Global Village Idiot

We're all used to hearing how the world has become one big global village, and, now, with the election of George Bush as President of the USA, we have the global village idiot we deserve. So says John O'Farrell, who sets his stall out early and eagerly chooses politicians - especially those with no sense of humour - as the targets most deserving of his verbal assaults. Granted, the humourless politician is not what you would call a difficult target, but O'Farrell's observations are spot on nearly every time, so it's easy to forgive him. That he is happy to have a laugh at his own shortcomings, and particularly his Labour Party membership, also goes a long way to endearing him to the reader. All manner of political beasts and shenanigans stalk these pages, from the naive hope of the early days of New Labour to exceptionally enjoyable and funny attacks on the Archers and Hamiltons of the world. The general indifference to the euro, the dire state of television, and the Mayor of London controversy all jostle to remind us just how intrusive and ultimately unimportant politics can be to the everyday life of many people. Fox hunting, the new religion of shopping and the inevitable arrival of Thanksgiving as a UK holiday all provide fodder for O'Farrell's well-written and amusing columns, originally published in the Guardian or Independent. Proudly spanning two centuries (or 24 months depending on how you look at it), this collection embraces the news that mattered at the turn of the millennium, all in portions that are perfect for reading in short bursts. It's a handy, witty synopsis of what held the nation in thrall between the summers of 1999 and 2001. (Kirkus UK)