Tony Blair's book, what criteria would you review score?

britboy4321 · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:18

Complex(ish) thread to bear with me ..

Read a load of internet 'customer reviews' on Tony Blair's new book. Rather predictably they are all either the lowest possible, or the highest possible score. And all the reviews seem to be judgement on his policy whilst in power rather than the book! Joe public seems devoid of the capability to rate the book as oppose the the guy's actual actions.

The way I see it, it's like if Ghengis Khan wrote a thrilling book, or the leader of the Kamir rouge, should it regardless of content, whatever the book is like to read, be rated a useless 1-star because 'all that raping and pillaging was terrible'?? In my view, maybe the actions were terrible mate, but it's a blimin' interesting read and you're rating the book not the action!

I guess what I'm asking is, do you think you would be able to write a favourable review on how enjoyable/enlightening a book was to read (profits not to go to author), even if you hated the actions taken by the author and hated his reasoning? Or do you think however interesting a book is, however much of a page-turner it is, it deserves a shocking review if it's written by a nasty piece of work? If you HATE Blair and couldn't put his book down, reading it in 2 days engrossed in it because you can't believe what an awful bloke he was -- is that worthy of a 'good' review or 'bad' review? IMO -- good review.

Me, I'd like to think even if you think Blair was a complete scum-bag - if it's an interesting read and keeps you glued to the page even if you're swearing under your breath whilst reading, that book deserves a good review as it's been an interesting book. Joe public seems to disagree with me and think it deserves 1 star 'because of the war in Iraq' or other policy decisions :/ What about you?

Please don't turn this into an anti Blair/Labour rage thread .. that's not what this thread is for!

antijoke · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:22

I'm thinking I'd like to read a book written by Ghengis Khan.

Gornall · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:23

Agreed,

Like rating a film terrible because Mel Gibson was in it...

britboy4321 · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:23

anticonscience said:
I'm thinking I'd like to read a book written by Ghengis Khan.

So you see it as 'technically a possibility' for you to rate Blair's book 5/5, even if you're a 'Blair hater'?

Vonhelmet · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:24

All online Joe Public reviews are like that. It's either BEST EVER or PRODUCT SO BAD I NEARLY DIED. Ebay feedback is terrible for that. There's also oodles of Amazon retard reviews from people who didn't read the item description, or whatever.

Edrof · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:25

Good reviews also lead to more sales (generally), so don't forget you'll be helping to line his already copious pockets by being honest and saying it's good. How honest d'you think he was?

sniffy · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:27

britboy4321 said:
I guess what I'm asking is, do you think you would be able to write a favourable review on how enjoyable/enlightening a book was to read (profits not to go to author), even if you hated the actions taken by the author and hated his reasoning?

I think I could. For example I find the stories of concentration guards very interesting although what they took part in was just appalling.

I'll probably read Blair's book at some point.

britboy4321 · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:27

Forde said:
Good reviews also lead to more sales (generally), so don't forget you'll be helping to line his already copious pockets by being honest and saying it's good. How honest d'you think he was?

He's giving all the profits to soldiers families - he's not making a penny ..

But still, even if he was, on a book you couldn't put down you were enthralled (maybe at his awefulness), reading page to page twice in 4 days, would you rate a '1 out of 5' and write a kind of 'fake review' to try and stop scum-bag author getting more dosh from sales?

There's no right or wrong - just interested ..

Greenlizard0 · 2 Sep 2010 at 14:28

I agree that a book should be rated on its merits, however the author is still important. Mein Kampf and the fact it was by Hitler spring to mind...sorry may have invoked Godwin's there..

Edrof · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:01

britboy4321 said:
He's giving all the profits to soldiers families - he's not making a penny ..

Great news if true.

sniffy · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:02

Greenlizard0 said:
I agree that a book should be rated on its merits, however the author is still important. Mein Kampf and the fact it was by Hitler spring to mind...sorry may have invoked Godwin's there..

Don't worry, I done that 2 posts previously

So you don't think the thoughts of such a notorious man would make for an interesting read?

Cosimo · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:05

Forde said:
Great news if true.

True and we've had a thread about it:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18175776

Ahleckz · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:13

My friend is a staunch Labour supporter and always goes off about how great they are. I've asked her if I (a Conservative) can borrow the book once she finishes it as I think it'll be quite an interesting read and be quite telling about inner workings of Westminster that are kept hidden from us.
If it keeps me glued, and I enjoy reading it (even though I disagree with many a thing Blair did) then of course I would give it a positive review. You'd be an idiot to do otherwise.
Though I wouldn't buy it.

drunkenmaster · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:14

britboy4321 said:
He's giving all the profits to soldiers families - he's not making a penny ..

But still, even if he was, on a book you couldn't put down you were enthralled (maybe at his awefulness), reading page to page twice in 4 days, would you rate a '1 out of 5' and write a kind of 'fake review' to try and stop scum-bag author getting more dosh from sales?

There's no right or wrong - just interested ..

Didn't he only donate the advance for the book to soldiers familys, which could be seen as a PR stunt to increase book sales by getting massive publicity, by taking a cheap shot at appeasing people he's hurt in the past with reckless governing, and in doing so bumped his book sales to the degree that he ends up with more than if he didn't donate the advance for the book?

Surely not, surely a politician wouldn't stoop so low as to do that.

bam0 · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:22

It depends how you read it, treat it as a piece of fiction and maybe it's ok. But just like Mandelson's book I don't trust the author to have written honestly, so really I fail to see much value in it at all.

Nix · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:27

All the profits goto a good cause anyway, so if you want to read it, I suggest you just ignore the obvious inevitable reviews and buy it anyway.

There was an interesting interview with Andrew Marr on the BBC last night and he did talk about the hows and whys of the book for a few minutes. Might be worth tracking down.

Hatter The Mad · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:33

It is VERY poorly written, but then he isn't a writer. Or maybe he is... it a mish-mosh of some philosophical deliberation and sometimes clever phrasing and wordplay, but it is littered with "call me Tony", "be my mate" colloquialism. Part of me wonders if he made a really well and eloquently written piece book and then was told to "dumb it down" for New Labour supporters

D).

As one of the most defining modern politicians of our time, it is a book worth reading for anyone.

I am currently enjoying sending quotes from it to my New Labour friends that make them cringe and squirm - especially the bits where he backs Lib/Con economic policy on the deficit and VAT, explains how he lost the battle with Gordon Brown on deficit spending as early as 2005, and then says Cameron's domestic policy is "at it's best", and that it is a shame they're being held back by the Lib Dems, especially when it comes to education and free schools.

Also how he regrets the Fox Hunting ban, and concedes it was just a sop to mindless voters that (a) don't understand the countryside and (b) don't care for evidence-driven policy, that was a gem.

a1ex2001 · 2 Sep 2010 at 15:49

britboy4321 said:
He's giving all the profits to soldiers families - he's not making a penny ..

I always take that line with a pinch of salt as peoples definition of profit often varies!

Personally I would rather read a book written by an independant third party but I'm sure I could read and objectively review Tony's book despite the fact I detest him and would prefer never to see or hear him again.

Andy90 · 2 Sep 2010 at 16:11

Personally I think it would be a good idea to cut out the middleman. Don't buy the book, just give the money you would have spent to the Soldiers Charities direct. That way this duplicitous little s*** doesn't get to see his book at the top of the sales charts and the Armed forces charities benefit directly.

Nix · 2 Sep 2010 at 16:15

Andy90 said:
Personally I think it would be a good idea to cut out the middleman. Don't buy the book, just give the money you would have spent to the Soldiers Charities direct. That way this duplicitous little s*** doesn't get to see his book at the top of the sales charts and the Armed forces charities benefit directly.

Or maybe, buy it and see the other side's story which is what it was intended for.

From a social scientist, politician or historian's perspective; the book is invaluable.