Speaking Out: Lessons in Life and Politics

by Ed Balls

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA life in and out of politics – from the despatch box to the stage on Strictly – by one of Britain’s most influential and well-loved political figures. 'Full of anecdote, insight and authenticity’ Evening Standard BOOKS OF THE YEAR'Witty, reflective and engaging' Nick Robinson'Honest and revealing' Michael Palin'Fascinating, heartfelt' Kay Burley'Insightful, funny, unexpectedly moving' Jonathan FreedlandOn the night of 7 May 2015, Ed Balls thought there was a chance he would wake up the next morning as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. Instead, he woke up without a job.Twenty-one years earlier he had left a promising career in journalism to work for Labour in opposition. Moving through the ranks, from adviser to Cabinet minister and on to Shadow Chancellor, he occupied a central and influential position in and out of power during a pivotal period in British history. Speaking Out is a record of a life in politics, but also much more. It is about how power can be used for good, and the lessons to be learned when things go wrong. It is about the mechanics of Westminster, and of government. It is about facing up to your fears and misgivings, and tackling your limitations – on stages public and private.It is about the mistakes made, change delivered and personalities encountered over the course of two decades at the frontline of British politics. It is a unique window into a rarely seen world. Most importantly, it sets out what politics is about, and why it matters.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2016

Reviews

[Daniel Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Balls

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable political memoir which felt like it represented a bygone era. Balls succeeds in writing a witty and erudite account of his time in politics, and given his varied perspectives throughout his career, there are many thoughtful observations made.

At first I was unsure about the structure, but on reflection it works brilliantly. It allows the author to focus on key themes and offer genuine reflections on specific causes or areas, as opposed to such thoughts getting lost in the reeds of a chronological narrative.

There were many genuinely amusing anecdotes peppered through the account - my favourite being Gordon Brown trying to negotiate with a conman in Madagascar - which made for a more interesting reading experience.

Above all though, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this book represented a politics which no longer exists. Many of the observations made leave the reader feeling nostalgic for a simpler time, even as Balls describes the major challenges that he faced during his time in power.

Overall a fantastic memoir which does things a little differently.

[Cath Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about politics I've ever read. It (and Strictly Come Dancing) has completely changed my opinion on Ed Balls. The book is informative and revealing and his sense of humour really shines through. Loved it.

[Miles Row · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot about his views of Europe and immigration from an insular white English perspective. Ignores all party parliamentary groups. Talks about fear of SNP being involved in government, without much about addressing Scottish concerns. Basically argues need to pander to fears of the majority to gain power.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ed Balls was a Labour MP who lost his seat in the 2015 election and has since found fame after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and, amongst other things, dancing to Gangnam Style. This is a memoir of his career as a politician.

The chapters are organised into themes here which I wasn't a fan of. So many people seem to try to write memoirs that aren't in chronological order to make them more interesting but personally I think they usually work better in (mostly) chronological order. Whilst each chapter here does work well, it feels odd when some incidents are referred to repeatedly.

I really enjoyed the first section of this book which was less directly about the politics. Ed writes about keeping his children out of the headlines and talks really powerfully about coping with having a stammer. There's also bits on some of the great things Balls was behind such as making the Bank of England independent and the Every Child Matters programme. I also really liked this discussion that good economics is good politics which is not something I've really thought of before and is away from what the current leadership of the Labour party seems to believe.

I began to lose interest a little in the middle of this book when there was a long section which focussed largely on economics. Whilst I have a general interest in politics I felt this went too deep and parts of it went over my head. For a budding economist I'm sure this section was of great interest but it doesn't exactly provide great entertainment.

Whilst not the best memoir ever written, this is an interesting and often quite funny look into an under-rated politician's career. I can't help but wonder what the country would be like if Balls had ended up as chancellor or leader of the labour party- considerably better I would imagine.

[Mat Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, insightful and never less than engaging memoir from the Strictly Come Dancing star turned politician. Or is it the other way around? Balls emerges from this memoir as a much more rounded human being than he was often portrayed. He is honest in his failings and mistakes but resolute in his continued belief that politics and politicians can improve the collective well being of a country, despite all the cynicism that surrounds that calling. He is never bitchy about former collegaues although it is pretty clear about where his loyalties lie (one G Brown). What's most revealing is a perhaps unexpected dry and sardonic wit, keen mind and deep personal hinterland. I suspect that his hero Denis Healy will most definitely have approved of this book and the rounded personality within.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read but no chapter on Strictly, despite the cover??

Enjoyable read, particularly so when read as part of a series of different biographies from a number of different people around at the same time.
However, the cover does say updated for Strictly, and there's nothing in the Kindle edition on that...

[Bertie Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir by Ed Balls on his life in politics, during which he served as an MP for ten years from 2005 to 2015, being a member of the cabinet as education secretary and later shadow chancellor from 2010 to 2015.

This book was published in 2016, with the memory of his election defeat in Morley and Outwood, where he lost his seat, still fresh in his mind. Balls begins by explaining the shock and disappointment of the defeat, which all but spelt the end of his political career, and the strategic mistakes which were made along the way. Following this, each chapter touches on an area of politics or his personal life.

Early on, he describes the difficulties that came with his stammer, which he only became cognizant of in his forties and the effort he made to mitigate its effects, such as taking part in speech therapy and developing techniques to manage his stress levels when speaking in public. One technique he developed was to have a conversation with a few members of the audience before a public speaking event. This meant that when the speech started, it felt like he was just continuing a conversation. Balls also writes about his experience working with Gordon Brown, the former prime minister and chancellor under Tony Blair, whom he began working with in the Treasury while still in his late twenties. He paints a fascinating portrayal of Brown as a meticulous workaholic who had great difficulty letting his guard down and showing the public a side of himself that in any way contradicted his professional, statesmanlike persona. Balls also discusses the tensions within government between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, where there were often heated policy disagreements.

Balls spent much of his senior period in politics in opposition, and it was interesting to read his account of how hopeless it feels to be in that position, where there is little that can be done to effect meaningful policies. Despite this, he prides himself on the real change he was able to enact. Initially, he was dismissive of the change that could be enacted as an MP, as he solely saw it as a stepping stone for a more prominent position in the Cabinet. However, over time, he appreciated the small help he could give constituents, often bogged down in government malaise. For example, there was one instance where a mother who had recently lost her young daughter was struggling to commission a bench in her memory; however, Balls was able to call the local chief executive of the council and get the bench approved.

As expected, David Cameron and George Osborne are discussed at length, usually in rather partisan terms, with Balls writing about, in his view, Osborne's failed austerity measures. As well as the attempts to outmanoeuvre each other in the economic debate, with him accusing Osborne of poaching some of his policy proposals while in government. However, he also notes that despite this, behind the scenes, they had a rather friendly relationship. Osborne even got into a minor political scandal when it was revealed in the newspapers that he had 'babysat' for one of Balls’ children while he gave an interview on BBC Question Time. Contrastingly, his relationship with Cameron was much colder; he viewed Cameron as having a gladiatorial mindset when it came to politics, never uttering a word or even acknowledging his existence when passing each other in the corridors of Westminster. Balls and Cameron often got into spats at EMQs, with Balls always trying his best to get under his skin, which led to a fair few insults being dished out by Cameron over the years.

As someone watching from the outside, PMQs always felt like a bit of a circus, and this is shared by many of its participants, including Balls, who lamented the fierce, personal nature of its debates but saw it as one of the few means of attack against the governing party. Because of the need for politicians to be able to deliver biting and witty retorts to political opponents and the general desire for humour in between the long, rambling political speeches, much of Balls’ time was spent coming up with jokes with his advisors. Balls considered this to be an unfortunate but necessary aspect of modern politics, where being a showman is just as important as having substance.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was how Balls was able to interweave stories from his personal life in between his political career. This could feel rather contrived, but Balls often used his personal life to break free from the constraints imposed on politicians and show himself in another light. For example, he talks about his Marathon in 2010, which he struggled through with an injury, only limping to the finish line with the help of Ibuprofen and a desire not to cause any political ammunition from his inability to finish the race. He also talks about his many nervous public performances of the piano and his support for Norwich FC, of which he eventually served as Chairman.

Balls’ account overall was fairly honest in explaining the gaffes and mistakes he had made throughout his life. These range from minor errors such as accidentally tweeting his own name while trying to search it up to more serious accusations such as his involvement in the 2009 expense scandal, where he and many other MPs were accused of misuse of allowance funds. However, Balls defends himself by claiming that some expenses, such as the use of government funds to pay for wreaths (something typically paid for by the MPs themselves), were an administrative mistake and quickly corrected. He was also criticised for the sacking of a children’s services director, which was later ruled unlawful and resulted in the director being paid half a million in compensation.

Some may see this book as coming across as too polished or clean with a desire not to cause controversy by saying anything too outlandish; however, I think this is more a result of Ball's character in general and less a conscious effort to play it safe. Balls is a moderate figure in the Labour party and a supporter of New Labour (although with a frosty relationship with Blair himself), and as such, much of his political commentary focuses on tried and tested policies and allowing an environment that fosters innovation and growth while also making sure that those with an educational and social disparity are given a leg up. As an economist and former shadow chancellor, much of his political commentary is focused on economic issues, and he regularly talks about his personal achievements during his time in government, such as not joining the Euro and making the Bank of England independent. However, in his concluding chapter, he does signal his concern about the rise of populist elements in both UK and international politics, but concludes that, fundamentally, all the issues that have led to this can be addressed by focusing on fixing the economy.

Overall, this was a good and easy-to-read memoir mixing discussion on Balls’ political and personal life with a fair amount of insight into some of the key figures in the Labour party and the political battles with opposition members such as George Osborne and Michael Gove.

[Megan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the night of the 7th May 2015 Ed Balls thought he would be waking up as the new Chancellor, instead he was out of a job. For two decades he had been at the centre of Labour and working his way up through the ranks. This book is a record of his life in politics including how lessons can be learnt when things go wrong.
I did not read this for political views but for a general interest into politics and politicians thoughts behind events. ‘Speaking Out’ is a very good account of Ed’s career in politics. This is not written in chronological order; instead Ed picks certain themes that form a chapter and then recounts political events that match that theme. I thought this was a unique way of writing a book about your political career and one that I appreciated immensely. It does mean that some events are mentioned multiple times but everything else worked really well.
My only criticism of this is occasionally Ed goes into too much detail in some areas which meant I lost interest a bit but not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. ‘Speaking Out’ is extremely interesting and entertaining and I highly recommend this.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and thought provoking. Totally changed my opinion of Ed Balls - he came across as humorous and humble (for the most part) and a genuine guy - rare qualities among politicians, in my view.

[Michael Whitehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

First half read as a candid honest human account of life in politics, second half strayed into justifications and rationalisations of his actions in politics which was less entertaining, although still dotted with the odd whimsical anecdote.

[Jakub Dovcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This non-linear memoir is rather a collection of advice from Balls' time in government and politics, than a retelling of his whole life. Besides a few stories (some really hilarious, a few thought-provoking) from his time with Gordon Brown, it is heavily tilted towards his time as Education Secretary (or rather officially, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families) and as Shadow Chancellor. But I loved it. It is definitely one of the best memoirs I have read because it is also extremely reflective and thoughtful.

While the book is not too heavy on revelations or settling political scores, there are interesting perspectives on some past decisions. Foundation hospitals under Milburn were unworkable and the idea that they could borrow money independently was ‘unacceptable and ridiculous’ (funny enough, at the same time, Slovakia was going through healthcare reform that resulted in continuous rounds of bailouts of public hospitals). Transfer of banking regulation from the Bank of England to the Financial Conduct Authority did not go far enough and there was a war game between the Treasury, FCA and BofE in late 2006 that essentially almost predicted the collapse of Northern Rock, but regulatory changes were projected over a longer period of time and were thus unprepared. Balls consider avoiding UK's entry into Eurozone as one of New Labour's (or Brown's) greatest economic achievements - alongside a rise in funding for NHS through the NIC increase in the 2001 Budget (which he sees as the high point for New Labour policies).

His retelling of the "TB-GB"s is much kinder than what Blairites (like Mandelson) usually recollect. Balls argues that there was ultimately always some basic understanding and personal connection between Blair and Brown - unlike the synthetically distanced style of Ed Miliband after he became an MP and later Leader in 2010. Balls claim that he talked with Miliband twice during the 2015 campaign and considers the unsettled positions, especially on the economy (& austerity) and immigration as the key drivers of the loss in the 2015 General Election - exemplified in Ed Miliband's 2014 Labour Conference speech, where he omitted parts dealing with both. Frankly, between 2010 and 2015, he seemed to have a better personal connection with George Osborne, than Ed Miliband - he says how their children would play together when waiting for them during joint TV interviews.

Of course, I do not agree with everything he writes - particularly his insistence on the primacy of economic considerations in politics ("Good economics makes good politics), while understandable due to his education, work at FT and later 7 years at the Treasury, has been shown to have limited application in the past decade. While he admits that there was not enough appreciation for the impact of globalisation or unlimited immigration from new EU member countries in New Labour's policies, he does not explain how it could be done more effectively or gives an idea of appreciating the more social aspects of them.

But the humanity of Ed Balls drips through the pages - in his retelling of the cases of Baby Peter or 11-year old father during his times as Education Secretary, as well as in his descriptions of precautions he and his wife, a fellow MP and Cabinet Minister Yvette Cooper, have taken to protect their children. It is also really great to read about his work as a local MP - makes it easier to understand what the work actually entails.

What I found particularly inspirational, was his debate of what he calls "hinterland" - the normal, human interests besides politics, that can often be either minimized or hidden from public view (it is a quote from Denis Healey, Chancellor in Heath and Callaghan governments, who was himself a very colourful figure and once played the piano on national TV, which Balls later repeated). His emphasis on them - running marathons, baking, learning to play the piano - is very refreshing and very inspirational for anyone interested in public service. As is his opening, retelling the story of his unseating as an MP in the 2015 General Election.

There are chapters on the aspects of life in politics - about taking risks, making decisions and very enjoyably, about humour in politics. That chapter was amazing and refreshing, even if I did not get all the references of Gordon Brown’s jokes he was using.

As a stutterer, I loved the part about his discovery and then public admission of his speech impediment. While different from growing-up with it, it is nevertheless fascinating to read about how he went through overcoming it as a Cabinet minister.

Surely, would be amazing to read more insider tips about his times at the Treasury, but this structure of the book is probably more meaningful in the long run. Could not recommend enough.

[Rob Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The slowest marathon runner in Parliament, but the best fundraiser

Edward Michael Balls is a retired British Labour and Co-operative politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Normanton from 2005 to 2010 and for Morley and Outwood from 2010 to 2015, when he lost his seat to Andrea Jenkyns of the Conservative Party. For two decades he had been at the centre of Labour and working his way up through the ranks. This book is a record of his life in politics including how lessons can be learnt when things go wrong. He has since found fame after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, amongst other things.

Ball comes across as a person who makes generous and insightful judgements of foes as well as friends. He tries hard to understand the motives of people who have crossed him. And in this engaging memoir he portrays a person with a deep personal hinterland, and a dry and sardonic wit. Ball emerges from this book as a rounded, principled human. He is honest in his mistakes but stands firm in a belief that politicians should improve the collective well being of us all. He also acknowledges that people are mistrustful and cynical of politics as whole. He is never cruel or unfair about most of his former colleagues. For example, he is polite about Brown and Blair, but less so about Ed Miliband. But even then, he judges him politically rather than personally. In fact, the lack of recrimination and backstabbing must be a disappointment to readers for whom that is the substance of political life.

Unusually for a autobiography the chapters are organised into specific themes (there are 27 in all). Within the context of each theme Ball then recounts political events that matches it. This unique way of writing makes for some repetition and, call me old-fashioned, but I would have much preferred a chronological order. Although that said one or two of the essays stand alone as little gems of insight and reflection.

The first section of the book was the most interesting. This was less directly about politics. The middle of the book sags as there is a heavy focus on economics. Great if you’re really interested in it, less so if you’re not. If you can power through this section then it shouldn’t detract too much from your overall enjoyment of the book.

Balls goes onto describe Labour's four-week general election campaign in 2015 as "astonishingly dysfunctional" and "we weren't ready – and didn't deserve – to return to government". He also describes Jeremy Corbyn's leadership project as a "leftist utopian fantasy, devoid of connection to the reality of people's lives". He vigorously defends a mixed economy and the necessary compromises involved in a Labour government operating in a capitalist system. For him, politics is all about getting into power and trying to make the world a better place within the inevitable constraints.

Balls also talks in detail about his interiorised stammer. This is a condition that manifests itself in sudden verbal freezes, inaudible on the outside, but panic-inducing on the inside. His initial reluctance to get treatment and subsequent decision to go public, is both compelling and affecting.

In summary:
Whilst not the best autobiography ever written, this is an informative, humorous insight into an under-rated politician's career. You’ll be left with not only an understanding of Balls, but also of the Labour Party, politics and, even some aspects of the British character. Balls comes across as very human and likeable. Not at all like the intellectual and political bully I was used to seeing on TV. He outlines, in a very easy to understand style, what was good about Labour's actions leading up to and following the global financial crisis. Clearly driven by strong sense of values he outlines suggestions for the next generation of politicians of any party.

[The Contented · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. Confession time. It was only after I had read Alistair Darling's excellent 'Back from the Brink' that I picked up this book, curious about what it would say. The earlier chapters were good, in part. I liked that they were short, and readable (I started this book during flu season, and could not have gone through anything more at the time. I needed to sleep for days in order to recover). I liked reading about the economic tests on whether euro membership would make sense. I liked reading about tying policy more closely to economic tests. I found the chapter on how govt. policy (to compensate for earlier mistakes) now leans too heavily towards making things easier for pensioners (at a cost to almost everyone else) especially interesting. This is unlikely to be sustainable.

But then the book kind of went on and on (and on). It became a little bit too much of an 'I'm a politician. Transparently so. But I really want you to like me' sort-of-read. And by the end, when every straight thinking economist knows that immigration is a good thing, to have to read the tiresome politician drivel about how we need to tone down that message to pander to less well-informed people because they happened to be Ed Balls' former constituents and they were very anti-immigration. Well.

Whatever happened to informed debate. Standing up for principles even when other people may not understand them. Integrity. That sort of thing. (Clearly this reader is still in the camp of 'it's ok to be preachy, especially when you're right').

And then there was that killer line about joining the Bilderberg because he enjoyed debating stuff (well, uhm, ok).

Important questions are asked at the end of the book, about why mainstream politics currently finds itself under threat. However, no convincing answers are provided. (I think Corbyn's followers see him as an honest guy. I would not say the same appeal is shared by Trump, Farage and Le Pen where their platforms are much more about legitimising hate. And for anyone to lump Corbyn in with the others - in my detached and very independent view - just seems like too much sour grapes).

I'm disappointed by this book because I really wanted to like it. (It was written by someone who must have played a key role in the debt relief offered to SSA economies, even though that is never mentioned). I really wanted to like this book, but in the end I didn't. Sorry.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Balls has written a great yarn with insightful commentary and honest assessments of relationships in the Parliamentary Party during an exciting period in British politics. The lack of recrimination and backstabbing must be a disappointment to readers for whom that is the substance of political life. Indeed it is not. Balls' book is similar to that of Gareth Evans', Diaries of a Cabinet Minister (an Australian inside view of another working, thoughtful government). Differences of opinion and personal rivalries are described but without rancour - after all, a group of very different people but all with the commitment to Labour should not always agree. The substance of any membership of a political party is the debate that ensues within the party, hopefully with an outcome of policy that will work, meets the ideals of members and Members and resonates with the voters as something they can understand and endorse. To achieve this is not easy and Balls demonstrates this with his attention to detail over the important issues with which he became involved during his period in the shadow ministry and as a minister. I loved the 'Strictly' image this interesting former politician presented. However, Balls' political image is one that deserves as much attention. This book helps the reader not only to understand Balls, but the Labour Party, political activity and, for an outsider, some aspects of the British people.

[Izzy Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for an exposé, for the salacious bits, for recriminations, for drama, this is not the memoir for you. Ed Balls is affable, gently humorous if a little bland in his depiction of his time in government and in opposition. For me this was is as inoffensive and as entertaining as Strictly (in both the positive and negative sense).

The thematic structuring of the book was interesting (chapters like 'identity', 'clowns', 'spin') but then taken a bit too literally, chronology basically went out the window and it meant that relationships, people and events and how these all shaped each other weren't explored in enough depth.

Quite a lot of it seemed *I'm a nice guy please like me*. Nowhere was this more evident than in the "mistakes" chapter, a complete red herring as the only mistakes he owned up to were a few driving tickets and then proceeded to square the blame of Labour's 2015 failure with Ed Milliband!

The bits I enjoyed most were the final chapters - his sense of vocation and his understanding of what has happened to MPS in the public eye within the last decade. thought it was an insightful way of understanding Trump - especially given that this was written pre Trump taking office. I also found his analysis of our relationship with Brussels during the Blair years absolutely fascinating from a post-Brexit perspective.

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A full and frank account of his years in the public eye. You may not agree with him on all his political points but he seems to hold them honestly. It is also a good reminder of the achievements of the New Labour years and puts many things in context. For instance, who knew that Chief Secretaries of the Treasury traditionally leave humorous notes for their successor and the fuss about the one received by Laws and leaked by Osborne, was bad form.

The Epilogue, about his experience on Strictly, is an appropriate ending and encouraging to anyone who has found a chapter of their life close swiftly and unexepectedly, as his did in the 2015 election. It is however a bit long and I would suggest that he trims it back if there is a third edition of his memoirs. This section suffers from the most recent thing looming largest, when surely its not more important than the government years - where many important episodes get so much less space.

I would also advise a different dust jacket. He leans forward in a slightly threatening manner, as if he's either going to throw up, or deck someone. Given that he refutes the reputation he had as a bruiser, it is contradictory to his argument to have such an image on the cover. It also makes him look fatter, which I'm sure he doesn't want.

[Geraldine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like to say but this was really quite dull. A few amusing anecdotes about Gordon Brown doesn't a book make.

Ed Balls is, as one would guess from his education, a perfectly competent writer. But that doesn't make him a talented or engaging writer. And, despite his chapter on 'Hinterland', his writing betrays someone whose only reading is probably quite narrow.

It's an honest attempt to reflect on events and decisions, and I respect that, but, ultimately, it's rather platitudinous. My gut reaction is that he is lecturing us about matters that a newly qualified public accountant would know by the age of 26. But, actually, it's a series of lectures from someone who's been involved in strategic decision making but never really dealt with tactical or operational matters. For example, he's never had to manage staff as such, except perhaps formally managing highly motivated. Except in constituency casework, he's had no experience of interface with churlish or demanding customers. Although most of his career was spent at the Treasury, he doesn't seem to have managed a budget.

So, I actually don't think there's much to be learnt from this. I kind of resent having read it, because it delayed me moving onto the next non-fiction book.

[Susan Peak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very good book; I really liked it. Reading this is like listening to a lot of genuinely interesting anecdotes about a politician and thoughts about political life. Ed Balls is a reflective person, and able to write clearly about his experience and views. He comes over as being quite a genuine and honest man as well - there were only a couple of times when I felt I was being fed a line. (One was when he wrote about the MP's expenses scandal; he put the point of view of how hard it was on the many decent MPs there are, but didn't acknowledge that there were some greedy types there, and also didn't offer any options for handling expenses differently, As he is an economist, and offers lots of options on other topics, I did have a sense that he was saying less than he could.)

It's a very enjoyable read, and I liked having some insight into how Labour politics and government had actually been since 1997. It isn't in any way an in-depth read, but interesting and (to some extent) enlightening even so.

[Wilomina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook and struggled to follow the structure - a series of chapters titled with themes such as 'spin' and 'change', with no apparent order and each containing a story relating to any time in the author's career. I was distracted by trying to keep track of whether the author was talking about a time in government, in opposition or before he was an MP. The way the story(ies) in each chapter was told often didn't focus on the supposed theme of that chapter (I often couldn't tell what the theme was once I was in the chapter and my listening had been interrupted). They also rarely concluded with a clear 'lesson', as expected from the book title. Who were the lessons for - aspiring politicians, which isn't many people?
I felt I didn't really come away with much from listening to this, which is a shame since I felt Ed Balls was a decent person with interesting ideas, and lots of knowledge and experience to share. I did learn a bit about the way the political world works and each chapter was nicely written even if it didn't convey a clear message to me.

[Dylan Vieites Glennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly an enjoyable and insightful read, looking into the Labour party from the early 1990s to the 2015 General Election in which he lost his seat. What kept me reading the book was the witty comments, or just generally the humorous encounters such as the 'Beef incident' when Mandelson had resigned and other escapades and near-death experiences.

What makes the book insightful is the positions he's held from being an advisor, an MP, a Cabinet minister, and also Shadow-Home secretary/Shadow-Chancellor.

I must admit that I found the layout of the book rather confusing due to the fact it did not run in chronology, rather each chapter had a theme of its own. Every chapter felt like the end of the book, especially the one where he was paying his respects to Ed Miliband. I guess this was a drawback for me but probably more preferential for the reader it was aimed at, the next Generation of politicians, since they could dip in and out of it.

[Matthew O · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very readable account of Ed Balls's political life. It seemed less linear, and more issue-driven, than most memoirs, which was good, and made it seem like Ed Balls had more of sense for what he wanted to say (rather than just giving a blow-by-blow of what happened).

He was fairly self-critical, and gave a good and at times humourous sense for his working life. However, aside from being much more critical of Ed Milliband than I was expecting, his political analysis was not that nuanced. He criticised Labour's move to the left after 2010, their use of anti-business rhetoric, and their broader economic message, but I didn't get a sense of a clear alternative narrative.

Likewise, he writes about the rise of populism (in US and UK), but I didn't get a clear sense of his actual strategy for dealing with it.

Overall, however, he portrayed himself in a very likeable way, doing a good job of relaying the family struggles relating to being the first married couple in the UK Cabinet.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite inspiring and motivational, showing a real human side to a politician.
I've always admired Ed Balls, particularly from his days in DCSF, mostly due to how he portrayed himself and wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed regardless of the Tory thrashing.
This is very well done, telling us his background, his thoughts on our current situation and most importantly his time in politics.
I for one, didn't realise that Ed had been in the treasury (probably because I was only a toddler at that point) or that he had a stammer (again when this was revealed, I was more interested in other pursuits).
Ed Balls is what every politician should aim to be. Human, compassionate and sure as anything when it comes to his job.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Balls’ approach to the book is commendable. It gives a vastly different account of the man than the media will provide and is both reflective of failings and defensive of the areas he remains convinced of.

Unlike so many political accounts, Balls does not take us through the cut and thrust but focuses on key themes or periods of his life. I came away with greater admiration for a man I had previous held in poor regard.

Perhaps most positively, Balls does not focus on the past but looks ahead and draws on the full experience of politics not the set piece event. If you want to know the behind the scenes story, this is not the book for you. If you want to learn from a man who arguably helped shape modern Britain for better and for worse, look no further.

[Alistair Candlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay on centrist politics. Too much on strictly

Ed Balls’s perspective on centre left politics is interesting. I liked the bit at the start on growing up in Norwich, his memories of working with Brown, and his views on economics. There’s just too much tacked on at the end about strictly. Actually he makes some good points about politicians having other interests and a human side that the public as a whole tends not to see. But too much gushy detail on Strictly. And too much ‘me me me. ‘

[Mandy Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an honest and insightful read. I knew very little about Ed Balls except what I had read in the press while he was a politician. His appearance on This Week alongside Michael Portillo got me curious. Well, I am so glad I was curious enough to pick up this book. I feel I now know a great deal about the man but also I have a much better understanding of our political system here in the United Kingdom and the great challenges that we currently face as a country. A truly great read.

[Dave Poole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never voted Labour but this book has made me consider the possibility once populism has died a swift death.

There are a lot of lessons in this book. Situations you think you know about are completely different to how they were portrayed at the time. Politicians are not as adversarial as you'd think. There's more common sense than dogma.

Ed Balls could do for politics what James Herriot did for vets or Gervaise Phinn did for schools inspection.

[Richard Drinkwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. Fascinating insight into what was going on behind the scenes in the Blair Brown era as Ed Balls was very close to Gordon Brown. Witty and funny in parts. He is quite self-deprecating. Interesting to read his thoughts on Brexit and economic views looking to the future. He comes over as a very likeable bloke. Enjoyed his chapter describing his Strictly appearance and also thoughts about hinterland and it’s importance.

[jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ed Balls



this was actually so good i wasn't expecting to like it so much but ed is so funny😭 very easy to pick up and put down and in general i didnt expect to relate to ed balls so much but here we are. shout out to gordon brown and him for accepting death when their plane started dropping altitude. glad they're still alive otherwise we would've never have gotten the ed balls strictly gangnam style performance

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and easy read. I liked the format of the book; a collection of essays about various aspects of life rather than a chronological narrative. He comes across as a good bloke who cared about the job he did . Well worth a read, whatever your politics.