The State of Us
The Good News and the Bad News About Our Society
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The State of Us
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Narrated by:
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Jon Snow
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By:
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Jon Snow
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
After four decades broadcasting to the nation each night, Jon Snow finally gives vent to his opinions on the state of our nation, from inequality and out of touch elites to the vital work of journalism in the social media age.
It is rare in history that so many nations in the developed world are in crisis at the same time. There has been a disintegration of trust in political leaders and in the media that holds them to account. For all the progress humankind has made, for all the inventions and new technologies, our society is being undermined by inequality. We should care not simply because of its impact on productivity and growth, but because it's wrong. It's wrong that some don't have enough money to eat whilst others fly wagyu beef halfway across the planet for a couple of amusing mouthfuls. It's wrong that there are council residents unable to safely escape their homes if they catch fire. To fix it, we must begin by seeking out the truth about our world.
In The State of Us, Jon Snow traces how the life of the nation has changed across his five-decade career, from getting thrown out of university for protesting apartheid to interviewing every prime minister since Margaret Thatcher. In doing so, he shows how the greatest problems at home and abroad so often come down to inequality and an unwillingness to confront it. But that is not our fate. Despite the challenges, Snow has witnessed profound social progress. In this passionate rallying cry, he argues that at its best, journalism reflects not just who we are now, but who we can be. We've had enough of division; the future is for us.
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What listeners say about The State of Us
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. G. Moynihan
- 22-03-23
An excellent story from a thoroughly decent human being
At the beginning it feels a bit pessimistic but stick with it, because it’s worth it. Jon Snow is such a thoroughly decent human being and it comes through in this warts and all story about where Britain is today and where it could be heading. His journalistic prowess shines through, this is an entirely objective and honest appraisal of events that have shaped Britain since the start of his career in journalism and the parts played by key figures. He shows his human side and in that context was clearly deeply affected by Grenfell. The story Jon tells is deeply moving.
Jon is however an optimist and the book ends on a suitably positive note. A wonderful book, thanks for sharing Jon.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Charles Lewis
- 16-03-23
Excellent
An interesting man with a well framed and presented view on life, equality and journalism. A must listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- LadyHamilton
- 20-03-23
inspiring and energising
i find myself identifying so much with his attitude to his own privilege and his experience of waking up to the inequality of the world and the richness of its people out of the naive, myopic, whitewashed cocoon of middle class upbringing. When all around is doom and gloom his wisdom and optimism is energising and inspiring to someone in the last year of her thirties and that is an achievement! Please read / listen to him.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Deka Ali
- 07-03-23
Excellent book!
Snow has always exemplified the best of humanity through his work and display of empathy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- SR
- 06-06-23
An honest impassioned case for engagement
Jon makes the case for the importance for everyone to engage with the machinery of the state, especially politics and the media.
His optimism beams throughout the book as does his basic humanity.
I would have liked to have had more conversation between Jon and the people who are disengaged, why there us such an enormous level of distrust in the media and politicians, why people feel you can only get along if you conform to what the media and politicians promote as valid values.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jake
- 04-06-23
Optimistic and truthful account of where we are
The power of good journalism is our last hope as the self justified greed of a few endlessly tries to destroy the rest
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Leon Mallett
- 13-05-23
Good not great
Love Jon Snow, but I can’t help but feel like this book is a bit of an anti-climax. You imagine someone like Jon, who’s had to have a position of neutrality so long in the public eye, would have lots of interesting - potentially controversial - views bottled up. All waiting to be released into a book like this. He doesn’t, sadly. Everything he says in the book is spot on. But nothing is profound. It’s just a sequence of common, middle of the road opinions on society.
He can also be a bit frustrating in his ambiguity on quite a few subjects. “X is doomed, but I can’t help but feel optimistic about X” is pretty much the conclusion of most chapters - all without really giving any analysis, data or even basic reasons for either point.
Some nice personal anecdotes though, which I think brings it up from 3 stars to 4.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- Grecian
- 25-03-23
Valid observations but not scintillating
John is a hero of mine. His instincts and observations regarding inequality, discrimination
and privilege are all correct. It is a real cri de coeur but I suspect will largely reach only the already converted. Specific policy prescriptions rather too imprecise to be useful. John is a great man in my eyes but somehow this book didn't entirely come off.
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