Failures of State

Name: Failures of State
Brand: Harper UK
Availability: InStock
Author: Jonathan Calvert
ISBN: 9780008430542

Author: Jonathan Calvert, George Arbuthnott

Narrator: Ben Onwukwe

Unabridged: 16 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 03/18/2021

Categories: Nonfiction, Political Science, Corruption & Misconduct, International Relations, Social Science, Disease & Health Issues, History, Modern History, Political Process

Synopsis

*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER* A AND BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘An astonishing book’ James O’Brien ‘A gripping, devastating read’ The inside story of the UK’s response to the pandemic from the Insight investigations unit at Failures of State Fully updated and corroborated by hundreds of sources, this is the insider’s account of how the government sleepwalked into disaster and tried to cover up its role in the tragedy. Thrillingly told, it exposes one of the most scandalous failures of political leadership in British history. ‘A damning indictment’ Alan Johnson, ‘A devastating piece of journalism’ Andrew Marr ‘This is a scandal’ Piers Morgan

Reviews

Goodreads review by Maggie on April 20, 2021

I want everyone to read this book. My response to this book went from “that’s quite interesting” at the beginning with the discussion of the origins and pre-origins of the virus in bat caves. However, this escalated to fury at learning how the Johnson government’s incompetence, denial of evidence an......more

Goodreads review by Mike on May 29, 2021

Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott write for the Sunday Times. Since the pandemic began in March 2020 they’ve been tracking the story, and at least once they’ve upset the Government badly. Now they’ve published a book that will upset it a whole lot more. If they’re to be believed, poor leadershi......more

Goodreads review by Steve on March 23, 2021

Tired of waiting for an inquiry this most unaccountable of Prime Ministers is only going to call if he can avoid being implicated? Read this. A thoroughly devastating account of the UK government’s blasé, botched and utterly economically biased response to COVID. Sunak doesn’t come out of it well, e......more

Goodreads review by Simon on May 23, 2022

A brilliant, important, but oh so depressing story of just how criminally neglectful our government’s been throughout the pandemic. For a bit of flavour, if you spot a copy of this edition, turn to page 218 and read the top paragraph, from ‘Cummings later disclosed…’ to ‘…agreed not to go.’ As sky-s......more

Goodreads review by John Buckland on April 01, 2021

Important Record Of Avoidable Disaster This is a very important document. It is not in the least political, indeed it acknowledges the difficult circumstance and pressures faced by the government. For me it makes it Crystal clear that the government of the UK not only made mistakes at the beginning o......more

Quotes

‘ … the nearest we’ll get to an inquiry.’ James O’Brien ‘, page after page filled with its mistakes, misjudgments and even its possibly actionable crimes.’ Jonathan Freedland, ‘This book is superb. ‘. This is one of the most important books of our time.’ Owen Jones ‘A brilliantly presented indictment Guardian ‘ this is a work of history. It’s witness. It’s also a kind of catharsis.’ Christina Patterson, ‘ … It is impossible to read , the by Sunday Times journalists Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott, and not conclude that the British people deserved far, far better from the government’ Marina Hyde, ‘ Some of the revelations are sickening and shocking.’ Armando Iannucci, satirist and writer ‘’ Alan Johnson, ‘Superb journalism … ’ Professor Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health ‘so you’re never tempted to forget’ John Crace, journalist ‘of Year Covid exposes the Prime Minister’s utter failure to meet the nation’s greatest health crisis for a century.’ Paul Routledge, ‘’ David Schneider, comedian and writer