Satire reaches the parts that spreadsheets, graphs and logic do not. Brexit provides a rich dark seam of tragicomedy in a Kafkaesque world of gaslighting, shapeshifting and shameless lies. We live in desperately sad times. But simply drowning in the sadness of Brexit does not help us deal with paranoid populist politicians. Bittersweet levity cuts through people’s minds to their visceral core. Simply stated, satire heals.
Populist media brainwashed leave voters to believe in Brexit unicorns. I tried my hand at parodying these media to expose the lies on which the Brexit hydra reared its many ugly heads. I found that people rather liked my gutterpress pages. Some even believed that they were real!
To change minds on Brexit, it is not sufficient to break the parliamentary paralysis which continues to enable the slow-motion destruction of Britain. Nor is demographic change, aka death, a success recipe. We must actively work on the huddled masses. People almost literally eat lies for breakfast from a biased populist media, owned by people who seem just a little bit too friendly with Vladimir Putin. Private Eyelines opens up the conversation anew with Brexiteers with buyers’ remorse, or Remainers numbed into submission by six years of bullshit and bullying from our so-called political leaders.
Private Eyelines is a wide format book, printed in full colour which makes it expensive to produce and a joy to read. It's not a paperback. Please consider this when deciding to buy. It's not available in electronic form. My apologies.
Peter Cook is a unique combination of scientist, business consultant and musician. As a 60’s child, his mum made him watch Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, saying “it would be good for him”. It wasn’t! Instead, Peter built a solid career bringing life-saving treatments for diabetes and HIV / AIDS to the world, 18 years tutoring MBAs in academia, writing books and 28 years running a business. His early exposure to Cook and Moore suddenly came to the fore after 24 June 2016, as satire met real life through Brexit. His mis-spent youth and creativity have been rejuvenated through campaigning, writing, music, film making and speaking about our rightful place in Europe. It was good for him after all. Mum was right!
REVIEWS
HOORAY
A Knowing Rant, barking in the pre-Woke tradition of British barbed political satire. This book takes no prisoners!
Nevertheless, there’s certainly reasoned method within Peter Cook’s tome of madness. Presented in quality and colourful format, basically a reversed diary wittily detailing his Anti-Brexit Campaign over the past six years. His photomontages stick the knife in exactly where deserved. While gloriously tasteless in the extreme, these visions of horror grasp the reader warmly by the throat. No longer should we allow ourselves to drift towards the inevitability of Brexit. We must address The Mess That It Undoubtedly IS!
But it is the text that really matters. Vast amounts of carefully uncovered and sifted information which our elders and betters in the upper echelons would wish the lower orders to ignore or better still, forget. As such the book will find a home with Remainers who need to find smart ways of explaining difficult issues fully supported with depth. Also by gifting it to Brexiteers who will love its straightforwardness and cheeky delivery style.
I found it best to progress backwards from the end where Peter lays down his initial pitch. All commentaries, justifications and future expectations are intelligently reasoned. Increasing backwards from Z to A he forever rams his points home. An excellent addition to Peter Cook’s other books spanning business, leadership and creativity.
By Wokery, ‘Tis A Goodly Read!
Dr Mike Alexander
PRICK THE LID
“Whack it in a microwave, gas mark four. Prick the lid,”- said prime minister Boris Johnson about Brexit. This book of razor-sharp political satire does a lot of lid-pricking, demonstrating persistent problems with the microwave and a ready-meal of Brexit itself. Johnson’s ignorance of how a microwave works epitomises the sheer level of incompetence of his government regarding to complexities of the U.K.’s decades-long relationship with the EU.
This unique book can be read in two ways: from start to finish or from finish to start. You might be shocked, appalled or disgusted. You most definitely will have a laugh.
Irina Fridman
CONVENIENTLY COLLECTED CHARISMATIC QUOTES
Contains a ready source of Bible quotes:
“Let your requests for media censorship be made known to God” Dorries 6.66
“Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in his speech and is a fool” Gove 48.52
Handy for whipping out whilst parading this season!
Greg Newman
PETER COOK PUSHES BOUNDARIES IN AMAZING WAYS!
Take time to think about the craziness of being sold hypothetical rubbish every day, and very little truth! Peter makes the spaces in which you are encouraged to think. You will find some freedom, even though it is not always cozy: you will grow.
Judith Spencer
