Hi

The long days and sunshine of summer - and a slightly slower pace of life - are a perfect time to catch up on reading. I must admit I read all year round but there is something about a sunny summer day that makes enjoying the feel and smell of a new book extra special.

Here is my list of books to read this summer; you'll detect a theme which was prompted by the claim that 'Britain is broken'. It certainly feels this way, so I thought I'd find out if indeed this is the case, how we got here and what can be done about it.

At times the facts are hard to take; have our leaders of the past 20-30 years (and not just in the UK but globally) really been this incompetent? It seems they have. Here's what I've been reading to find out what has gone wrong.

I started with Growth by Daniel Susskind because it seemed clear that a lack of growth in recent years has been a prime cause of economic decline and resolving the growth dilemma has now become urgent. In it he explores the history of enonmic growth and explores what really drives growth.

Next I turned to the Road to Freedom by Joseph Stiglitz who shows how neo-liberalism far from promoting growth and enterprise, in fact reduces it lessening economic opportunities for the majority whilst siphoning wealth from the many to the few. 

I thought I'd better understand more about this analysis so I turned to What Went Wrong With Capitalism by Ruchir Sharma and found an account like nothing I have heard before - how the reflexes of government have changed from hand-off to hands-on and trying to prevent anyone suffering economic pain, ever, fuelling the rise of 'zombie' firms, monopolies and billionaires. He concludes by taking readers to three countries that show capitalism can work.

To complete the quartet I read In the Long Run by Jonathan White, which looks at the way in which politics has been directed by shifting visions of the world to come and how the short-term politics of emergency has replaced the idea of a world we can shape.

I couldn't finish this list without a nod to my favourite fiction writer Daniel Silva whose novel A Death in Cornwall, the 24th thriller in his Gabriel Allon series arrived on my doormat last week. I think I'll pop outside now and read a couple of chapters in the sunshine.

Whatever you choose to read over the summer whether it be in a sun lounger, beside a pool or just in your favourote armchair, reflect on the fact that books are still the best - and best value - means to lifelong learning.

                 ----------------------------------------------------------------

I am grateful to those of you who have telephoned and emailed to ask me, as you hadn't heard from me for several weeks, if I'm ok. I am now thank-you, having had recurrence of covid which laid me low for almost a month.

                     -----------------------------------------------------------------

Noel Guilford