What Everyone Knows About Britain* (*Except The British)

A rare writer with the courage to tell Britain some home truths about itself and where it’s headed. A much needed book. – Ian DuntWhat Britain needs at the moment is not to be talked up or talked down, but simply a sense of itself that’s underpinned by clarity and honesty… This is exactly what Michael Peel provides in this persuasive, good-humoured book. – Jonathan CoeA wake-up call for those still under the illusion that Great Britain plc punches above its weight. – Chris Mullin, author of A Very British CoupEntertaining and smart - Michael Peel will have you agreeing or disagreeing with him vigorously about the state of Britain today. – Geoff NorcottIt’s very rare for a journalist to be a top-class reporter, top-class thinker and top-class writer. Michael Peel has the trifecta. This is a necessary book as well as an extremely entertaining one. Too much of the frenzied British debate about the UK’s recent turmoil is insular, without any sense of foreign comparisons or insights. A British foreign correspondent is the perfect person to understand the country. – Simon KuperSharp, witty and eye-opening. As Peel convincingly argues, we can do so much better. Give it to your delusional right-wing uncle and watch his head blow off! – Matthew Parker

Michael Peel first joined the Financial Times in 1997. Since then, he has been a foreign correspondent posted in West Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and Europe. Peel’s work has won awards, including from the UK Foreign Press Association and the US Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. He has also written for many other publications including the London Review of Books and TLS. He has appeared on the BBC, Sky and other broadcast media.