“Take an angry person, tell them you feel their pain, give them a target for their anger and help them to switch off their brain.”
James O’Brien’s How They Broke Britain is a seething account of the people and decisions that shaped the UK’s current political landscape. With sharp analysis and investigative depth, O’Brien joins the dots between politicians, media moguls and think tanks to expose the forces behind Britain’s decline. If you found his arguments informative, illuminating or compelling and want to dive deeper into similar political books, this list is for you. From hard-hitting critiques of government failures to exposures of corruption and media influence, join us at What We Reading for the best books, such as How They Broke Britain. Whether you’re interested in UK affairs, global political trends or where power and money collide, these reads promise to broaden your understanding and challenge your perspective.
The Establishment: And How They Get Away With It – Owen Jones
The first stop on our list of books like How They Broke Britain is Owen Jones’ The Establishment. In the book, Jones reveals how a powerful network of politicians, media moguls, corporate elites and financiers shape British society to serve their own interests. He makes the case that this ‘establishment’ is not a formal conspiracy, but rather a collection of influential individuals and institutions that protect wealth and privilege whilst undermining democracy.
Jones explores how neoliberal economic policies, privatisation and austerity measures – promoted by both major parties in the UK – have widened inequality and weakened public services. He also criticizes the role of the media in reinforcing establishment narratives, discouraging dissent and vilifying those who challenge the status quo. Through interviews with key figures and deep investigative research, Jones exposes how corporate lobbying, tax avoidance and an elite education system sustain this recycling of power.
Democracy For Sale: Dark Money And Dirty Politics – Peter Geoghegan
In Democracy for Sale, investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan exposes how unregulated ‘dark money’ is corrupting British democracy. He reveals how wealthy donors, secretive think tanks and shady political networks have influenced elections and policymaking, often well beyond public scrutiny.
Honing in on Brexit, Geoghegan uncovers how vast sums of money – often from undisclosed sources – shaped the referendum campaign, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability. He examines the rise of populism, the exploitation of social media for political manipulation and the lack of any effective regularity in Britain’s political finance system. The book also unveils the global dimensions of political corruption, drawing comparisons to the US and other democracies facing similar threats.
Post-Truth: The New War On Truth And How To Fight Back – Matthew d’Ancona
Another one of the most illuminating books like How They Broke Britain, Matthew d’Ancona explores the rise of misinformation, propaganda and the decline of trust in facts and expertise in Post-Truth. He argues that we all live in a time when objectivity is under attack, replaced by emotional appeals, conspiracy theories and political spin. The book examines how social media, partisan news outlets and political leaders have contributed to the crisis, eroding public confidence in traditional institutions.
D’Ancona traces the connection between the growth of post-truth politics to key events such as Brexit and Donald Trump’s ascent to power, demonstrating how individuals exploit emotions and distrust to reshape reality. He also delves into the psychological and technological factors that make misinformation so persuasive, from cognitive biases to algorithmic-driven echo chambers. However, despite its bleak picture, Post-Truth is also a timely call to arms, urging readers to defend facts, demand accountability and promote critical thinking to strengthen independent journalism, improve digital literacy and restore faith in institutions.
Hate Inc.: Why Today’s Media Makes Us Despise One Another – Matt Taibbi
Hate Inc. by Matt Taibbi is an exploration of how modern media fuels division, outrage and misinformation for profit. Similar to How They Broke Britain, he argues that news outlets have abandoned traditional journalism in favour of a business model aimed at keeping audiences addicted to anger and tribalism. Instead of informing the public, media companies – whether left or right-leaning – deliberately stoke conflict to drive engagement, boost ratings and increase revenue.
Taibbi makes comparisons to Noam Chomsky’s Manufacturing Consent but updates the analysis for the digital age, demonstrating how algorithms, cable news and social media reinforce ideological bubbles. He assesses the role of clickbait headlines, partisan reporting and sensationalism in driving public perception, especially in US politics. The book is also a compelling take on the symbiotic relationship between politicians and media, where outrage-driven coverage benefits both sides.
Politics On The Edge – Rory Stewart
In Politics on the Edge, former Conservative MP and diplomat Rory Stewart presents readers with a candid, insider account of his time inside British politics, exposing the dysfunction, ambition and cynicism within Westminster. Stewart, who served as a minister under Theresa May and later ran against Boris Johnson for party leadership, offers a rare, self-critical perspective on the political system, describing it as deeply flawed and disconnected from real people’s concerns.
Stewart’s memoir recounts his struggles to push for meaningful changes, especially in areas like international development and prison reform, and how much resistance he encountered through bureaucracy and political gamesmanship. Much like How They Broke Britain, Politics on the Edge is delivered with wit and reflection and depicts how loyalty to the party and personal ambitions so often take precedence over public service, painting a portrait of a government plagued by incompetence and short-termism.
Check Out The Best Books Like Politics On The Edge
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise Of Disaster Capitalism – Naomi Klein
Naomi Klein’s The Shock Doctrine argues that governments and corporations exploit crises – wars, natural disasters, financial crashes – to push through radical free-market policies that benefit elites whilst harming everyone else. She dubs this approach ‘disaster capitalism’, where moments of societal shock are used to implement privatisation, deregulation and austerity before the public is able to resist.
Klein traces this pattern from the economic theories of Milton Freidman to real-world examples including Chile under General Pinochet, post-Katrina New Orleans, the Iraq War and the 2008 financial recession. Through meticulous research and engrossing storytelling, she demonstrates how corporations profit from suffering, with industries such as private healthcare, security and reconstruction booming in the wake of crises. Like How They Broke Britain, Klein’s work is a scathing critique of unchecked capitalism and a call for resistance against economic exploitation disguised as recovery.
Moneyland: Why Thieves And Crooks Now Rule The World And How To Take It Back – Oliver Bullough
In Moneyland, Oliver Bullough exposes how global finance systems have allowed the world’s wealthiest individuals and criminals to evade accountability, hide their wealth and exploit international loopholes. He introduces the concept of ‘Moneyland’ – a shadowy network of tax havens, anonymous companies and offshore accounts where the rich and powerful can stash their fortunes away from public scrutiny.
Bullough traces how these hidden financial networks have allowed dictators, oligarchs and corporate behemoths to enrich themselves while ordinary individuals pay the price of inequality, corruption and instability. From Russian oligarchs to African kleptocrats, the book offers compelling case studies that show how Moneyland enables the uber-wealthy to operate above the law, further entrenching their power and control.
Chums: How A Tiny Caste Of Oxford Tories Took Over The UK – Simon Kuper
Chums by Simon Kuper is another political book like How They Broke Britain that exposes the rise of a small but powerful clique of Oxford-educated elites who have played a substantial role in shaping the political landscape of modern Britain. Kuper centres his narrative around a cohort of Tory politicians, including names like Boris Johnson, David Cameron and Jacob Rees-Moog, all of whom share a background in Oxford University’s prestigious Bullingdon Club – a symbol of wealth, class and privilege.
Through a blend of personal anecdotes, historical context and insightful analysis, Kuper tracks how this ‘chumocracy’ has managed to snag a stranglehold on British politics. The book delves into the connections and networks that allow this small group to rise to the top, often at the expense of merit and public service. Kuper also criticises how their worldview, moulded by elitism and insular privilege has influenced key political decisions, including Brexit.
Check Out The Best Books On British Politics
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
