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The Nanny State Made Me

A Story of Britain and How to Save it

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The Nanny State Made Me

By: Stuart Maconie
Narrated by: Stuart Maconie
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

It was the spirit of our finest hour, the backbone of our postwar greatness and it promoted some of the boldest and most brilliant schemes this isle has ever produced: it was the Welfare State, and it made you and me. But now it's under threat, and we need to save it.

In this timely and provocative audiobook, Stuart Maconie tells Britain’s Welfare State story through his own history of growing up as a northern working class boy. What was so bad about properly funded hospitals, decent working conditions and affordable houses? And what was so wrong about student grants, free eye tests and council houses? And where did it all go so wrong? Stuart looks toward Britain’s future, making an emotional case for believing in more than profit and loss and championing a just, fairer society.

©2020 Stuart Maconie (P)2020 Penguin Audio Anthropology Europe Great Britain Politics & Government Thought-Provoking Suspenseful

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Critic reviews

"He is as funny as Bryson and as wise as Orwell." (Observer)
All stars
Most relevant
Felt a strong need to write a review for this great book - what a touching reminder of my growing up in the "Nanny State". His reminders about how life was - walking to school, riding the top deck of the bus.... just perfect to recall details long forgotten - thanks. I wondered if anyone not born in Britain of a certain age would enjoy it quite so much.

Bringing back Memories

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reading this in late march and April 2020, when the state is needed more than ever to save us from the twin evils of pandemic and the Tory party has been emotional. A celebration of the collective consciousness over the cult of individualism and identity politics.

A book for our time

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A stark and brilliantly brutal dance with nostalgia that'll deliver a blow to Tories everywhere

Unbalanced Yet Not Totally Unhinged

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This book has moved me in a way I wasn't expecting. over the last 10 years I have 'hardened' to the loss of things that my parents held dear and reconciled myself to just shouting at the radio while listening to the news. Maconies consistently informed and sophisticated (if at times wistful) narrative has crept in under my defences and both inspired and challenged me to proactively do more for the 'society' that we all benefit from (even when not reliant upon it)
He has become a new member of my pantheon of heroes alongside Nye Bevan, Nelson Mandela, Jacinda Arden and Tony Benn (all of whom get an honourable mention in the book)
Time to come off the fence - because as Bevan neatly observed "We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over.”!

Read & Weep

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I really like Stuart Maconie’s writing and I’ve enjoyed reading all of his books, some of which I’ve read and some listened to as audiobooks. TNSMM is more politically minded than Maconie’s other books, and he pulls no punches making clear his disdain for the free market economy. Its hard to disagree with Maconie’s argument as well, particularly in the current climate, however, like any ideology, it’s a bit too perfect and I couldn’t help but think that Titchmarsh (who I imagine Maconie would regard as a raging Tory) eulogises in a similar fashion. Anyway, that being said, it’s a perfectly decent book and if you’ve like his other books, you’ll like this too.

Maconie gets political, no really.

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