Based on Philip Cowley's entertaining columns in The House magazine, this collection of political oddities and fascinating research, discussing the politics of fights, cockroaches, riots, potholes, beards and much more, is perfect for reading in multiple sittings. Discover the electoral relevance of chip shops and football grounds, what your lawn tells you about your voting, why politicians need to pay extra care in Scunthorpe, what MPs think of voters, why they all claim to be local and why they are all now so inexperienced.

Equal parts witty and thought-provoking, and with additional grumpy complaints about bats, overly long constituency names and giving the vote to sixteen-year-olds, it's a book that will appeal to the sort of person who likes to tell you that, actually, it's all a bit more complicated than that...