The Establishment And how they get away with it

Owen Jones, Allen Lane, 368 pages, hardback, £16.99

Owen Jones made a powerful argument about the nature of class divisions in British society and the role that class plays in everyday life in Chavs: the demonisation of the working class. It is one of the few mainstream books that tackles the question of class head on and considers why working class people are so denigrated in popular culture.

In his new book, Jones turns to the other major class in society and takes a long hard look at the ruling class. He offers us a biting critique of the British “establishment” and makes a plea for genuine democracy.

Jones told The Guardian recently that the modern establishment is wedded to the political ideas of neoliberalism.

“Members of the establishment genuinely believe in this ideology — but it is a set of beliefs and policies that, rather conveniently, guarantees them ever growing personal riches and power.”

In exposing this shadowy and complex system that dominates our lives, Jones sets out on a journey into the heart of our establishment — from the lobbies of Westminster to the newsrooms, boardrooms and trading rooms of Fleet Street and the City.

Exposing the vested interests that bind them together, Jones shows how, in claiming to work on our behalf, the people at the top are doing precisely the opposite.

Reviews contributed by the Bookmarks socialist bookshop. Order online at www.bookmarksbookshop.co.uk