2023: Find Out What It Means To Me

Some books you should read

Last year I wrote a review of 2022 which covered politics, the economy, war, music, and books. 2023 has been relatively calmer and I spent most of the summer languishing in Huddersfield so this year I shall limit myself to providing a brief review of some of the books I read.

George III - Andrew Roberts

This was on my Christmas list last year and I started reading it in 2022 and finished it this year. It’s pretty heavy going but Roberts is such a talented writer and historian it didn’t feel like a slog. George III has been maligned by history and hip hop musicals, but Roberts shows that this reputation is largely undeserved. Definitely worth a read.

Out of the Blue - Harry Cole & James Heale

This was most definitely not on my Christmas list but that did not stop five (5) people buying me it. I had always intended to read it at some point but was going to wait until it came out in paperback. I had feared that reading a book about my old boss would be quite triggering but Cole & Heale did a great job. It’s well written and I feel it accurately portrays Truss. The most interesting section covers her very brief time in Number 10 and which matches up with what I’d heard from friends and former colleagues who worked there at the time.

Speaking of Truss, her ‘Honours List’ was published last night. I was pleased to see that both Shabbir Merali and Sophie Jarvis have been awarded CBEs. I rate both of them highly and they had a role in me going to work for Truss. Many people will have objections to Truss being able to nominate people for honours and take issue with the honours system in general. However, it is right that we do honour dedicated public servants who work hard in a very stressful environment and with very little thanks while trying to keep the country running.

Last September I wrote a short piece on my experience of working for Truss. It was just before she became Prime Minister and I had chosen to be cautiously optimistic and focus on her positive attributes. Many of the qualities which helped her to become Prime Minister (driven, hard working, fast moving, and willing to forge her own path) were also the reason why her premiership collapsed so suddenly. 

On the topic of New Year Honours, I think it’s great that Tim Martin has been awarded a knighthood. It has annoyed all the right people and you may not like his politics, but if we are going to give honours to business people then I cannot think of a more worthy recipient. His business creates jobs, pays tax, and provides a social hub in historic buildings which otherwise would fall into disrepair. I do most of my writing from Spoons as they provide the ideal environment (comfortable, quiet, reliable WiFi, cheap booze, and the buildings tend to be nice). I enjoyed reading this defence of Spoons in UnHerd. It features one of the Spoons in my hometown of Huddersfield. The Cherry Tree is objectively not a nice pub and is in an ugly building and definitely rougher than the Lord Wilson down the road. However, it is always packed and I wrote a few of my posts from there this summer.

I was disappointed to see that Ronnie O’Sullivan has once again been overlooked. I wrote a few weeks ago on why there is a strong economic case for giving him a knighthood.

Wittgenstein - Ray Monk

I bought this book back in 2021 and it had been on my bedroom floor ever since. Wittgenstein was arguably the most influential philosopher of the 20th Century and has fascinated me ever since I first read about him when I was a teenager. The man lived a complex life and his philosophical ideas are even more complicated. Thankfully Monk is both a philosopher and a skilled biographer and so paints a vivid picture allowing us to understand Wittgenstein’s life, personality, and work. One of the best biographies I have ever read.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer - Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin

This summer gifted the world Barbenheimer. As such, I thought it only right to read the book which inspired half of it. American Prometheus provided much of the material for Christopher Nolan’s epic Oppenheimer. Like most people I had some knowledge of Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project before the film was released but this book is so meticulously researched and provides fascinating insight into the life of a great man and one of the most consequential events in all of human history. 

Angle of Attack: Harrison Storms and the Race to the Moon - Mike Gray

On the topic of huge projects with significant implications for humanity, I stumbled across this book from the 80s on the Apollo Project. It tells the story of the Space Race in the context of the life of the pleasingly named Harrison Storms who played a key role in placing a man on the Moon. It was someone who I had never heard of before but who played a major role in one of humanity’s greatest achievements. 

No Trade is Free - Robert Lighthizer

I did not enjoy this book. The basic premise (that free trade is bad) is wrong and it’s written in the style of an unfunny Alan Partridge. However, it’s on the list as Bob Lighthizer was Trump’s US Trade Representative and was the architect of many of his protectionist policies (which are still in place under Biden). Given that he hasn’t publicly criticised Trump and has not committed any crimes against the United States (hello Peter Navarro), it is likely that he would take up a similar position in a future Trump administration. As such, it’s helpful to know what he’s like and what he thinks.

I worked on the negotiations between the UK and US governments for a trade deal and also getting tariffs lifted on British goods so I have been in meetings with him via Teams. He is a clever and driven man and not bonkers (hello again Peter Navarro). However, he is bombastic and sees trade as a zero sum game and would no doubt play a key role in an even more protectionist Trump administration which would be bad news for the world.

The Trade Weapon - Ken Heydon

I really enjoyed this book. It’s well written and makes the case for free trade. Thanks to the likes of Bob Lighthizer and his old boss, trade is increasingly being used as a weapon by rich and powerful countries to get their own way. This breakdown in the international rules based system when it comes to trade poses a threat to economic growth, the environment, and public health. This is a book that should be read by everybody, especially President Biden.

The Battle of Bretton Woods - Benn Steil

You probably know all about Bretton Woods and how it established the post-war international economic order. However, you probably didn’t know that it involved backstabbing, espionage, and all sorts of intrigue. I loved this and I reckon you will too.

Deep Pockets: Snooker and the Meaning of Life - Brendan Cooper

As many of you know, snooker is my favourite sport and so any book which provides a potted history of the game in a philosophical way was always going to grab my attention. I’d recommend this even if you’re not a fan of snooker as it’s interesting, well written, and will show you why snooker is loved by millions of fans.

Age of the City - Ian Goldin & Tom Lee-Devlin

Inequality, pandemics, climate change, and isolation. These are four of the biggest challenges facing humanity and will be in many cases exacerbated by the fact that we live in cities. If we want to tackle these challenges and help humanity thrive then cities will play a crucial role in this. That’s the case made in this book and they make it convincingly. Well with a read.

The Angel Makers - Patti McCracken

I stumbled across this book in Waterstones this summer. It relates the dark events in the village of Nagyrev in Hungary where a group of women poisoned approximately 100 people between 1914 and 1929. It’s a surprisingly light read given the dark subject matter. 

Psychedelics - David Nutt

Professor David Nutt is the expert when it comes to drug policy. He convincingly makes the case for the use of psychedelics in therapy. It’s a book which strengthened my convictions on this and I would recommend that you read it to find out why. As an aside, I have previously done some work for the Centre for Evidence Based Drug Policy and earlier this year I wrote a short piece making the case for reforming the law on magic mushrooms.

A Strange Whim of the Sea: The Wreck of the USS Macaw - Tim Loughman

One of my niche interests is maritime history and I love reading about it. Even if maritime history is not your thing, I’d recommend this as it’s a thrilling and very moving account of life and death at sea.

Red Memory - Tania Branigan

The Cultural Revolution was one of the darkest periods in China’s history. Mao was one of the most evil men in history and his socialist policies brought famine, poverty, death, and oppression as they have done wherever they have been tried. Branigan does a fantastic job in shining a light on this grim period. It’s a fascinating book which exposes the evils of Mao’s China.

Alexandria: The Quest for the Lost City - Edmund Richardson

Tells the story about the discovery of Alexandria and the person who found it. Charles Masson probably lived one of the most interesting lives in history. It’s a thrilling read and kept me entertained this summer.

Justinian - Peter Sarris

All I really knew about Justinian was from my law degree days when I was researching my dissertation on criminal law and morality (the guy thought that homosexuality caused earthquakes). Thankfully, there was more to the man than that. He was clearly an odd figure but that’s what makes him so fascinating and Sarris has done a fantastic job in giving us an insight into his personality, life, and the period in which he lived. The book is pretty heavy going in places but well worth the effort.

Beyond the Wall - Katja Hoyer

What was life like in East Germany? This book paints a vivid picture by interviewing people who actually lived through it. A fascinating read. Feel free to read my post about East Germany.

The Known Unknowns - Lawrence Krauss

The Universe is fascinating and deeply weird. This book is mind bending and had me yearning for my A Level Physics days. You should read it.

The Rest is History - Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook

I got this as a Christmas present and I am over half way through. If you like the podcast then you’ll love this. Feels like reading a Horrible Histories for adults. I’m really enjoying it and I’ve learnt some fascinating tidbits about events and people I’d never heard about. 

Well, there we have it. Thanks for reading this post and for sticking with Opportunity Lost over the past 13 months. The fact that so many of you do read it and email me about it does mean a lot. I hope you enjoy the rest of the Festive Season and that that 2024 brings you lots of nice things.

Happy New Year!