Lions, Donkeys And Dinosaurs
  • Published: 15 April 2007
  • ISBN: 9780099484424
  • Imprint: Arrow
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $32.99
Categories:

Lions, Donkeys And Dinosaurs

Waste and Blundering in the Military

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A biting, controversial and hilarious polemic on the curious ways of the British armed forces by a brilliant young former Naval Officer. With a preface by Harold Evans (the legendary former editor of the Sunday Times) and a brand new afterword by the author, bringing the book right up to date.

In this irreverent and provocative book, Lewis Page exposes the scandalous state of our armed forces: how British soldiers are sent off to war with some of the worst guns around, how the MOD keeps financing useless toys (at huge expense to taxpayers), and how decisions seem to be made with an eye, above all, for the interests of British Aerospace. He shows how politicians and the top brass are hopelessly entrenched in yesterday's wars and pouring their talents and energies into making sure that money is wasted right, left and centre.
  • Published: 15 April 2007
  • ISBN: 9780099484424
  • Imprint: Arrow
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $32.99
Categories:

About the author

Lewis Page

Lewis Page began his military career as a reservist pilot in the Cambridge University Air Squadron. He grew disenchanted with the RAF and attempted to join the army, but was rejected for having a "frivolous attitude". He ended up in the Navy, where he became a mine clearance diver. After eight years at sea, mostly in very bad weather, he was put in charge of the Plymouth diving and bomb disposal team and trawled the British coastline from Swanage to Liverpool neutralizing 'improvised Explosive Devices' and searching for unexploded ordnance. As such, he is one of the few in the British forces to have actually seen and dealt with 'Weapons of Mass Destruction', although irritatingly these were of British manufacture. During a dull period in the navy he qualified as a commando. He resigned from the Service in 2004 and now lives in London.

Praise for Lions, Donkeys And Dinosaurs

He... writes with force and wit...Page's book deserves attention... Offers a guide to the armed forces and their problems which anybody who cares about them should read... Page does a splendid job of sharpening axes.

Max Hastings, Sunday Telegraph

'Lions, Donkeys and Dinosaurs is a Fast Food Nation for the armed forces... It is very unlikely that anything this entertaining or important will be written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller, and perhaps it will be if red-faced civil servants are sent out to buy up every copy before the public can get their hands on it.'

Independent

'Devastating... In my own recent book on modern follies I suggested that defence procurement policy was so corrupt...that only a satirist could do it justice. Page is that satirst.'

Francis Wheen, Daily Express

It's very unlikely that anything this entertaining or important will be written on military matters this year. It deserves to be a bestseller

Independent on Sunday

Page writes with force and wit...I hope he soon gets the job he deserves, as a defence correspondent in the national media. The MoD and chiefs of staff might tremble in their boots about the consequences, but that is as it should be. Page does a splendid job

Sir Max Hastings, Sunday Telegraph
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