Warfare State: Britain, 1920–1970

Heavy going, but an interesting read. Not as stimulating as "Britain's War Machine"

This superb book rewrites the conventional picture of the British state, focusing on i) the technical and professional competence of the civil service during this period ii) its success in taking the right decisions to equip Britain for the second world war in particular. Edgerton has fun demolishing of the jeremiads of both Correlli Barnett and of C P Snow, and generally has little truck with a conventional focus on decline. Though a technical academic study it is lively and readable, and very valuable also for any civil servant wanting to understand the institional background - including departments now gone - of the current challenges.

I bought this book a couple of years ago and put it down because I found it hard to read. I recently picked it up again as I think its important to understand how state might intervene in the present time to turn around the economy. There is a lot of information but it seems somewhat repetitive and unstructured and therefore an unsatisfying read. I will persist with chapter 2 (48 pages) but rather like wading through porridge, its rather a joyless experience. I do not often submit reviews but I feel impelled to do so, such is the extent of my feeling.