Though it might not seem like it, I do get my book reviews (start every morning with some book reviews) from places other than the Guardian.  It's just that the Guardian is quite good at reviewing books that I might like to read!

Though I probably don't want to read a biography of Alex Ferguson.

I'm not entirely sure who Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's former chief of staff, means as The New Machiavelli.  Is it supposed to be Blair?  I'm all confused.  Though it does seem likely his book doesn't come with the cringeworthy sex scenes that the old gaffer's did, so, small mercies and all that.

John Gray reviews Crisis and Recovery: Ethics, Economy and Justice, which was co-edited by Rowan Williams.  One of these characters is fast becoming one of my favourite astute writers on timely issues.  ++Rowan, it isn't you, please try harder!  No, not in The Times. 

I wanted to post Gray's magisterial article in the latest LRB last week, but we're on dial-up speed internet these days, and it wouldn't happen for me then.  So here it is now: Farewell Welfare State. 

Should we all decide to take to the streets, the new edition of Clive Bloom's Violent London: 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts might come in handy.  'Civil disobedience' is one of my favourite odd expressions. 

If I could be bothered (it's Monday), I would nattily tie together civil disobedience with the Jacobite rebels who, didya know, inspired the first Ordinance Survey.  Rachel Hewitt has written a biography of the OS, which sounds fabulously fascinating.  (All this talk of mapping and stealth and military invasions is making me want to re-read one of my All-time Favourite academic articles, Thomas Richards' 'Archive and Utopia' [paywall]).  

Finally, The Butterfly Isles is the epic tale of one man's quest to see all 59 native British butterfly species in one summer.  It sounds Roger Deakin-esque. 

Nottingham is the UK's least car-dependent city, according to a study of 19 of 'em (cities, not cars).  Steal cars from the rich and give public transport to the poor! 

In tradition news, the HCA report that Sheffield Council are actually taking steps to do something about metal trade skills.  Let's hope they take it further than just doing an audit and popping it in a filing cabinet.  

There's also a rather good Guardian forum going on how green it is to live in a canal boat.  Apparently size/space issues mean boat dwellers have to become more aware of their resource usage, but the big black mark against them is that they're apparently bloody freezing in winter and nigh impossible to insulate.  Sounds like a caravan in water, then.  

Charlie Peer, who I've just added to my RSS reader, has an article from a few weeks back now about Sarehold water mill at Brum, which was Tolkien's childhood home.  I'm a sucker for a bit of mill restoration.   

On to suckers of another sort ... Phil Woolas, not just a name to try and say 10 times really fast, but former immigration minister and the sort of all-round nice guy one would expect to go with the role, is in the muck for possibly pretending he'd had death threats to evidently try and win the racist vote in Oldham.  He denies it, of course. 

Speaking of the election, do enjoy this photograph of Jacqui Smith looking lonely in Redditch.  Official election artist (yes, it exists) Simon Roberts has an exhibition opening. 

Here is an article/takedown from Simon Jenkins about another former Labour politican who shan't be named but might have a big wodge of book out.  And wodges of money. 

The Real IRA, not to be confused with the IRA, are promising to target English banks.  However, seeing as they have a vast membership of about 100, best not take the marshmallows down to your nearest Barclay's just yet. 

The TUC actually do have a vast membership, and deputy general secretary Frances O'Grady wants a big campaign.  Which is a bit better than the last union idea about having someone dress up as Batman.    

Women biships and the CofE watchers will find literally hours of edification in Jonathan Clatworthy's history of conservative Anglo-Catholicism and the Church Catholic (or Catholick if you like it 1662). 

James Davidson's article in the LRB is ostensibly about Greek first names, but the first half is a rather delightful look at the past couple of centuries of naming in Britain.  I'm quite keen on "Unless-Jesus-Christ-Had-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barbon". 

That was a long one ... some links aren't quite as freshly squeezed as I'd like, I've got a lot of catching up with RSS to do! 

... shove it, if you live in Lymington, that is.  Having previously blocked an Argos, local residents have now done for a proposed branch of the bang-up meal and pint joint, according to Rob Hastings in the Indy.  Interesting here is that Lymington has apparently copped it for being 'too posh for Argos' (something that I may request for my epitaph), which admittedly doesn't automatically conjure images of a twin-set and pearls.  Is there a line between trying to keep a local character against the carbon-copy High Street onslaught and just being a fancy pants?  I'm not convinced there is, but then there is something in the M&S egg and cress sarnie that speaks to my soul (probably salmonella). 

And from that brief stopover at the Indy, we move on to exclusive Guardian coverage, for which I, sat here in my homespun, am unapologetic. 

Julian Glover takes on Cameron's cuts and visions of slashing the state. 

More political diaries!  Huzzah!  This time, Chris Mullin (never 'eard of 'im), who was Labour MP for beautiful Sunderland South for 23 years.  (Clearly an excuse to leave Sunderland for a large chunk of the year).  Anyway, he presents his diaries for the past five years under the apt title of Decline and Fall, which, according to Anne Perkins, are rather good. 

And in the continuing TB epidemic, Alistair Darling and his eyebrow have knocked out a review.  (Duly noted with a small font since I am not supposed to be looking at any more of these.) 

In aristocracy news, have a Mitford.  The dowager Duchess of Devonshire, to be precise.  She likes chickens, which raises her in my appreciation considerably. 

After my enjoyment of the delightful D of D, it was a bit of a downer to hit an article about the age of criminal responsibility.  Barnado's want to raise it: at the moment, the age is 10.  They want to see it go up to 12. 

In other crime news, fly-tipping (aka illegal rubbish dumping) is going down.   How do we know this?  Because there's a national database, of course. 

David Cameron's imported an economist to teach him to nudge people.  I'd say it was more complicated than that, but it isn't really.  Is it really too much to admit that economics is always the same old bork and actually invest in some more nuanced and human-centric social theory?  (not you, Rural Studies). 

A nice reflection in THE from Peter Taylor-Gooby about Sennett & Cobb's The Hidden Injuries of Class. 

I did promise to eradicate TB from this blog, but there might happen to be another rather good review from the TLS.  (Not currently behind a paywall). 

And another book about Leeds United.   

Our trusty news outlets are doing a good job of reading Tony B's Aeneid so that I don't have to, though I shall probably grin and Blair it eventually.  Also, as it is likely to clog up charity shops for the rest of the decade, the wise person would not fork out just yet. 

The Guardian/Observer has a Blair Extravaganza, my edited highlights being:

Mary Beard is tickled by the boozing. 

Tony Benn laments New Labour.

Michael Howard considers him a failed PM.  (I shan't comment on MH's own career).

Andrew O'Hagan on the man, the ego. 

Clare Short didn't want to read it in the first place.  (I sympathise). 

Andrew Rawnsley has a worthy review. 

And the Guardian have a one stop shop for all your Tony Blair news needs. 

Beyond the Guardian:

A lengthy review by Ian Dunt

Andy McSmith in the Indy is unimpressed

Daniel Hannan in the Telegraph points out a Mills & Boon moment

The Telegraph also has a handy cast list for those who have been asleep under a rock the past 15 years or so and need pictorial reference for the Queen, George W, and Princess Diana. 

Now, if I read any more Tony Blair reviews today my brain will literally fall out of my ears.