People Like Us

Margaret Thatcher and Me

By: Caroline Slocock

Narrated by: Antonia Beamish

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

As a young civil servant, Caroline Slocock became the first ever female private secretary to any British Prime Minister and was at Margaret Thatcher's side for the final 18 months of her premiership. A left-wing feminist, Slocock was no natural ally, and yet she became fascinated by the woman behind the Iron Lady façade and by how she dealt with a world dominated by men.  

As events inexorably led to Margaret Thatcher's downfall, Slocock observed the vulnerabilities and contradictions of the woman considered by many to be the ultimate anti-feminist. When Thatcher eventually resigned, brought down by her closest political allies, Slocock was the only woman present to witness the astonishing scenes in the Cabinet Room. Had Thatcher been a man, it would have ended very differently, Slocock feels.  

Now, in this vivid firsthand account, based on her diaries from the time and interviews with other key Downing Street personnel, Slocock paints a nuanced portrait of a woman who to this day is routinely demonised in sexist ways. Reflecting on the challenges women still face in public life, Slocock concludes it's time to rewrite how we portray powerful women and for women to set aside politics and accept that Margaret Thatcher was one of us .  

A remarkable political and personal memoir, People Like Us charts life inside Thatcher's No. 10 during its dying days and reflects on women and power then and now.

©2018 Caroline Slocock (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

Balanced Portrayal

The author, a feminist, is very balanced when writing about her subject. She does not support many of Thatcher's political philosophies, but examines them and Thatcher in the context of the time, Thatcher's gender, and personality. The book chronicles Thatcher's rise to power, the author's own role in Thatcher's government, and ends with Thatcher's resignation.
I found myself talking to the author at points. I did find that the analysis at times seemed to focus too heavily on Feminism, but it provided a perspective I would not have otherwise considered. I thought it was very well written, and well performed.

AMust Read!

This is a must read for anyone with strong feelings, good or bad, about Thatcher.

Fantastic

This was a great book, well and pleasingly narrated and satisfying from beginning to end. The author manages to give an account of Margaret Thatcher as a political leader and as a woman in a refreshingly personal way, without betraying her own very different leanings. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is brave enough to learn about a controversial woman who changed history by being true to herself.

Not what I was expecting

This book was disappointing in some ways but very interesting in others. It is refreshing to see that although your political views differ, you can still have respect for your national leader. Something Americans might need to learn. There were a couple points where the feminist argument got a little too much but overall this book is worth a read. If you are trying to find a more detailed history of Margaret Thatcher this book is not what you are looking for.

Gave me a new prospective

This is a brilliant, fair minded approach to telling the story of Margaret Thatcher from another point of view which I found challenging and informative.

So interesting

I loved this book. Absolutely fascinating to hear such a balanced assessment of Margaret Thatcher; this made all the more commendable given that the writer is a Labour supporter and indeed voter. This is such a fair account. It does not sugar coat decisions made (and disagreed with) or character weaknesses of the Iron lady but it does set her within context of both the circumstances of the time and her upbringing. Whatever your views of M.T. and she is Marmite, I would thoroughly recommend this book if you are open to hearing a view that possibly challenges your own.

Hoodwinked

This audiobook should be titled The life of Thatchers secretary or a feminists struggle, hoodwinked. I was tremendously excited about this book which turned out to be very disappointing. I expected to hear of the Iron lady’s achievements, triumphs and strategy. This wasn’t the case.