Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down – Christine Horvath

Book Review >>> Christine Horvath Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down

Street-Porter, Janet. London: Quadrille Publishing, 2009. 170 pp.

Ever feel like the “experts” are lying to you? The experts convince you to buy bottled water and the latest skin care product to prevent you from developing inevitable jowls in your later years. Even if you do not feel this way, Janet Street-Porter believes that you should. She makes the case for reclaiming the “your way” approach to life in her non-fiction self help manifesto called Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down. Many of her arguments such as the one against banks and corporate executives who misuse funds are quite sound, and these arguments have the potential to inspire one to fight against corporations. On the other hand, Street-Porter contradicts herself multiple times throughout the book and can often be hypocritical. The style she uses to tell her revolutionary manifesto is quite odd, using multiple fonts and different colors to emphasize her points. Although she employs unconventional methods and enjoyable British colloquialisms, Street-Porter’s unusual non-fiction work does not quite resonate as relatable to her audience as she and her readers would have hoped. Janet Street-Porter stands proud, tall and skeptical-looking on the title of her book. Next to her are the words in bright pink block letters: “DON’T LET THE B*****DS GET YOU DOWN”. Although one might think this is a feminist manifesto aimed at fighting the patriarchal society in which we live; upon further reading I came to find out that it was not about being a strong woman but rather being a smart consumer and member of society. Instead of buying into the generic consumer and social trends that the recession and experts of money, nutrition, shopping, happiness, etc., have seemingly bombarded us with over the years, Street-Porter states that “you’re in charge and there are two ways to get through life: your way and the wrong way” (9). Street-Porter makes a good argument against, as she calls it, “mumbo jumbo” (10). In one section entitled “Money”, she discusses England’s professional financial sector. In one of her bold, exaggerated blurbs, she says, “If politicians were so good at managing the economy, how come they never predicted the collapse of banks? These are the same mob who were living well at our expense, with their noses deeply in the trough, producing receipts to claim that things like jellied eels and potted orchids were necessary tools of their trade” (113). Here, she makes a great point by explaining that the people who the English (and Americans) have trusted with their money have over-extended its use. Now every citizen has to worry about whether or not their retirement fund is going to be available to them when they need it. Another point she brings up is that private sector workers have had to keep the same hours but take cuts in pay; a sacrifice, Street-Porter explains, which was never asked of bankers or BBC senior staffers. In this way, Street- Porter exposes the social hierarchy

that surreptitiously exists in England. She explains how there are two classes in England: the working middle class and the executives. She uses the example of a woman named Celia Walden, the girlfriend of English media heavyweight Piers Morgan. She, in the author’s opinion, reinforces the upper-class’s “faux poor” movement, or “let’s play at being poor” (162). It is fascinating that she brings up this concept because while the recession forces people out of their homes and into massive amounts of debt, people like Walden are suggesting ways to save a few dollars on shoes. She then goes back to living her privileged life in her country estate. Because Walden’s advice becomes so absurd after Street-Porter’s analysis, one should be compelled to stop listening to what everyone else says and live their lives the way he or she wants to live. In this case, this book is a success. Conversely, it is possible that StreetPorter is much like Celia in many ways. On some level, I have the same problem with Street-Porter as I do with people like Celia Walden. I am not entirely convinced that Street-Porter does not also fit into this category. The author was a long-time journalist, working for famous English publications such as “The Daily Mail,” “The London Evening Standard” and widely read publications such as Vogue and Harpers. Also, she has worked in television, appearing on celebrity TV shows and quiz shows. She was awarded a BAFTA award and she is also a Trustee of the Science Museum. Even if she grew up during difficult economic times, she certainly is not broke anymore. In one section of the book, she publicly outs the amount in her savings account: £131,000. This converts to almost $300,000 US dollars. She talks of her gardening endeavors and her supposed struggle to build her dream home, but it all seems a bit contrived. It is as if she is identifying with you, commiserating because she is in the same boat, however, if you read the back of the book, you will soon realize that she is still making money with bestsellers and stints on reality TV shows. Although she is truly a very accomplished woman, in the light of her criticism of Celia Walden, one has to consider if the author isn’t so different from Walden at all. The insincerity comes from the fact that Janet Street-Porter is a lot like many of the executives she criticizes: telling people the way to live their lives in order to benefit herself with book sales. She disguises this intention with the colloquial of the everyman. The swearing and the anger somehow make her easier to understand yet less credible. Because of this hypocrisy and inconsistency, I have to say that Street-Porter fails to identify with her intended audience. While both the methods and message are questionable, the book still has redeeming qualities such as the aforementioned honesty regarding society’s infringement upon the lives of the middle class. Also, the beginning and end of this book stress nothing more than being happy with the way you live your life and to “sod” (ignore) what the experts say. The introduction and the conclusion are definitely the most useful parts of the text, and in these passages she preaches simplification of your life and just plain happiness. Happiness and simplicity in life are hard things to deny. The book is worth the read even if it is just for the pretty colors and unconventional format. You might learn a little bit about English society and pick up some fun British slang along the way. Common phrases such as “Pass the sick bag” and “piss off” make her work quite entertaining. Overall, the book fails to incite effective action against the corporate world to its readers, but it never fails to entertain.