I really enjoyed this book. It was very outside of my comfort zone but finishing it as a general election was called has really helped me accept other people's "fun" around politics. The layers of research with commentary are really balanced so that you understand where Phoenix is without losing appreciation for a spectrum of political fandom. Very cool. The audiobook is very fun and easy listening and my husband kept asking me to replay sections so he could enjoy it too.

Note: Phoenix and I are acquaintances.

I heart politics is a very unique insight into the world of politics, presenting how the emergence of the ‘fanbase’ has accounted for many successful political runs, but specifically how they change over the years. Andrews looks at how the ancients did it, to the Thatcher era and then well into our current digital age.

This was a really fun listen and surprisingly very engaging, given the topic of politics isn’t the most stimulating. The narrator was very clear and concise, as well as having an inviting, fun tone.

I’d massively recommend this!

The underlying thesis of this book is fascinating: that politics, like pop culture, is full of fandoms. And fandom behaviour, which has sharpened and radicalized since the birth of the Internet, has seeped into modern day politics and goes some way to explaining the rise of populism and why, especially in the UK, politics crises turn into haydays for incredible memes. With any political book, I want to learn something and Phoenix Andrews' thoughtful ruminations on fandom and politics made for a great listen. It's short and sharp, though as we headed towards the end, I felt like this could have been just as - if not more - successful as an extended article over a book.