{"id":671,"date":"2024-10-13T05:55:13","date_gmt":"2024-10-13T05:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=671"},"modified":"2024-10-13T05:55:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-13T05:55:13","slug":"unleashed-by-boris-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=671","title":{"rendered":"Unleashed by Boris Johnson"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Marmite of British Politics<\/h2>\n

Love him or loathe him, Boris Johnson has been the dominant force in British politics for over a decade. Now, in his characteristically ebullient style, he\u2019s unleashed his side of the story in \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d. This memoir is a whirlwind tour through the mind of one of the most divisive figures in recent UK history, from his days as London Mayor to his tumultuous tenure as Prime Minister.<\/p>\n

A Blustering Bulldog\u2019s Tale<\/h2>\n

Johnson\u2019s writing is unmistakable\u2014part classical allusion, part music hall comedy. Reading \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d is like being cornered at a party by a slightly tipsy classics professor who\u2019s determined to entertain you. It\u2019s exhausting, exhilarating, and occasionally exasperating.<\/p>\n

The book covers Johnson\u2019s political career from 2008 to 2022, focusing on his time as Mayor of London and his eventful premiership. Along the way, we\u2019re treated to his unique perspective on:<\/p>\n

Battling \u201cRed Ken\u201d Livingstone for London\u2019s mayoralty
\nThe 2011 London riots
\nHis role in the Brexit campaign<\/a>
\nThe COVID-19 pandemic
\nHis eventual downfall<\/p>\n

Highlights and Lowlights<\/h2>\n

The Good<\/h3>\n

Vivid Storytelling<\/strong><\/a>: Johnson\u2019s flair for narrative shines through, especially in his recounting of the 2012 London Olympics.
\nBehind-the-Scenes Insights<\/strong>: His account of Cabinet meetings during the Brexit negotiations is fascinating.
\nSelf-Deprecating Humor<\/strong>: Johnson\u2019s ability to poke fun at himself is on full display.<\/p>\n

The Bad<\/h3>\n

Selective Memory<\/strong>: Some controversial episodes are glossed over or omitted entirely.
\nLack of Introspection<\/strong>: Johnson rarely acknowledges his mistakes or shortcomings.
\nOverwrought Prose<\/strong>: His penchant for florid language can be overwhelming at times.<\/p>\n

Boris Unleashed: The Good, the Bad, and the Bicycle<\/h2>\n

The Cycling Mayor<\/h3>\n

Johnson\u2019s account of his time as London Mayor is perhaps the most enjoyable part of \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d. His enthusiasm for the capital is infectious, and his description of introducing the \u201cBoris Bikes\u201d cycle hire scheme is genuinely endearing. You can almost hear the wheels turning as he rhapsodizes about his vision for a cycling revolution.<\/p>\n

Brexit: The Boris Perspective<\/h3>\n

Unsurprisingly, Brexit looms large in \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d. His insider\u2019s view of the referendum campaign and subsequent negotiations is illuminating, if not always entirely credible. Johnson paints himself as a reluctant revolutionary, pushed into leading the Leave campaign by his deeply held convictions. Readers may find themselves raising an eyebrow or two at this characterization.<\/p>\n

Pandemic Politics<\/h3>\n

Johnson\u2019s recounting of the COVID-19 crisis is perhaps the most controversial section of \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d. His description of his own brush with death is genuinely moving, but his defense of the government\u2019s handling of the pandemic may strike many as self-serving. The absence of any real acknowledgment of mistakes made during this period is particularly glaring.<\/p>\n

The Eton Mess: Style and Substance<\/h2>\n

Johnson\u2019s writing style is as distinctive as his shock of blonde hair. \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d is peppered with Latin phrases, historical analogies, and self-deprecating asides. At its best, it\u2019s engaging and witty. At its worst, it can feel like a linguistic smokescreen, obscuring rather than illuminating.<\/p>\n

\u201cReading this book<\/strong> is like being stuck in a lift with Boris Johnson for several hours. It\u2019s undeniably entertaining, but you may find yourself longing for a bit of peace and quiet by the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Johnson Legacy: A Work in Progress<\/h2>\n

\u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d is clearly an attempt to shape the narrative around Johnson\u2019s political career. He presents himself as a visionary leader, hamstrung by bureaucracy and betrayed by his colleagues. How successful this attempt will be remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

Comparisons and Context<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s interesting to compare \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d with other recent political memoirs<\/a>. Unlike David Cameron\u2019s \u201cFor the Record\u201d or Theresa May\u2019s \u201cThe Abuse of Power\u201d, Johnson\u2019s book is less a sober reflection on power than a rambunctious defense of his record. In this, it\u2019s perhaps closer in spirit to Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cOur Journey Together\u201d, though with considerably more polysyllabic words.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict: A Borisopedia<\/h2>\n

\u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d is many things: a political manifesto, a personal defense, and a rollicking yarn. What it isn\u2019t is a balanced or objective account of recent British history. Readers looking for deep insights into policy or government will likely be disappointed. But those seeking to understand the man who has dominated British politics for the past decade will find plenty to chew on.<\/p>\n

Who Should Read This?<\/h3>\n

Political junkies
\nBoris fans (and foes)
\nAnyone who enjoys a good rhetorical flourish<\/p>\n

Who Should Skip It?<\/h3>\n

Those looking for a balanced historical account
\nReaders allergic to Latin phrases
\nAnyone hoping for a mea culpa<\/p>\n

In the end, \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d is much like the man himself: entertaining, frustrating, and impossible to ignore. Love him or hate him, Boris Johnson has left an indelible mark on British politics. This book ensures his distinctive voice will continue to be heard for years to come.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Marmite of British Politics Love him or loathe him, Boris Johnson has been the dominant force in British politics for over a decade. Now, in his characteristically ebullient style, he\u2019s unleashed his side of the story in \u201cUnleashed by Boris Johnson\u201d. This memoir is a whirlwind tour through the mind of one of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=671"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}