Interesting analysis of the American political landscape by one of the BBC's most eminent journalists, who has himself been at the end of 'fake news' jibes by the current POTUS. This is one of the reasons why they own so many guns; they like to think that when the chips are down, no government agencies are going to mess with them when they are armed to the teeth.

It goes off on the same tangent about travel bans, and reiterates the Syria narrative about chemical weapons. The USA as a whole hardly knows UK exists, but Westminster politicians have talked up the "special relationship" for decades. This all makes the US a superficially familiar place but as Sopel points out, the accent is on “superficially”. Despite many thousands of people dying from gun violence each year, and the incidence of mass shootings happening with alarming frequency, Mr Sopel predicts that the US will never give up its guns. The author goes to some lengths to demonstrate how much more religious Americans are than any other Western country.Sopel clearly loves America and has a lot of time for Americans and their way of life, though, which is oddly nice to read. If any CIA agents are reading this, I'm not implying that Hillary pushed for intervention in Libya (because I don't want to be added to the Clinton kill list). Could have given it five stars but there were some typos, the tone of voice got a bit tedious and there were some odd uses of commas.

It's very accessible, relatively concise and well worth your time, even if you're a person who thinks they already know all they need to about the USA (and I say that as someone who regularly reads American papers and follows the news networks and late night shows). An easy read for non Americans wanting to absorb the BBC 24 news bulletins in a more thematic and considered perspective. They are not in the job of opposing Trump, and it should not be necessary for the journalist corps to have police protection.

Interestingly he comes accross as quite sympathetic to Donald Trump, which is a bit odd given that he makes the case for the 45th president being unhinged.

Jon Sopel excels himself in this easy read History of the USA, with special emphasis on the differences on the two sides of the Atlantic between the USA and his native UK. Note: segregation in public came to an end only in 1964 when the Civil Rights Act was passed by Lyndon B. To be fair, his target audience is his fellow Brits (I bought the book in the UK) so if they’ve never been to America, they wouldn’t be able to quibble over his overgeneralizations.Every time you need public to face any sort of artificial problem, the media involuntarily bring up that notion. Instead, he explains, in a humorous and engaging fashion, what it is that makes the USA a place where a person like Trump could be elected. Anyone who says otherwise is a racist, except for the BBC producers who make shows like The Last Whites of the East End. Sopel begins with the election and tries to explain how, and why, Trump became a realistic candidate. The modern sophists could baldly go even further in assuming that there is no god but God and the BBC is the only righteous messenger of God.