The Social Distance Between Us

Book excerpt: *A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK* *SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* *LONGLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE* 'An Orwell for today's poor' - The Times 'The standout, authentic voice of a generation' Herald 'McGarvey is a rarity: a working-class writer who has fought to make the middle-class world hear what he has to say' Nick Cohen, Guardian Why are the rich getting richer while the poor only get poorer? How is it possible that in a wealthy, civilised democracy cruelty and inequality are perpetuated by our own public services? And how come, if all the best people are in all the top jobs, Britain is such an unmitigated bin fire? Join Darren McGarvey on a journey through a divided Britain in search of answers. Here, our latter-day Orwell exposes the true scale of Britain's social ills and reveals why our current political class, those tasked with bringing solutions, are so distanced from our lived experience that they are the last people you'd want fighting your corner. Praise for Darren McGarvey: 'Utterly compelling' Ian Rankin, New Statesman 'Brilliant' Russell Brand 'An absolutely fascinating individual' Owen Jones 'Offer[s] an antidote to populist anger that transcends left and right... articulate and emotional' Financial Times