Book reviews: Who Runs Britain? - A Little History of the World - Due Consideration

Published on Thursday 20 November 2008 17:33

WHO RUNS BRITAIN? BY ROBERT PESTON(Hodder, £7.99)

THE BBC's business editor has developed an aura of omnipotence, but not found time to update his book, first published in February, except for a change of strapline, which suggests it's still topical.

The origins of the present crisis lie with the recklessness of a generation of bankers and financial whizz kids, and the jaw-dropping naivety of Labour ministers and officials who, terrified of being painted as "anti-business", have "mollycoddled" the turbo-capitalists.

Peston still admires greed, however, and this remains the most riveting book on finance you may ever bother to read.

A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE WORLD By EH GOMBRICH(Yale, 6.99)

GOMBRICH'S history of the world for young readers became an instant success on its first publication in Austria in 1935. The author was a 26-year-old unemployed graduate when, armed with an encyclopaedia and some library books, he wrote this kaleidoscopic history of human failings and achievements. From the Stone Age to the atom bomb (this is a revised edition), Gombrich's humanity illuminates every period. Perfect for curious children, and adults whose historical blindspots require attention.

DUE CONSIDERATIONS BY JOHN UPDIKE(Penguin, 14.99)

JOHN UPDIKE'S 60th book, at over 700 pages, is a commodious compilation of reviews, essays, forewords, obits, speeches … shopping lists? Not quite, but Updike holds forth on the most disparate subjects: Coco Chanel, poker, the Lusitania, Agatha Christie, sex, baseball and even Manhattan 24 hours after 9/11, which "looked glorious. The day was offering itself as if nothing had changed". This is a dauntingly imaginative tome that will take you longer to savour than it took Updike to write.