Summer Reading

TB finds himself reading fewer and fewer books these days so it's always nice to reclaim that forgotten sense of satisfaction you just don't get online. He has a couple of reads to recommend as thoughts turn toward packing bags and beaches. One fun, one slightly heavier.

A Useful Fiction

is a must read for anyone who has ever looked at devolution in the United Kingdom and thought, hold on.. what about little old England? Broadcaster Patrick Hannan gives a fairly comprehensive look at the last ten years of the little devolution project and doesn't hold his punches. In the way that only the SNP can, the celebrations of the last few weeks over the ten year anniversary were highly politicised and it's rather refreshing to finally hear someone put a well justified dampener on it all.

With the dust still settling on the expenses scandal it didn't take long for some entrepreneurial types to get the handy guide book to the whole saga out in just weeks.

The Little Book of Big Expenses

does exactly what it says on the tin. If you don't like to see political types savaged in a brutal and irreverent style then TB wouldn't recommend reading. If however you want to take the piss out of the troughing bastards and want a handy comedy index of what went on then go grab a copy now. The comedy redactions got TB some very funny looks on the tube the other morning. Think there were a couple of snorts.

Would cry if he didn't laugh.