About the book
What just happened and how did we get into this mess?
Since the 2016 referendum, the UK has been in a crisis of its own making. But there are more reasons for this than Brexit alone. A wave of disruption has hit political parties, the mainstream media, public experts and all kinds of officials. Along the way, there have been dramatic and sometimes shocking events: the burning of Grenfell Tower and the Windrush scandal, the rise and fall of the Brexit Party, Boris Johnson’s Conservative purge and his resounding election victory. The state’s response to the pandemic was a further sign of how abnormal things had become.
As the ‘mainstream’ of politics and media has come under attack, the basic norms of public life have been thrown into question. Authoritarian and nationalist forces advance as liberalism recedes.
This Is Not Normal takes stock of a nation that no longer recognises itself. Davies finds the narrative sense behind apparently chaotic and irrational events, extracting their underlying logic and long-term causes. We are witnessing the combined effects of the 2008 financial crash, the failure of the British neoliberal project, the dying of Empire, and the impact of the changes that technology and communications have had on the public sphere. How the nation revives from the economic and political shocks of the lockdown remains uncertain. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to make sense of the current moment.
Editions of This is Not Normal
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781839760907
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781839760990
- EBook
- ISBN 9781839761010
Read an Excerpt
What just happened and how did we get into this mess?
Since the 2016 referendum, the UK has been in a crisis of its own making. But there are more reasons for this than Brexit alone. A wave of disruption has hit political parties, the mainstream media, public experts and all kinds of officials. Along the way, there have been dramatic and sometimes shocking events: the burning of Grenfell Tower and the Windrush scandal, the rise and fall of the Brexit Party, Boris Johnson’s Conservative purge and his resounding election victory. The state’s response to the pandemic was a further sign of how abnormal things had become.
As the ‘mainstream’ of politics and media has come under attack, the basic norms of public life have been thrown into question. Authoritarian and nationalist forces advance as liberalism recedes.
This Is Not Normal takes stock of a nation that no longer recognises itself. Davies finds the narrative sense behind apparently chaotic and irrational events, extracting their underlying logic and long-term causes. We are witnessing the combined effects of the 2008 financial crash, the failure of the British neoliberal project, the dying of Empire, and the impact of the changes that technology and communications have had on the public sphere. How the nation revives from the economic and political shocks of the lockdown remains uncertain. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to make sense of the current moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is This is Not Normal about?
What just happened and how did we get into this mess?
Since the 2016 referendum, the UK has been in a crisis of its own making. But there are more reasons for this than Brexit alone. A wave of disruption has hit political parties, the mainstream media, public experts and all kinds of officials. Along the way, there have been dramatic and sometimes shocking events: the burning of Grenfell Tower and the Windrush scandal, the rise and fall of the Brexit Party, Boris Johnson’s Conservative purge and his resounding election victory. The state’s response to the pandemic was a further sign of how abnormal things had become.
As the ‘mainstream’ of politics and media has come under attack, the basic norms of public life have been thrown into question. Authoritarian and nationalist forces advance as liberalism recedes.
This Is Not Normal takes stock of a nation that no longer recognises itself. Davies finds the narrative sense behind apparently chaotic and irrational events, extracting their underlying logic and long-term causes. We are witnessing the combined effects of the 2008 financial crash, the failure of the British neoliberal project, the dying of Empire, and the impact of the changes that technology and communications have had on the public sphere. How the nation revives from the economic and political shocks of the lockdown remains uncertain. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to make sense of the current moment.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in This is Not Normal?
Society and Social Sciences > Politics and government
Where can I read a sample of This is Not Normal?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781839760907
Who is/are the Author/s of the book This is Not Normal?
William Davies
Who is the Publisher of the book This is Not Normal?
Verso Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
This is Not Normal is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781839760907) and paperback(ISBN 9781839760990) and ebook(ISBN 9781839761010)
Where can I buy This is Not Normal online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy This is Not Normal from below
Where can I buy This is Not Normal?