Released: November 1st 2018
Genre: Politics, Non-Fiction, Commentary
Number of Pages: 224
In an age of anger and outrage, James O’Brien is one of those willing to dig beneath and surface and confront these issues head-on and his work is succinctly presented in his first book.
For those outside the UK, James O’Brien is, according to the New Statesman, “the conscience of liberal Britain” and over the years, he’s built a journalistic career on challenging and confronting individuals who ring in with controversial and often dubious views, particularly on the radio in “Leading Britain’s Conversation (LBC)”. In “How to be right”, he runs down some of the most difficult calls and contentious topics he’s ever had to deal with, from feminism to Donald Trump. The book is presented as two halves; one part-explanation and the other shortened transcripts taken from the radio station.
Across eight chapters, the author takes both a reflective and conversational stance, using the calls as a springboard to discuss the UK society at large and its most insidious problems. What makes it all so engaging is how O’Brien addresses the reader directly. The look on his face on the front cover is especially telling; upon reading, you may feel just as baffled as he is. With plenty of background and context given to each topic, James gives you a considerable understanding of social problems, the conditioning of callers and the way he does to try and counteract ignorance and bigotry. Yet at the same time, he balances out this viewpoint by reflecting on his own interactions. Every so often, O’Brien relays a call that changes someone’s viewpoint and he ties it all together with strong moral lessons that will resonate with anyone.
It’s a strange complaint but I wish the book was longer; in the interest of coherent presentation, James has presented his calls in a condensed way but with an extended career in broadcast and other journalism, he could have opened the door to other points of discussion. What’s here is still incredibly detailed and well-argued, but even more dissections could have been included.
Recommended?
Yes: In the trying political climate we find ourselves in, James O’Brien delivers a voice of reason, expertly explaining how and why people are convinced to believe the things they do. Often it isn’t easy reading as the ways some callers act may shock you but simultaneously, he shows how to effectively challenge opinions and expose flawed arguments without resorting to shouting matches.
O’Brien remains very active on both LBC and is sure to continue his work on the radio, continuing to tackle the most contentious issues in the UK and beyond.