Peter Whitehead was born in 1958 and grew up in the Northamptonshire village of Blisworth. He graduated in law from the London School of Economics in 1979, after which he became a journalist, working for local newspapers before joining the Financial Times in 1987. After various senior roles in news, Weekend FT and Special Reports, in 2010 he was made launch editor of the weekly Financial Times Executive Appointments section and editor of the FT’s Non-Executive Directors’ Club. While in that role he gave well-received guest lectures at Northampton University Business School, Cranfield School of Management, and to firms of consultants on the topics of the consumer society and executive pay. He is married with two daughters and lives in Claygate, Surrey. He retired from the FT in 2014 to pursue his passions for music, writing, sport, travel and charity work. In 2012 he released "Lori, Sam and Mary", an album of songs covering three American songwriters – and in 2023 released "All The Notes There Is", an album of self-penned or co-written original material. In 2019 he published an important book, The Rise of Antisocialism, based on those business school lectures. And in 2024 he edited, published and contributed to "Class Mates", in which 14 former students recall how the LSE changed their lives.
An album of 10 original songs written, or co-written, by Peter Whitehead. To buy the CD and my other products, visit https://peterwhitehead.sumupstore.com/ or go to Amazon or other online retailers.
“I listened to it end to end standing up in our living room, spellbound. These are good songs by any measure.”
More reviews and "all the lyrics there is", here
How 14 students' lives were changed by the LSE in the 1970s. It's a tale of social mobility and the power of education. In his foreword, former Education Minister David Willetts calls these memoirs wonderful: “They are colourful and compelling personal accounts of a journey which might not otherwise be visible to the younger generation... These are illuminating and enjoyable human stories.”
Edited by Peter Whitehead (also a contributor)
Click here to buy it on Amazon: £15 paperback; £17 hardback; £9.99 Kindle Or Click here to buy from my store
The Rise of Antisocialism
A sweeping cascade of ideas, charting the ascendancy of the corporation and the attendant rise of individualism, materialism and antisocial behaviour, alongside the demise of socialism and the social contract.
Focusing on the UK and western economies, I show how changes in the way companies think and act have had far-reaching consequences.
From the 1970s heyday of participatory democracy, through socialism’s collapse and the exploitation of labour, I provide clear explanations of the underlying forces at work and give the reader a tool for understanding every day’s events. After reading this book, very little in the news will come as a surprise…
Buy it here from Amazon books. Or here from my store...
What readers have said: "I knew you were a good writer. But this is exceptional. It's totally gripping."
"I am 25% through and I am gripped! Lots to reflect on... I am struck by how much more focused on the numbers I have become at work - and how easily I could fall into the trap of forgetting why we founded the firm. An important book. I will be recommending it widely!"
Further links:
Being interviewed by Lewis Maleh for his excellent Don't Take Out Your Phone podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwc9066gAnQ&temp-new-window-replacement=true
AUDIO-VISUAL CREATIONS
I single-handedly created an Alan Bennett-style Talking Head episode, called "Unlikely Developments" - writing, acting, recording, etc. And I created a few mock Archers episodes to show how the series could have continued during 2020's lockdown. A selected few creations can be viewed on the Video Links page - and they're all on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpWhZ3948ywDD52Qio7rolegdxamlp03x