David Kynaston's latest instalment in his comprehensive history of postwar Britain reveals a more complex picture of 1965-66 than the popular cultural narrative suggests. Whilst the era is typically celebrated for the Beatles, miniskirts and Carnaby Street, the book demonstrates that racism, bigotry and class division remained deeply embedded in British society. The 700-page volume, which covers just 18 months, showcases Kynaston's meticulous approach to balancing high-level political and economic analysis with intimate details of how ordinary people lived.

The book devotes substantial attention to education reform, particularly the shift towards comprehensive schools championed by Harold Wilson's government, which won the March 1966 general election with a 97-seat majority. Kynaston includes an engaging "playlist" of period details—from the arrival of vending machines and open-plan offices to Boots finally consenting to sell condoms—that capture everyday life. Whilst higher education expanded through the creation of polytechnics and the Open University, access remained restricted by international standards; less than 6% of UK high school graduates attended university compared to 50% in the United States.