
Do you hate Corbyn?
If you do, then you’ll like this book. Reasonably interesting but the dislike of Corbyn stops any fairness or balance.
6 people found this helpful
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- Lee Griffin
- 15-10-20
Excellent book
Thoroughly enjoyed this audible book. It was well narrated and the topics well thought out. I don’t agree with Matt’s stance on the EU, but in the spirit of the book. You don’t have to agree in politics but it’s good to listen to opposing views and respect that we don’t always agree.
4 people found this helpful
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- H Newsam
- 21-12-20
Funny, heartfelt and bang on the money
This is the kind of book people need to read about politics. It explains it, it looks at the reality of what political parties are. Most important of all it tackles topics that don’t get looked at as much as they should like the reality of the far right and far left of the Tory and Labour Party. It’s a very funny read, I laughed out loud many times but that doesn’t means it’s not a serious book... it has much to say no matter where you are in the political compass.
2 people found this helpful
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- MS
- 22-10-20
Party political broadcast
I thought I’d enjoy this! Bit of lighthearted relief. Sadly this isn’t the case. Political broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party albeit not the Corbyn Labour Party but still telling people who were who were in favour of leaving Europe they were duped and overall a bit stupid I thought it might be a more balanced and funny view of politics but Matt needs to rebrand this as a book to encourage people to return to new labour and reverse leaving Europe.
2 people found this helpful
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- Alistair McLean
- 14-10-20
Always entertaining
As a listener of the podcast, I was already on board with this.
Matt Forde is easy to listen to, and his impassioned plea for a more nuanced approach to politics might fall on deaf ears but his argument is sound. An entertaining listen and I look forward to future projects.
2 people found this helpful
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- Don't leave your toaster in the rain
- 12-10-20
Intetesting follow on from his podcast interviews
Part memoir and part explanation of his own political journey.
He was a party organizer and this level of politics is seldom described: chair stacking and soothing overwrought candidates.
Forde is a declared admirer of Blair and is withering about the Labour left. This has lead to sour reviews on Amazon. He relates his politics to his upbringing in an ordinary poor household and the conviction that only politicians who can manage competence and get elected accomplish anything.
Forde reads his own book with passion and rueful reflection.
2 people found this helpful
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- Sean
- 14-01-21
Surprisingly insightful for a friend of Tommy Robinson
Love Matt’s podcast, the Political Party, and the book is very much in the same spirit.
Worth a read or listen for anyone with even a passing interest in UK Politics.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 16-12-20
Brilliant book on contemporary politics
Matt has a unique ability to make complex ideas easy to follow, entertaining and thought-provoking. His anecdotes about regional politics are funny and insightful. Worth reading in these unsettling times!
1 person found this helpful
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- David
- 20-11-20
Very enjoyable
I am a regular listener to Matt’s book so was always going to buy this. The book is excellent and gets better as you go through.
Really enjoyed Matts review of the Labour Party over the last 5 years and thought he articulated the antisemitism part extremely well.
Lots of witty insights throughout.
1 person found this helpful