Atlantic £12.99 (275pp) (free p&p) from the Independent Bookshop: 0870 079 8897
How to be a Better Person, By Seb Hunter
Friday 24 April 2009
Latest in Reviews
Those who fear that years as a heavy-metal buff might stunt an author's growth should read Seb Hunter and marvel. After a delightful novice's guide to classical music, Rock Me Amadeus, he worked as a volunteer for two years in one-man bid to disprove Mrs Thatcher ("no such thing as society") and shun New Labour's "myopic gold rush".
With forays to a London Oxfam shop and a hostel in Staines, his city of Winchester becomes the focus of this experiment in altruism. With comic touch and loopy charm, our ethical guy befriends asylum-seekers, DJs for hospital radio, picks up litter and trains for a half-marathon (he comes 341st).
Soon he breaks through into a "blue sky" feeling of benevolence. If you wish to do good without turning into a do-gooder, burst the "little bubble" of self-regard and get with his programme.
- 1 Grace Dent on Television: Harlots, Housewivs and Heroines - a 17th Century History for Girls, BBC4
- 2 One is nipping to Tesco: Jubilant Jubilee royals as seen by Alison Jackson
- 3 The London 2012 Festival: The greatest show of a great year
- 4 BANNED: The most controversial films
- 5 French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy calls for West to intervene in Syria
- 6 Observations: Literary lessons from N F Simpson - an absurdly good playwright
- 7 Free Range: Meet the designers of tomorrow
- 8 The Ten Best History Books
- 9 Ladyhawke: Asperger's and the anxious pop sensation
- 10 Cannes: Too much rain, too few women, but great movies
- 1 Mark Zuckerberg saved $111m by selling Facebook shares before stock slumped
- 2 Osborne adviser leaked budget information to Murdoch's man
- 3 Brazil rocked by abortion for 9-year-old rape victim
- 4 Society: The only way is Finland
- 5 Schoolboy spiked brownies with cannabis in cookery class
- 6 Fat? Really? Olympic hope laughs off official’s jibe – but others aren’t amused
- 7 'Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read ...'
- 8 African monkey meat that could be behind the next HIV
- 9 Coke reveals its secret: It may need to carry a cancer warning
- 10 French in uproar over oral sex anti-smoking posters
Experience the Heineken Hub
Get free wi-fi and exclusive i content while you enjoy a tasty pint of Heineken at participating pubs.
Can you imagine a career in teaching?
Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.
Playing a game-changing role during the Games
Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Ridley Scott: The most macho man in movies?
Gallic gourmets put France back on culinary map
The outsider: Margaret Howell
For men only: A pilgrimage to Mount Athos
Feeding a hungry world – or meddling with laws of nature?


Comments