How Not to Be a Politician

A Memoir

By: Rory Stewart

Narrated by: Rory Stewart

Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Named a Best Book of 2023 by Financial Times and Kirkus Reviews

The #1 Sunday Times bestseller, published in the UK as Politics on the Edge.

“One of the best books on politics our era will see . . . A book of astonishing literary quality.”—Matthew Parris, The TLS

“[Rory Stewart] walked across Asia, served in British Parliament, and ran against Boris Johnson. Now he gives us his view of what’s wrong with politics, and how we can make it right.”—Adam Grant, “The 12 New Fall Books to Enrich Your Thinking”

From a great writer—legendary for his expeditions into some of the world’s most forbidding places—a wise, honest, and sometimes absurdist memoir of a most remarkable journey through British politics at the breaking point

Rory Stewart was an unlikely politician. He was best known for his two-year walk across Asia—in which he crossed Afghanistan, essentially solo, in the months after 9/11—and for his service, as a diplomat in Iraq, and Afghanistan. But in 2009, he abandoned his chair at Harvard University to stand for a seat in Parliament, representing the communities and farms of the Lake District and the Scottish border—one of the most isolated and beautiful districts in England. He ran as a Conservative, though he had no prior connection to the politics and there was much about the party that he disagreed with.

How Not to Be a Politician is a candid and penetrating examination of life on the ground as a politician in an age of shallow populism, when every hard problem has a solution that’s simple, appealing, and wrong. While undauntedly optimistic about what a public servant can accomplish in the lives of his constituents, the book is also a pitiless insider’s exposé of the game of politics at the highest level, often shocking in its displays of rampant cynicism, ignorance, glibness, and sheer incompetence. Stewart witnesses Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and its descent into political civil war, compounded by the bad faith of his party’s leaders—David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss.

Finally, after nine years of service and six ministerial roles, and shocked by his party’s lurch to the populist right, Stewart ran for prime minister. Stewart’s campaign took him into the lead in the opinion polls, head-to-head against Boris Johnson. How Not to Be a Politician is his effort to make sense of it all, including what has happened to politics in Britain and the world and how we can fix it. The view into democracy’s dark heart is troubling, but at every turn Stewart also finds allies and ways to make a difference. A bracing, invigorating mix of irony and love infuses How Not to Be a Politician. This is one of the most revealing memoirs written by a politician in living memory.

©2023 Rory Stewart (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“One of the best books on politics our era will see . . . A book of astonishing literary quality.”—Matthew Parris, The TLS

“Stewart’s story of his nine years in Parliament is vastly superior to the standard windy self-justifications of many ex-politicians. For a start, he can write. How Not to Be a Politician is entertaining, fast-paced and easy to read without being patronizing.”—The Washington Post

“Stewart has written an unsparing and brilliant portrait of his decade as a lawmaker, culminating in his failed bid to become prime minister. The lying, incompetence, and treachery he depicts are all so blatant that the book should be assigned to bright young things to rid them of any remaining illusions before they put their name on a ballot.”—Michael Ignatieff, The Atlantic

Excellent

The story, the level of detail, and the language used are all excellent in this audiobook. I usually steer clear of political books - whether biographical or not - but this paints a very honest picture into the years, the decisions and British politics in general. Very eye opening. I’d definitely recommend this.

A brilliant, must read work.

Brilliantly written and read, a deeply disturbing take down of the British political establishment.

Already looking forward to the next volume. 😉

Brilliant Memoir

Fantastically open and honest, this really is the gold standard for a political memoir. Will likely listen to it again.

It is a fantastic account of how the British government actually works

It is a brilliant account of British politics in action. Every British citizen should read this to learn how the government actually operates.

How to increase and reinforce your cynicism about British politics

Good grief but this is depressing. That's not meant as a criticism of the author in any way, but his experience of a political system which is clearly broken and which is effective at resisting all attempts to repair it is not light-hearted or inspiring. However, I appreciate the honesty and candour and I am encouraged that Mr. Stewart seems to have maintained his sanity and good humour throughout. I will listen to this again, but not for a month or two!

An honest account of what’s gone wrong in our politics

Rory Stewart gives us an honest, candid, behind the scenes account of what’s gone wrong in our politics, viewed from the lens of a doer and idealist who took years to learn the art of politics and then got thrown out of the game. This is insightful, and at times a depressing read about good people who let our politics go to shit. But it’s also full of hard learned lessons for moderates, centrists, and normal people, for how to do maneuver in this new age, do politics, and use power for good. Well worth a read.

Excellent book on English politics.

Wry good book surprisingly well narrated by the author. Gives the reader a vivid view of some of the forces driving the contemporary English political system.
My only negative observation is that with his background and experience Rory must have expected some “challenges” when he went for a swim in the political cesspool. Rory is a little too coy when presenting himself as a rather naïf apprentice politician. Still the British Parliament has lost an excellent MP and is much smaller without Rory….

Very insightful and a glimpse of what should have been

Would be great to get a thorough honest review of Britex and some recommendations on potential alternatives and amendments