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None of the Above
Are all the parties the same?
Will my vote really make any difference?
Why is politics so hard to understand?
If you've ever thought any of these things, you're not alone. What with broken promises, complicated jargon and a lack of simple and clear information, is it any wonder that voter turnout is plummeting? It's not that you don't care about the way the country is run - it's that you don't think you can change it. Well, you can. And this book aims to show you how, by setting out basic politics and answering questions we've all asked, like: Why do politicians lie? What do UKIP stand for? And what's going to happen to the NHS?
You have a decision to make in the countdown to the May 2015 General Election. You have something politicians want.
Your vote.
An ambassador for #SwingtheVote and the presenter of Free Speech, Rick Edwards has written a pithy and succinct book explaining the power of your vote. A refreshing counterpoint to Russell Brand's sentiments on voting in his latest book, Revolution, it will make you think about politics in a completely new way.
Will my vote really make any difference?
Why is politics so hard to understand?
If you've ever thought any of these things, you're not alone. What with broken promises, complicated jargon and a lack of simple and clear information, is it any wonder that voter turnout is plummeting? It's not that you don't care about the way the country is run - it's that you don't think you can change it. Well, you can. And this book aims to show you how, by setting out basic politics and answering questions we've all asked, like: Why do politicians lie? What do UKIP stand for? And what's going to happen to the NHS?
You have a decision to make in the countdown to the May 2015 General Election. You have something politicians want.
Your vote.
An ambassador for #SwingtheVote and the presenter of Free Speech, Rick Edwards has written a pithy and succinct book explaining the power of your vote. A refreshing counterpoint to Russell Brand's sentiments on voting in his latest book, Revolution, it will make you think about politics in a completely new way.
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
265 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
5 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 30, 2022
I've always found Rick Edwards' writing engaging and accessible. In 'None of the Above', targeted at (younger) first time voters, he breaks down some of the differences between the major political parties in the run up to the 2015 General Election.
Of course the book is dated, but Edwards' prescience is interesting and his book (if ever suitability updated) could become required reading in schools.
Of course the book is dated, but Edwards' prescience is interesting and his book (if ever suitability updated) could become required reading in schools.
May 1, 2015
This is a great book to read pre election, the only issue I see is that more people (and young people) won't read this! It has been great to inform me on all the major parties and the key parts of the election. It won't tell you who to vote for, I'm sure there's a Buzzfeed quiz to tell you that, but it will help more people (but I repeat not enough people) be informed when they do choose who to vote for.
March 31, 2015
The importance of this book by TV presenter and youth politics activist Rick Edwards is to encourage young people to 'VOTE', as he says at the end of each chapter, as a loud reminder that we're approaching a general election scheduled for May 7th this year.
I had already registered to vote and look forward to it as I am a weirdo and follow political news every day. I have campaigned, volunteered, and even stood in elections in my short life span and it is rare to look around and see a lot of young people there with you, outside a university or college setting. Politics in the UK is very much an old person's game in that way, and that badly needs to change.
Hopefully this book is picked up by a lot of undecided voters ahead of May 7th, and especially by eligible young voters who might be thinking: "What's the point in voting anyway?"
My political friend told me an anecdote yesterday about talking to a 19/20 year old about the upcoming general election. The young guy, just a couple of years younger than me, was clued up and well informed, but when asked who he is going to vote for this year he said "voting isn't cool though" and left it at that. Now that can't be applied to all of us that are under-25 - of course not - but if people do feel that way, those of us who are engaged in politics, like Rick Edwards, need to get out there and tell those potential voters what is at stake, because if we don't we will have huge swathes of the young population of this country not deciding upon their own future.
That is incredibly dangerous and means that we might not have our voices heard as members of 'Generation Y.' What's more, we are not acknowledging the fantastic freedoms we have in voting and how much our ancestors - and activists in less free countries today - have fought for the right to turn up at the ballot box and have their say. Men and women have fought and died for democracy and it is up to us, as it is to every new generation, to receive and carry the torch.
Now, the content of Edwards' book and the particular arguments he makes. The book is made up of policy sections and political talking points that aim to enlighten us and inform us as citizens and also to make us aware as to how crucial it is that we engage with the political system. Reading it, I definitely thought that some sections were more powerful and interesting than others.
Edwards, for instance, gives an NHS 101 lesson that would be fascinating but plenty has been written about the NHS already and there are other books out there that are more informative. However, his chapter on our Health Service can act as an introduction to the politics of health and I think that is key.
But where I think he really shines as someone trying to engage with his target audience is when he talks about drugs policy, about social media, and about celebrity engagement with politics. (After all, isn't he a celebrity who engages with politics?)
On drugs he comes across as very supportive of moves to liberalise our policy, which I sympathise with myself. Perhaps it is a case of my own bias but I found that this particular part of the book was great in giving a low-down of the debate surrounding the War on Drugs and what can be done in the future. One thing that I thought was terrific was he pointed out the laziness in continuing our strict attitude to drugs when we might just be helping drug cartels and putting more pressure on our justice system. He tried to be objective as much as possible but here the visibility of his opinion was excusable, as most of the British public want a review of the country's approach to drugs, and over half have been found to want cannabis legalised or decriminalised. (Ipsos MORI poll for the Transform Drugs Policy Foundation, 2013: https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpu...).
And on social media, Rick Edwards points out that platforms such as Twitter and Facebook - that politicians in the 21st century should be using - are as much tools for engagement as they are for putting out a media message. He quotes a Nottingham University study into the types of tweets that MPs were putting out and says that only 28.7% were conversational, as opposed to passive media messages. Now I can understand why most tweets would not be replies, as I imagine that some of the replies that MPs get are very harsh, but this is a stat that could , and perhaps should, go up. It is terrific that Edwards raises this is a concern because for young people it really is, as we are social media literate -- older people (and voters part of a higher turnout) may be on the platforms, or they may not, but it is not good enough to disregard social media because young people use it.
That just contributes to the problem our politicians have with young people, and is a reason why Edwards has written this timely book.
So don't just take my word for it, read this book and start thinking seriously about politics in the run-up to the next election. And as Edwards would say, and does say quite a lot in None of the Above, 'VOTE!'
I had already registered to vote and look forward to it as I am a weirdo and follow political news every day. I have campaigned, volunteered, and even stood in elections in my short life span and it is rare to look around and see a lot of young people there with you, outside a university or college setting. Politics in the UK is very much an old person's game in that way, and that badly needs to change.
Hopefully this book is picked up by a lot of undecided voters ahead of May 7th, and especially by eligible young voters who might be thinking: "What's the point in voting anyway?"
My political friend told me an anecdote yesterday about talking to a 19/20 year old about the upcoming general election. The young guy, just a couple of years younger than me, was clued up and well informed, but when asked who he is going to vote for this year he said "voting isn't cool though" and left it at that. Now that can't be applied to all of us that are under-25 - of course not - but if people do feel that way, those of us who are engaged in politics, like Rick Edwards, need to get out there and tell those potential voters what is at stake, because if we don't we will have huge swathes of the young population of this country not deciding upon their own future.
That is incredibly dangerous and means that we might not have our voices heard as members of 'Generation Y.' What's more, we are not acknowledging the fantastic freedoms we have in voting and how much our ancestors - and activists in less free countries today - have fought for the right to turn up at the ballot box and have their say. Men and women have fought and died for democracy and it is up to us, as it is to every new generation, to receive and carry the torch.
Now, the content of Edwards' book and the particular arguments he makes. The book is made up of policy sections and political talking points that aim to enlighten us and inform us as citizens and also to make us aware as to how crucial it is that we engage with the political system. Reading it, I definitely thought that some sections were more powerful and interesting than others.
Edwards, for instance, gives an NHS 101 lesson that would be fascinating but plenty has been written about the NHS already and there are other books out there that are more informative. However, his chapter on our Health Service can act as an introduction to the politics of health and I think that is key.
But where I think he really shines as someone trying to engage with his target audience is when he talks about drugs policy, about social media, and about celebrity engagement with politics. (After all, isn't he a celebrity who engages with politics?)
On drugs he comes across as very supportive of moves to liberalise our policy, which I sympathise with myself. Perhaps it is a case of my own bias but I found that this particular part of the book was great in giving a low-down of the debate surrounding the War on Drugs and what can be done in the future. One thing that I thought was terrific was he pointed out the laziness in continuing our strict attitude to drugs when we might just be helping drug cartels and putting more pressure on our justice system. He tried to be objective as much as possible but here the visibility of his opinion was excusable, as most of the British public want a review of the country's approach to drugs, and over half have been found to want cannabis legalised or decriminalised. (Ipsos MORI poll for the Transform Drugs Policy Foundation, 2013: https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpu...).
And on social media, Rick Edwards points out that platforms such as Twitter and Facebook - that politicians in the 21st century should be using - are as much tools for engagement as they are for putting out a media message. He quotes a Nottingham University study into the types of tweets that MPs were putting out and says that only 28.7% were conversational, as opposed to passive media messages. Now I can understand why most tweets would not be replies, as I imagine that some of the replies that MPs get are very harsh, but this is a stat that could , and perhaps should, go up. It is terrific that Edwards raises this is a concern because for young people it really is, as we are social media literate -- older people (and voters part of a higher turnout) may be on the platforms, or they may not, but it is not good enough to disregard social media because young people use it.
That just contributes to the problem our politicians have with young people, and is a reason why Edwards has written this timely book.
So don't just take my word for it, read this book and start thinking seriously about politics in the run-up to the next election. And as Edwards would say, and does say quite a lot in None of the Above, 'VOTE!'
April 23, 2015
I like this book. I like it a lot. It covers all the major parties, the problems they face and what policies they each propose in order to combat those problems. Whilst the more you read, it is easy to discern what the author's political leanings may be, he does a great job of presenting the information objectively.
It's readable, entertaining and filled with facts and clear-cut chapters. This book is not a dense tome for the political elite but for YOU, the prospective voter. The glossary can help with terms or systems you may be unfamiliar with and facts from a variety of sources both sides of the political spectrum are heavily sprinkled throughout. The book's aim is to convince you to vote and help present you with the information necessary for you to confidently do so, and I think, in general, it will be successful in achieving this aim with the majority of its readers. However, I feel that an area which could have been illuminated more clearly is the purpose and facts pertaining to a protest vote and further analysis on safe seats.
That being said, you should definitely read this book. Whoever you're thinking of voting for (or not voting for/protesting against), get informed, become engaged and know what's happening!
It's readable, entertaining and filled with facts and clear-cut chapters. This book is not a dense tome for the political elite but for YOU, the prospective voter. The glossary can help with terms or systems you may be unfamiliar with and facts from a variety of sources both sides of the political spectrum are heavily sprinkled throughout. The book's aim is to convince you to vote and help present you with the information necessary for you to confidently do so, and I think, in general, it will be successful in achieving this aim with the majority of its readers. However, I feel that an area which could have been illuminated more clearly is the purpose and facts pertaining to a protest vote and further analysis on safe seats.
That being said, you should definitely read this book. Whoever you're thinking of voting for (or not voting for/protesting against), get informed, become engaged and know what's happening!
May 7, 2015
Aimed at young people (and those confused about where to start with politics), this is a great concise intro to all that UK politics malarkey. Rick Edwards is fairly thorough (as much as can be excepted when covering such a vast scope of information) and ridiculously objective and unbiased showing both sides of each coin. His goal really is chiefly to provide information without influencing your vote, while wholeheartedly encouraging you to make that vote regardless if who it's for…as long as it's for who you want to vote for.
And, like puppies, this book isn't just forChristmas election time(…?)! It's a good source for general basic information about UK government & parliament all year(s) round.
GO VOTE!
And, like puppies, this book isn't just for
GO VOTE!
May 24, 2015
Really, really informative read - especially helpful before the General Election.
It explains terms, concepts, and processes that everyone else seems to know almost intuitively about British politics, but which still mystified me (Why are there a certain number of seats? What is a hung party? What's the deal with Scotland?).
It also laid out clearly and (mostly) impartially the attitudes and policies of each of the major parties to different matters (economy, housing, welfare, drugs, etc).
Edwards has a great conversational tone that made this potentially dry and dense topic eminently approachable.
It explains terms, concepts, and processes that everyone else seems to know almost intuitively about British politics, but which still mystified me (Why are there a certain number of seats? What is a hung party? What's the deal with Scotland?).
It also laid out clearly and (mostly) impartially the attitudes and policies of each of the major parties to different matters (economy, housing, welfare, drugs, etc).
Edwards has a great conversational tone that made this potentially dry and dense topic eminently approachable.
April 11, 2016
Four stars not for the narrative or the argument (because it's lots of little arguments really) but because this book is so SO important. I wish it had been written earlier and I hope people keep picking it up and reading it even after the May 7 election, because the author does a great job of relaying detail and argument without a great deal of bias. It's a tiny bit out of date now but Jesus Christ this book should be given to even pupil and student in the UK, made compulsory reading. It'll be cheap now - give it to all the teens you know, I'd bet my bottom dollar they'd want to discuss with you afterwards. Well done Rick!
April 10, 2015
This is a really excellent, non-biased summation of the policies of the main parties in this year's general election, aimed at the 18-25 demographic.
In the previous election, more than half of those eligible to vote in that demographic did not. Edwards' main aim is for this to not be the case this time around. He avoids being patronising and neatly explains policies. Due to my personal background, I did skim over some sections but overall a really handy guide if you are unsure as to who to vote for on May 7th.
In the previous election, more than half of those eligible to vote in that demographic did not. Edwards' main aim is for this to not be the case this time around. He avoids being patronising and neatly explains policies. Due to my personal background, I did skim over some sections but overall a really handy guide if you are unsure as to who to vote for on May 7th.
May 16, 2015
This book left me with a 'I still don't know who to vote for' kind of feeling - but it got me thinking about the subject in a way I hadn't before, which I think was the point. I'd recommend it to anyone, even though we're now post election - it puts the key issues in clear language and makes it easier to navigate the b******t that we get from politicians. The messages will remain just as important as we go into the next five years, if only to be able to understand if Cameron is really doing a good job or not!
May 2, 2020
I am a big fan of Rick Edwards and found this after watching his Ted Talk on how to encourage voter turn out and it was so well presented, clear and sensible. The ideas were all simple yet I could see how effective they would be if introduced.
If you need any guidance on how the political system words and why you should be a part of it by voting, this is the one for you.
If you need any guidance on how the political system words and why you should be a part of it by voting, this is the one for you.
April 8, 2015
If you want an unbiased opinion of who to vote for in the UK general elections on the May 7th, then this would be a good book to read. It covers the main topics such as Immigration, NHS, taxes and even Russell Brand.
April 14, 2015
Although it's aimed at potential voters in their 20s, I still learned a lot from this as a reasonably experienced voter.
It's very readable, and neutral. Plus, as it was published this March, it's very up-to-date, including the current policies of the main 5 parties as it explains each topic.
It's very readable, and neutral. Plus, as it was published this March, it's very up-to-date, including the current policies of the main 5 parties as it explains each topic.
August 17, 2015
A really good book for those of us who want to gain a better understanding of politics in a beautifully simple yet very informative way. It's a little heartbreaking at times now we've had the election but still a helpful introduction to UK politics.
April 5, 2015
Great Book to read ahead of the general election. It explains everything clearly & in a non biased way. would recommend.
May 7, 2015
Loved this- wish it had been written 15 years ago. Right, now I have a vague idea what it's all about, am off to VOTE! ✖️
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews