There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century

Fiona Hill has a particularly clear-sighted view of politics and governments, and in this books she weaves skilfully her personal experience in the north of England under Tatcher with the changes in society and political disinfranchisment of the present UK, USA and Russia. She is one of the experts that speaks more clearly and in the most straightforward manner about US/EU/Russia relationship and with this book she achieves the same effect in writing. I warmly recommend this book, i think particularly to young adults who might not have memory or family experience of the post industrial transition...

This is a very important book for anyone wanting to understand the background to the divisive politics of our time. A remarkable first hand account of growing up facing all the obstacles to opportunity for those left behind and then making it to becoming a senior White House advisor on Russia for three Presidents. Chilling first hand account of the chaos of the Trump era and how populists have no answers. Lots to think about what liberal democracies need to do to counter the growing inequality of financial capitalism and how the West need to wake up to the true threat from Putin’s Russia. Very impressive.

Wonderful life story

Democracies are more likely to die at the ballot box than by the bullet. Fiona Hills memoir exposes the damage wrought to Democratic systems by a furring up of the arteries of social mobility and a growing detachment between a political establishment that has become increasingly beholden to the dictates of financial and economic interests and consequently unable, or unwilling, to place the needs and long term vitality of society at the forefront of its concerns. She also argues very convincingly that this creates fissures and resentments in societies beset by increasing inequality of opportunity and social deprivation which can be manipulated by authoritarian regimes, which seek to promote division and undermine ordinary people's confidence in democratic governance. As she maintains, educational opportunities are crucial for reigniting hope and tapping the creative potential of young people. This is essential for creating a society at ease with itself, willing to negotiate and compromise over its priorities in a mature way, and one which can confidently rebuff unwanted interference from malign state actors. Altogether, an excellent and heart warming memoir. Highly recommended for those with an interest in forging a better future.

This book was recommended to me and I read the reviews expecting to understand how the US government works and its relationship/strategy to Russia and Putin in particular. The problem was that these areas were seriously lacking and the book seemed to concentrate so much on how difficult it has been for Fiona to achieve equal opportunities due to her working class background and her birthplace. While the points she makes provides reminders to us all of how class system the UK is and how racial profiled the US the book seems to go on and on about it to the point it became tiresome and even boring. I think Fiona feels hard done by but feel her skills seemed honed to only working for "think tanks" or governments. She refers to many "think tanks" and government departments but we are given no guidance how these fit into the overall workings of the state which makes it difficult to retain interest in the matters she raises, and it becomes very academic and dry. She now seems lost in a world of "think tank" speak only understood by them and this is linked to her working class background at every opportunity. There is a brilliant book in there somewhere but it seems to have lost its way and become a rambling view of how Fiona views herself and how the world treats her. I look forward to her next book to see if she can provide a cogent story of her work and the world. I feel its an opportunity lost and she needs to tell her story without the constant harping on about misogyny and class apartheid in the UK.

The comparisons between the U.S.A. and the U.K. are remarkable. These are not obvious to the casual observer but when used here seem beyond doubt. As the author has experience of both this is a distinct advantage, however there has been much research done to qualify and quantify the statements made. I am now much better informed and surprisingly entertained after reading this book..

Well written personal account of her life.However, the constant blaming of Margaret Thatcher for the problems of the North East with only a belated and small acknowledgment of the wider economic situation did become tedious.Moreover, I found myself wishing that she had provided some comparative data on howthe challenges of educating the less well-off are tackled in other rich countries such as France, Germany, Australia and Canada.Her insights into the Trump presidency are brilliant, if scary, and I for one would have liked more thoughts on how to deal with some of the issues that modern democracy are throwing up.

This book gives a eye opening view on the education and opportunity for your average state school kids in 1960 and onwards in the UK. It also explains quite clearly why Trump got into power and why, shocking though it may seem, he may very well get into power again. Lengthy book but well worth reading. It makes you look again at the people in power around you and whether or not they just might be economical with the truth if it suits them. Food for serious thought or serious food for thought, probably both.

First encountered Fiona Hill when she gave testimony in first Trump impeachment hearings, where she should stood out as an extraordinarily articulate and knowledgeable policy expert, especially on Russian issues. Confident and with a fearless ability to speak truth to power, she epitomized the value of having people willing to present factual analysis as the basis for complex policy decisions. The book is highly readable and engaging, part memoir and part advocacy, detailing how she was able to transcend limits imposed by birth as a coal miner’s daughter in economically depressed England, then using her academic gifts, hard work, and brave self confidence to become an internationally respected policy analyst in senior Washington circles. An excellent read and inspiring to think how much better the world would be with more people like Fiona Hill working behind the scenes to help government function properly, and supporting good decisions based on facts and a sound ethical perspective.

Relata con humor los avatares de una persona especializada cuya profesión suele ignorarse en todas partes. Sin embargo, aporta una visión perspicaz que de ser atendida redundaría soluciones originales profundas, completas a problemas políticos, sociales, complejos que demandan consideración de detalles que suelen ser difíciles de percibir. Un libro ameno de una persona profesional cuyas experiencias revelan confrontaciones habituales que suelen vivir quienes se ultraespecializan.

I couldn't put the book down -- sacrificed a few nights of good sleep to get an extra hour or two in reading this!Given Fiona Hill's role in Trump's WH, I expected this book to be very focused on her time there. While she does cover that, equally compelling are the engrossing stories of growing up in a very poor coal-miners town in the UK. For someone so clearly BRILLIANT and successful, this book is incredibly accessible, vulnerable, thought-provoking, and at times laugh-out-loud funny (see the story of walking into a broom closet, and many others). She truly has a talent for story-telling, all the more remarkable given how much she seems committed to doing her job well vs. soliciting attention and praise.When she does delve into her time at the White House, Fiona manages to provide scathing commentary on the failures of the Trump admin without a hint of partisanship. What could have easily been a "gotcha" tell-all is instead a thoughtful, actionable look at what is going wrong in our country, why, and what to do about it. Her ability to draw parallels between the US, UK, and Russia were really interesting, and actually inspiring to learn that some of the challenges we're facing in this country are not unique to us.Whether you consider yourself a politico or not, I promise you'll enjoy this book - it truly is a story for everyone. My only hope is that she publishes another!!

Interesting for its comparison of social conditions in the North-East of England, the US rust belt around Pittsburg, and similar towns in Russia after an industry died quite rapidly and the authories failed to provide new employment possibilities .The author's experience with the British class system is well documented and and I endorse all that she has written.

I read this book quite quickly; it is well and coherently written, and the arguments are easy enough to follow. I withheld one star because it does tend to be a little repetitive, but it is a fascinating story about the rise of a young girl from the depths of bone-crushing penury to the top of her chosen profession. Along the way, she is a witness to some of the momentous events of our times, and in the presence of many of the 'great and good'. It is also a testament to the very real and practical assistance she was given by those who were not obliged to give it, which I personally found uplifting, and for which Dr Hill appears to be appropriately grateful.Finally, Dr Hill makes a clarion call for what I would consider to be one of the most important roles of government - the appropriate provision of opportunity for all members of a society, not just those who have a majority of the chance in life by virtue of accident of birth.An interesting and worthwhile read.