An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

464. Modern British Elections (Part 2)

June 26, 2024

Description

From the turn of the 20th century, election campaigns - though still replete with politicians behaving badly - have evolved. They have become less mass-participation events or festivals, and...
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Books Referenced

Austerity Britain

Author: David Kynaston

Context:

Referenced as 'the best book on this' when discussing the 1945 election and evidence that people weren't as enthusiastic about the election as later mythology suggests. Contains quotes from people expressing apathy about the election.

The Selling of the President

Author: Joe McGinniss

Context:

Described as 'a brilliant book' about how Nixon used California advertising techniques to systematically hone his 1968 campaign with rehearsed lines and hammered messages - noted as a pioneering approach to modern political campaigning.

The Death of Consensus

Author: Phil Tinline

Context:

Referenced when discussing James Callaghan's 'sea change' comment about generational shifts in politics, described as being 'all about how every 30 years or so, there is a generational shift' and the Overton window.