The Complete Yes Minister: The Diaries of a Cabinet Minister

Excellent and entertaining book as were the TV series. The inner workings of the government and civil service are refreshingly entertaining. The quotes marvellously entertaining. The issues of the day and the workings of our good government perhaps are as relevant today as they were during those days. Immensely entertaining book overall. I just cannot but laugh aloud on reading literally every single page. An exquisitely fine refuge from the political chaos of these days and an escape from the stresses of life- like a fine vacation to an exotic place. PS: This book is a good guide which helps me deal with management failures! When I feel helpless in changing things the book reminds and reassures me that I am not alone. It's the marvellously complex systems we created over time which we need to understand.

N.B. This review includes both “Yes, Minister” and “Yes, Prime Minister”. As an avid fan of the “Yes, Minister” and “Yes, Prime Minister” TV series, I was somewhat hesitant when it came to reading these books. I thought it was not possible for the books be as entertaining, complex and well-paced as was the series. But now that I have read them, I must say that they really are quite excellent. (Probably because the writers of the TV series also wrote the books, so the spirit and tone of the original work has been beautifully preserved.) My main concern before reading the books, was the fact that they were written from Minister Hacker’s point-of-view, but that turned out to be a very good choice, because he really is the one person who is as clueless as we readers are about the workings of the Civil Service – so who better to give voice to our confusion and questions. (And to be inside Sir Humphrey’s head the whole book, would have been, I think, quite scary.) But to those who like the clever Civil Service men best, there are some treats as well. Sir Humphrey’s memos and minutes, “The Appleby papers”, are there to clarify his thinking and the things that went on behind the Minister’s back. And every once in a while, even Bernard comments on the past events. So, in a way, we get all the witty banter form the original series, and also some new insight into the characters’ minds. And the books are not just the scripts of the episodes, though of course the main focus is to create the same situations as in the TV series. But it seems that the writers have had the chance to put in the books all the things that were cut from the series. So there are new jokes and further observations on issues there to amuse the readers. So if you liked the TV series, or like clever satirical political parodies, or just want a beginner’s course in the machinations of the British government, do read these books! They are a lovely addition to the original series.

This gives you everything you remember from "Yes, Minister": the hapless, out of his depth but decent Jim Hacker, the smug , elitist, bureaucratic genius and torturer of English syntax Sir Humphrey and then Bernard of the pedantic observation We are given all we recall from the sit-com with added thoughts of Hacker and Jay and ,Lynn acting as Editors of the Diaries this is presented as. This is a great concept and adds a lot to the book. All in all a brilliant purchase

Excellent, excellent book - this 'fills in the gaps' and adds extra delicious detail to the original BBC television series. Not to be missed!

Sir Humphrey Appleby, Bernard Woolley and Jim Hacker brilliantly played by Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds and Paul Eddington were so real that although its decades old you can still see the characters in your head as they try to out do one another. Very very funny and how Nigel Hawthorne remembered those lines i will never know. The book follows Hacker from day one and sees a gradual understanding as to what his ministerial role is while trying to outwit the civil service who dont want him to have a role at all. The "Published" memos, interviews and diary entries also add to the realism. I think that this is a timeless comedy and the writing duo of Jonanthan Lynn and Anthony Jay deserve plaudits for they scripts and how the main characters are portrayed.

This book covers all episodes of the Yes Minister TV series, so well written and just highlights the comic genius of Jay & Lynn. This is a must for any fan. Do yourself a favour and buy it.

The inner machinations of government laid bare in informed and well researched prose. Like many books of his ilk, the truth is stranger than fiction. Anyone, for example, who has worked at a holiday camp will know how near the truth Hi de Hii is. I suspect that safest place to hide government secrets about the way things really work is out in the open in a book such as this.

It was excellent book ! Thank you very much

il libro ha i suoi anni ma resta un testo esilarante e sempre valido su politica e burocrazia.

Un libro con un humor ingles inmejorable

An exceptionally well written book. It gives much greater depth than the TV series could have ever provided, and it is still funny.

My father got me this book from the British library when I was a kid. I read both yes minister and yes prime minister in one sitting back to back and loved it back then itself. It is full of funny situations between poor Minister Hacker and his Permanent Secretary Sir Appleby. It has an in-depth look at how the civil service works within the government and what ACTUALLY they do or more like DONT do. Growing up I wanted to be a civil servant myself due to this book. No I didn't not become a civil servant bcoz that means studying a lot, which is displayed by how educated Sir Appleby is too and how smart and clever his actions are in subverting topics and objectives. This is a must read for anyone who loves to have a laugh riot. I have seen it's series as well, which I would recommend too. I bought this book finally from here to reread it and see if I find it still funny and yes it's still funny to this day. Quality work always retains its quality no matter the time that has passed.

Ich bin mit der vergleichsweise raschen Lieferung und dem Zustand des Buches sehr zufrieden.