The Social Distance Between Us

Let me start by saying this: if Poverty Safari absolutely deserved its Orwell Prize, I think Darren McGarvey should be awarded a second one of those for this new book. Written with remarquable fluidity, acuteness and precision, The Social Distance Between Us focuses on the social class inequalities that are the real problem in Britain (and not the pandemic or the geopolitical current context as some would have it). Darren McGarvey analyses these inequalities in great detail, broaching subjects as diverse as education, working conditions, property ownership, health or social connection. He then goes on to depict the recent (catastrophic) British political landscape in all its failures but, rather than merely telling us what's wrong, he's offering his intake on what could be done better, and, even more importantly, encouraging readers to get thinking, talking and acting. The Social Distance Between Us is full of compassion, intelligence and acuity; to put it simply, it's an essential read.

I'm not a big reader of non-fiction books preferring to lose myself in a world free from the doom and gloom of modern Britain - poverty, homelessness, privilege of the rich. But I am glad I took a chance on this one.

This book should be mandatory reading for everyone interested in how the world we live in actual works.

A fantastic read and a big thanks to Netgalley and Ebury Publishing, Penguin Random House, Ebury Press for the ARC

What's the book about?

An articulate and passionate argument about Britain's political class's estrangement from the people and how their decisions have a direct impact on the country's citizens.

My thoughts:
There are so many things that I just didn't consider despite living in the UK. I think it's because I'm here as a dependent and just didn't see the need to explore issues until they directly affected me. It's so ineresting to read about class and society in UK as opposed to my understanding of it from India. This one's a mandatory read for sure. It's got hard hitting topics and backs them up with uncomfortable statistics.

I’m going to start with the last chapter of the book, because in this chapter the author offers his suggestions and thoughts on what he would do if he was ever in charge of the country in order to turn around the fortunes of the working class. Ideas that would put society on a more equal footing. There are some excellent thoughts in that last chapter, they wouldn’t be unaffordable, much of it would be an investment in people – all people, giving everyone an equal chance of making it in life. He painted a wonderful picture of what life could be like for everyone, it’s a pity we can’t have someone with this kind of vision as Prime Minister, he would definitely get my vote.

Sadly, in my lifetime (or what is left of it) that is never going to happen. Career politicians, opportunists, the rich and the already powerful are never going to give up without a fight and right now, they make the rules to suit themselves as we see in parliament on an all too regular basis.

It has taken a lot of reading hours to get through this book, but it is never dry, always compelling. It’s nice to know I haven’t been alone in my thinking for all these years. Much of what is discussed in the book I already knew, or suspected, and definitely agreed with just about everything that’s said. However, to see it all written down in all it’s glaring unfairness can at times make for difficult reading. The man with severe Tourette’s at the hands of the DWP was truly shocking.

Everyone needs to read this book. I found it a complex book to read, there were many sentences and paragraphs I had to re-read to make things sink in, but the huge disparity in quality of life between those at the top who control the economy, who make the laws and are responsible for providing what few public services we have left and those on the receiving end of it is a complex matter, worthy of long and indepth explanation. Once you’ve read it, you will be in no doubt of the social distance between us.

This was a fascinating and highly topical read about divisions in society, those with all the money and power and those who have nothing. And the divisions those in power sow amongst "the rest of us".
Everyone should read this book. It should be made reading material for schools. People need to know what's happening, only that way can they truly know who and what they are voting for. The injustice makes me so angry, so I did have to limit myself on how much a day I read but it's a must read for anyone interested in society, social classes and politics.

This is such an important book, printed at a time where social injustice and the gulf between rich and poor is under the spotlight. It examines the many differences in cities where some people are living hand to mouth, struggling to make ends meet, and a 5 minute bus journey away people are financially thriving. It's crazy to think of the levels of deprivation in the world and the contrast of the privilege that some people live with. Darren McGarvey writes well, and is definitely an ambassador for change. Highly recommend. Thanks to Darren McGarvey, Ebury and Netgalley for the ARC.

This book is angry, and rightly so.

Charting a route through many inequalities in society, McGarvey's argument is deceptively simple- that the social distance we think of now from Covid is only a more modern version of what has been happening societally for centuries, namely that the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in society are almost never seen by those on the other end of fortune.

The book covers topics such as unequal health outcomes, addiction, aspiration, class and much more, using this lens to show how inured many people's lives are from seeing the reality around them.

This distance multiplies over time, as those who pass laws and oversee programmes to support the most vulnerable often live the kinds of lives that rarely interact with those who they are aiming to support.

This book is raging fire of the best kind, designed to burn down and start again.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book breathes fury. Every corner of Britain’s loathsome class system is dissected and analysed; every injustice considered to see how they interact and make this country a place so utterly devoid of hope for the working class. It brilliantly bursts open the myth of meritocracy. It looks to the right, the left and to populist political movements to question how we got here and where on earth we could turn for change. It is carefully researched, thoughtful and surprising; packed with statistics, case studies and rage. It made me furious too. As soon as I’d finished my review copy I bought the hardback,: I couldn’t bear to be without it. This should be compulsory reading for every schoolchild, parent, employee, politician; anyone baffled and incensed by the unfairness in opportunity and outcome from which every facet of British life suffers. Buy it.