The Abuse of Power

Confronting Injustice in Public Life

By: Theresa May

Narrated by: Theresa May

Former Prime Minister Theresa May exposes the abuse of power by public institutions and politicians in a series of riveting first-hand accounts from her time in office.

As Prime Minister for three years and Home Secretary for six years, Theresa May confronted a series of issues in which the abuse of power led to devastating results for individuals and significantly damaged the reputation of, and trust in, public institutions and politicians. From the Hillsborough and Grenfell tragedies, to the Daniel Morgan case and parliamentary scandals, the powerful repeatedly chose to use their power not in the interests of the powerless but to serve themselves or to protect the organisation to which they belonged.

The Abuse of Power is a searing exposé of injustice and an impassioned call to exercise power for the greater good. Drawing on examples from domestic and international affairs she was personally involved in at the highest level, including Stop and Search and the Salisbury Poisonings, the former prime minister argues for a radical rethink in how we approach our politics and public life.

(P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Limited©2023 Theresa May

Critic reviews

So boldly different it creates a mini-genre all of its own . . . This is a pleasant surprise: a genuinely unusual, bold and important book. You can't say that of many political memoirs (Andrew Marr)

Fascinating and crisply written . . . That May has more seriousness and commitment than the average politician . . . means she has a better chance to fix some of those burning injustices this book shows she is clearly still worried about (Isabel Hardman)

The book will reinforce the view that May was a politician of conviction and compassion. (Robert Shrimsley)

Very interesting... I strongly agree with the central message of [the] book...that we need a sense of moral compass in politics... Put together it's pretty shocking... Terrifying as an account of what's wrong in the British state

Often political writing focuses on soap opera and personalities. But personalities - as Theresa May knows better than most - come and go. Structures remain. May's account of how public institutions wield their power and avoid accountability is an admirable attempt to draw our focus in the right direction

A serious-minded study of scandals in which vulnerable people were failed by those in authority

A Great Reflection

I enjoyed the delivery of the audio book as well as its contents. While I am sure partisans may have a differing opinion on the book. I think the book lays out the abuses of power within the public sector seen by Theresa May. She not only defends her policies but also describes instances of her regrets and what she views as personal failures.

I think this book is a good one and definitely recommend it.

Thought Provoking

A great examination of the abuse of power and what can be done to remedy, with examples in both the public and private sector.

Good quality audio

The author was prolific. The details of abuse of power was well researched and articulated. The author is a servant leader of good quality. I recommend to all government agencies that work closely with politicians.

Encouraging

I have always thought very highly of Theresa May and this audio book confirms my thoughts.

A Pragmatic Panacea for Present Political Fatigue

The Abuse of Power presents a compelling response to a political climate of corruption, populism, and slash-and-grab, media-driven politicians.

Theresa May is compelling precisely because her philosophy is pragmatic. As an American, I can attest to the fact that pragmatism is dying in the West. Politicians, by choice at first, and now, by necessity, perform for the cameras, not the future of our people and systems.

Theresa May drives the point that politics is an act of service, and as few seem to be listening, the point cannot be driven hard enough! In short, personal beliefs and ties cannot supersede duties and facts, and a politician must only serve the longterm, best interests of the people—even at the cost of the politician’s personal gain and success.

I recommend this book alongside Oath and Honor, written by Liz Cheney, as both authors present clear windows through which to view the same set of problems.

Though I am a pragmatist and centrist, I appreciate the perspectives and contributions of these conservative public servants, as well as their willingness to plainly handle what feels like the very obvious problem plaguing politics: the abuse of power.