Reviews

Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class by Owen Jones

niallmol's review

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hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

woefullly's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

rukud3o's review against another edition

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dark informative slow-paced

4.0

ecresswell's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

moominmama_11's review against another edition

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4.0

In a well argued and researched account, Owen Jones states his case for the media and governmental demonisation of the working classes in Britain, from Thatcher to the current Tory government. He makes a good case for the effects of the social housing crisis and de-industrialisation of vast swathes of the country on the health of the country, both medically and socially. The book is a little repetitive and plays down the concept of personal responsibility a little too much but overall it's a good defence of his thesis, written in an engaging and readable way.

heidi_meredith's review against another edition

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slow-paced

4.0

13 years on from its first publication, this is still sadly relatable. Councils and schools are running on deficit budgets and being blamed for poor management. Working-class people are still being made to pay for the mistakes and greed of the wealthy elite. It's all rather depressing, not that I had much faith in politics prior to reading this. I continue to vote only to honour the suffragettes, and for Labour only as the lesser of two evils, although this book opened my eyes to the extent of their complicity. Maybe I'll spoil my paper next time. 

I appreciated the 2020 and 2016 catch-up introductions. I think overall the book could have been shorter. It felt slightly repetitive at times. 

It reminded me of 'The grapes of wrath' by John Steinbeck. 

I had thought it was going to be more about 'chav' culture but the class politics addressed gives context for that. It did challenge my own perceptions and biases. Growing up on the outskirts of London in the noughties, 'chav' was just another teen classification, along with 'goths' and 'grunges' and 'geeks'. 'Chavs' would have applied to the group of older teens who violently attacked my male friends simply for wearing baggy jeans, while I looked on in horror. Incidentally, we were near our local railway station and the city workers piling off the train at 6pm all walked on by, somewhat ironically. 

ruthhelizabeth's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.0

tsapparelli's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

3.5

Interesting info and made me analyse my own beliefs and biases. Felt a bit repetitive and not super engaging at times.

annie_wood27's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

reneoro's review against another edition

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5.0

En su centro, la demonización de la clase trabajadora es el flagrante triunfalismo de los ricos que, libres ya del desafío de los de abajo, ahora los señalan y se ríen de ellos.