The power of big retail significantly influences consumer choice by dominating market availability and pricing, while also dictating product selection and trends through advertising. This impact can restrict diversity, favoring larger brands over smaller producers. Ultimately, although consumers may perceive ample options, big retail often shapes their purchasing decisions and overall shopping experience.
In your own words, define ‘making and remaking’ and provide one example of this that can be seen on City Road. City Road has a rich and diverse history and is in a constant state of flux. In ‘making and remaking’ this change can be examined in how it reflects…
View More City Road, Cardiff
I have previously read a lot of material on World War 2 codebreakers and the likes of Alan Turing and their critical work against Enigma and the invention of modern computing during that period. Of course, codebreaking and cryptography is not a new science and has been a critical part…
View More Review: Before Bletchley Park – The Codebreakers of The First World War – by Paul Gannon
I had previously read Alison Weir’s most excellent book specifically on Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine many years ago so the author was familiar to me. I chanced upon this title in my local library (Caldicot) and thought I’d give it a go. It covers the lives of several British Queens,…
View More Review: Queens of the Crusades – by Alison Weir
I think everyone that has ever heard of Boris Johnson associates him with lies. Oborne, who is an established veteran political journalist, in this relatively brief text, exposes the extent of the former Conservative Prime Minister’s almost total aversion to the truth. He reckons Johnson has told over thousands of…
View More Review: The Assault On Truth – Boris Johnson and the Emergence of a New Moral Barbarism – by Peter Oborne
If you were a hermit living in a remote cave then I expect that even you would be well aware that Prince Harry and his wife have been in the news recently quite a lot. Initially I decided I was going to avoid the mass hysteria and not tune into…
View More Review: Spare – by Prince Harry
The book narrates Wayne Anthony’s experience as a promoter in the groundbreaking Acid House music scene of late 1980s Britain. It chronicles his battles against authorities and the evolving culture marked by ecstasy use, while candidly acknowledging the mental health risks associated with drug use. The narrative reflects both hedonism and a cautionary message for future generations.
View More Review: Class of 88 – Find the Warehouse. Lose the Hitmen. Pump the Beats – by Wayne Anthony
This is one of the very best books I have ever read. It is up to date material and full of cutting edge military theory and ideas and I believe is critical essential reading for any politician or military personnel, especially those who conduct their employment in the NATO led…
View More Review: The Dragons and the Snakes – How The Rest Learned to Fight The West – by David Kilcullen
This is the second book that I have read by David Kilcullen. The author is a former Australian soldier and a senior advisor to the US Military in addition to being a leading theorist of modern warfare. This book looks deeply at the fundamental Islamic terrorist state ISIS. ISIS grew…
View More Review: Blood Year – Islamic State and the Failures of the War on Terror – by David Kilcullen
This is the third Simon Spence book that I have read. He is a very talented music journalist from Manchester with a taste for documenting, wild, stylish cultural movements that have emerged from the Madchester craziness. Excess All Areas covers perhaps the most successful and innovative band to have ridden…
View More Review: Happy Mondays – Excess All Areas – by Simon Spence
I initially bought the second book in this series, I Spy, but on learning that this volume preceded it I thought it apt to try this one out first. It’s not a huge book and is very accessible. The autobiographical account of a soldier from the streets, recognised for his…
View More Review: Soldier Spy by Tom MarcusThis detailed 800 page book covers fifty years of MI6, the UK’s foreign espionage service. From relatively humble beginnings during the second world war, MI6 grew to become a leading foe of Soviet Russia and its notorious KGB. The book documents in detail issues that affected the service from the…
View More Review: MI6 – Fifty Years of Special Operations – by Stephen Dorril
David Tomkins has led an interesting life, to say the least. Our swashbuckling protagonist begins his autobiography as a tough safe-cracker, self-trained in explosives. His early adventures lead him to prison life where he swaps tales and picks up skills, leading to further crimes. Moving away from his gangster life,…
View More Review: Dirty Combat – Secret Wars and Serious Misadventures – by David Tomkins