Five things – 17th November 2017

Afternoon, here’s the latest five recommendations from the Reaction team designed to save you time. I’m a sucker for pieces taking apart the record of Gordon Brown, and Danny Finkelstein at The Times wrote the definitive such piece last week. Former Blair chief of staff Jonathan Powell has another go today and it’s also a belter. For the weekend I also recommend a new book, Betting the House, the thrilling account of the 2017 general election.

1. The fatal ambition of Gordon Brown. Jonathan Powell, New Statesman. 

2. The avocado toast generation needs houses, not lectures on frugality. Rachel Cunliffe, City AM. 

3. Can journalists ever regain Americans’ trust? Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, Financial Times.  

4. Anti-Trump Chihuahuas Overlook the President’s Many Achievements. Roger Kimball, PJ Media. 

5. Betting the House: The Inside Story of the 2017 Election, by Tim Ross and Tom McTague