'The Road to Wigan Pier' by George Orwell

My favourite George Orwell book (so far)!

The first half is descriptions of working class life in poor areas in the 1930s; at the time it was excellent reportage, now it is excellent social history. Especially interesting from my local history perspective were chapters on slums and slum clearances. A shocking amount of what he describes, especially about people's attitudes and lifestyles, is still extremely relevant and resonant - material conditions change, but people stay the same.

The second half is more abstract. Orwell analyses the British class system, and then moans about the many ways leftwing movements are failing to engage people. On this latter topic, Orwell is very funny - he has clearly been exasperated by many an insufferable leftist - and a lot of his criticisms still hold up: leftwing movements being characterised by eccentric cranks; obsessing over tedious and verbose Marxist theory; failing to understand the mentalities of the people they are trying to convert (instead demonising or ridiculing them); all in all, failing to market themselves effectively to the people who ought to be joining them. This all frustrates him so much because he is himself a socialist, and can imagine the movement being so much better if it wasn't dominated by cranks.

I was reminded of a recentish tweet by the Youtuber Thought Slime: "People who become right wing because they get annoyed by leftists are weak willed, most leftists are annoyed by leftists every single day."

Material conditions change, but people stay the same.