"James Meek's brilliant book, bracing in its detail and sweeping in its scope, makes it clear just how central privatisation is to the story of contemporary Britain: some of it will make you sad, some of it will make you furious, but you are guaranteed to be left feeling that you understand this country much better." - John Lanchester, author of Whoops! "Meek's range, humour and boldness are a joy." -"Observer" "One of the country's finest writers." -"GQ Magazine" "Entertaining, vastly intelligent." -"New Yorker "One activity in which Britain leads the world is privatisation. From Thatcher to Cameron, prime minister after prime minister has flogged off our public assets at rock bottom prices to the private sector. The result has been massive returns for investors and middle men, poorer services for the public - - and a downgrading of our entitlements as citizens. All this is detailed by James Meek in a book that stands as one of the most powerful critiques of the mess that is Britain's economy." - Aditya Chakrabortty, Senior Economics Commentator, Guardian. "A series of essays that document with forensic skill the ruthless and chaotic privatisation of Britain. This is the definitive account of how so much has gone and continue to go wrong with Britain's institutions. Don't read it all at once - it's too depressing." - Joan Bakewell, Books of the Year, New Statesman