No Such Thing as Society: A History of Britain in the 1980s - Andy McSmith

A very readable account of the decade dominated by Margaret Thatcher and her free market/privitisation agenda which, by the end of it, capitalism had emerged triumphant from its ideological battle with socialism and with it vast differences between rich and poor. New Labour picked up the free markeet baton and ran with it into the 21st century, the effects of which only became apparent with the crash of 2008.

The author worked on the Independant newspaper during the decade and the book is like a series of journalistic essays on aspects of 80s politics and culture from the miners' strike to Live Aid, the Falklands War to Diana and very enjoyable it is too, well written, clear and concise.