This week Nick talks to Peter York

Peter York is an author, broadcaster, journalist, management consultant and cultural commentator. He was Style Editor of Harper’s & Queen for ten years and co-authored The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook in 1982. He co-founded the consultancy SRU Ltd, later chaired a UK government Foresight committee on the future of leisure, and has written for The Independent on Sunday, GQ and Management Today.

Peter’s most recent books are The War Against the BBC: How an Unprecedented Combination of Hostile Forces Is Destroying Britain's Greatest Cultural Institution... And Why You Should Care and A Dead Cat on Your Table — which argues that Britain’s culture wars are waged by a shameless minority with no shortage of money or media access, battling society’s most vulnerable not for principle, but for money and political power.

Peter and Nick discuss Peter's inspiring mentors and working with major brands, media outlets, and designers while building his consultancy career. They also discusses the creation and cultural impact of the Sloane Ranger Handbook, its ties to 1980s London, and the social shifts of that era. Peter contrasts the old financial and advertising worlds with today’s technology-driven landscape, expressing concern about the decline of human connection, the rise of disinformation, and the role of AI in shaping public opinion. They also cover some of the themes of his book A Dead Cat on Your Table, which explores how culture wars and “othering” distract from real societal issues.

Peter's book choice was
The Three Musketeers Hardcover – by Alexandre Dumas

Peter's music choices where
Avalon by Roxy Music
Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads

Subscribe to Peter's Podcast - Peter York's Culture Wars House Party

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