"It Can't Happen Here," by Sinclair Lewis

Novel, 1935

A novel which is quite shocking and almost demands being read, not through intrinsic merit, but through the astounding reminder of how far and - since Trump - how very little we've from the Fascist blighted 1930s. The resistible rise rise of Buzz Windrip is incredible, both for the obvious and sometimes seeming too obvious parallels with the then contemporaneous goings on in Italy and Germany, but also for the terrifying examples where this is happening in America and elsewhere in Western democracies. A jaw dropper, which hides the fact the writing feels dated and a little stodgy at times.

"Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class", by Owen Jones

Non-fiction, 2011

Compelling account which does what the title suggests, setting out how the working class has been set apart and savaged by contemporary power bases. Jones makes his arguments clearly and backs them up, then repeats them before going back again and doing it all over again. The book flags as a result - this feels like a tight documentary spun into a mini-series. A book that's hard to disagree with, but outstays its welcome. In doing so, however, it presents some clear examples of social engineering and manipulation.