Author(s): Katwala, Sunder,
Binding: Paperback,
Date of Publication: 06/06/2024,
Pagination: 272 pages,
Series: N/A,
Imprint: HarperNorth,
Published By: HarperCollins Publishers,
Book Classification: United Kingdom, Great Britain
Dimensions: 198 x 128 x 15mm
Weight: 192g
ISBN13\EAN\SKU: 9780008553890

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How do we define patriotism in a diverse society

What divides us and what brings us together

Why do we feel uncomfortable celebrating our country’s history

How to be a Patriot offers a new way of understanding our collective identity in a country wracked by division and brimming with markers of selfhood – faith, race, gender, age, sexuality.

Sunder Katwala himself grew up with some questions to work through. As a half-Indian, Irish Catholic child of the NHS, the chequered history of post-imperial Britain seemed very personal to him, but he realised that with that background he could hardly be anything but British, and proud of it too.

His timely and clear-eyed analysis seeks to navigate the many crises of this increasingly disunited kingdom: extremism and integration after 7/7; fear of immigration and the deep divides of Brexit; the resurgence of online racism; and the debate over our cultural heritage. Equipped with a nuanced understanding of the subject and a wealth of supporting data, he sets out to foster a more open and tolerant society: one that welcomes alternative ideas and cultures rather than shutting them out.

Ultimately, How to be a Patriot is a rousing story of lives lived together and shared values. Far from being divisive, it concludes, an inclusive and confident patriotism is a reminder that our differences need not define us.