Yes, Prime Minister: The Diaries of the Right Hon. James Hacker

One of the best political satires ever written. This is Book Two regarding the political career of Jim Hacker. Have you every wondered why political schemes never seem to have any practical value? You simply must read this book and find out why that is. Some of the outstanding short stories have been mentioned by other reviewers here, but the Athiest Bishop simply cannot be recommended enough. However, the diplomatic incident over the puppy is probably my favorite. I also loved how a chain smoker becomes Minister of Health. Also, pay attention to Bernard's character thoughout the stories, as one can never be sure what side he'll be on from beginning to end. Cheers to the authors! It doesn't get any better than this!If you enjoyed the "Yes Minister" and "Yes Prime Minister" books, be sure to read John Mortimer's "Rumpole of the Bailey" series.

Were the "Yes Minister" and "Yes Prime Minister" series NOT part of television immortality, this book would STILL succeed, stand out in its own right as one of the classic political satires.The authors' conceit is that we are in the year 2050 (or so), and Sir Humphrey's dithering protege, the ineffectual Bernard, is now an eminence grise who has taken it upon himself to compile the diaries of the legendary PM Jim Hacker. Hacker, whose populist, extreme-middle-of-the-road politics make him more a John McCain figure than a Tony Blair, does score the odd coup, as when he foils a nasty invasion of a former British colony. But by and large he is at the mercy of Humphrey Appleby and his bureacratic machine. As he tells he diary, Government has the engine of a Volkswagen and the brakes of a Rolls-Royce. This and other universal truths ensure "Yes Prime Minister" will endure for the ages, and it is a pity this work is out of print. My favorite moment is where Hacker, on the verge of ascending the "greasy pole" of parliamentary politics to become PM, campaigns against a European directive seeking to standardize the recipe for sausages. "I am up to my neck in this Euro-sausage business," he remarks. "Not literally, we hope - Ed" is the parenthetical aside.

Like many tie-ins with British television shows,_YPM Diaries_ is a print version of the show, written in the voice of the characters. And , as is also the apparent British custom, it includes material previously aired. In fact, its chapters are the televised episodes themselves.But this book goes well beyond the scripts of the shows. It definitely recognizes the difference in the two media and comes up with a lot of new material unique to the book itself. One of the cleverest inclusions is that of handwritten notes between principle characters. For instance, there are whole dialogues in this correspondence format between Humphrey and the Prime Minister which haven't appeared in any other media. Also, the diaries themselves include a lot of original material which amplify points made in the televised versions.Aside from being an absolutely smashing read, this is an excellent resource for the student of British politics. From this book I got a lot of ideas for term papers which impressed my British politics professor. I think, though, that the most valuable thing this book will impart is a kind of lens through which to view British politics. I don't mean to oversell the utility of the work, but especially for the American viewer uninitiated in the ways of the parliamentary form of government, YM/YPM truly helps one see how things get done--or undone--in Her Majesty's Government.

Just when I had given up on finding anything to equal YM in style, humour and class, Messrs Lynn and Jay have outdone themselves. They know all the traps - millions have watched the shows, the characters are familiar and the plots well-known. But these writers, once again, have managed to outdo their creations, using humour like rarely done before (or, I suspect, since). Buy it, read it, and reread it. And then read it again. It is the book that keeps on giving.

After the roaring success of Yes, Minister, Jonathan Lynn and Anthony Jay make another jab at the indefinable British humor. The corridor now leads toward Number 10, Downing Street, the (doubtful) seat of power. Another round of battles begins with the unexpected accsention of Sir Humphrey Appleby to the Secretary of the Cabinet, followed by James Hacker's fortunate fall into the seat of Prime Minister. Of course, Hacker's land on his feet (or butt) is as usual due to the brilliant skill of the Humble Vassal, namely Humphrey, and the illuminating remarks of the ever confidential Bernard, now a Principal Private Secretary at Number 10. On the back of a wholesome British sausage, Hacker charges courageously to face his foes of life and death problems, such as nuclear weapons, education, unemployment and a cook for the lunchless RT. Hon. Prime Minister. Since life is always full of ups and downs, Jim's career is not as smooth as he (naively) thought, but it is rather interesting to notice the frequency of falls. Not to mention Sir Humphrey*s connection with most of them. There does, however, exist several triumphs over the eternal Civil Service, rare though they be. Yes, Prime Minister is filled with sharp insights to the ambiguous and murky British policies, both domestic and foreign. Longevity to the trustworthy Civil Service and the wise politicians, people who make Great Britain what she is today.