There is Nothing for You Here; Finding Opportunities in the Twenty-First Century by Fiona Hill

I was looking forward to reading this book after watching Dr. Hill’s spell-bounding presentation at the Impeachment Hearings. I did also watch a zoom call with her about the book prior to reading the book.
The book is divided into four parts: (1) her upbringing in a poor area of North East England, (2) how she overcame this upbringing with education, hard work and mentors who guided her to St. Andrews and then to Harvard, (3) her professional career focused on Russia and culminating in her time in the Trump Administration and Impeachment hearings and finally (4) her suggestions and conclusions for how to make America and a land for all her people to succeed.
For the most part, I was interested in her back story of growing up and her work up through the beginning of the Impeachment Hearings. She has self-deprecating wit which she uses to shield herself given that she is a real policy wonk and trying to make in a “man’s” world where she clearly does not know how to use her feminine side. Her first discussion of this occurs while waitressing at The Royal & Ancient Club in St. Andrews. One of the members pinches her bottom and she sends him off his chair with an elbow to the chops. Well done you – Fiona! That appeals to me but that is me.
Then while working for the Kennedy School in Moscow she often would meet visitors at the high-end hotels and would try to dress up. Unfortunately, the doormen took her for a foreign currency hooker and expected a cut. I guess a few of these burly guys learned the wee lass from the North of England could pack a punch.
It is funny to read that her visit to the Oval Office to provide Trump with information she has on black sneakers (her Metro commuting shoes) while Ivanka comes parading in her stilettoes.
So, this is the policy wonk who at least captivated me and many others with her direct presentation and response to often poorly formed questions from Congress. I wish there had been more of this part in her book.
The remainder of the book is about the need and importance to reduce and eliminate the imbalance in our education system that makes it nearly impossible for a growing number of Americans ( just as in her birth place the UK) to even have a chance to succeed by having multiple opportunities to live.
This last part falls a bit flat not because her heart is in the wrong place but the old policy wonk just can’t grasp what on the ground and in local, state and federal governments must do. I can not offer a solution either.
All in all a very good read by surprising funny person to go along with her very clear, thoughtfully written book.

An eye opening account of both personal hardship and professional chaos - this is a great read, whether you’re deep into politics or simply trying to understand this time in our history. I appreciated the skill with which the author weaves the narrative of her personal upbringing together with the almost surreal situation she found herself in that led to her being widely known.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

Fiona Hill was one of the heroes during the impeachment hearings and now we learn of her backstory and backbone to rise up as one of the works experts on Putin and Russia. We delve into her personal history and the history we will have unless we can hold on to our democracy and start undoing the lies we are told.

Fiona Hill, There Is Nothing For You Here Finding Opportunity In The 21st Century, HarperCollinsPublishers Boston New York, 2021

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Fiona Hill’s father did readers of this book an immense favour when he told his daughter, ‘There is nothing here for you, pet’. That wise understanding of Fiona Hill, together with his and her nurse/midwife mother’s steadfast support, joined by various people along the way, gave this resilient, thoughtful, and intellectually astute woman the power to study and excel, find a range of a careers, and most effectively, a voice.

Hill draws intelligent links between the crumbling social and physical environment in which she was raised, and the stumbling America which elected Donald Trump as President. To her credit, Hill does not concentrate on Trump and his presidency, rather providing a huge canvas of ideas and solutions that put him and the aftermath of his presidency into perspective. Fiona Hill provides an analysis that begins with the understanding that is essential to unravelling the impetus provided by the loss of job and community that impacts attitudes. She is a persuasive voice on the role of class in the UK, but provides critical analysis of the influence of race, sex, and education as well. All of this, and the narrative is sublimely readable.

Hill’s description of the decline in communities when there is large scale employment loss is not only poignant, but instructive. Retraining for other work is only one factor; an issue that particularly resonates is the impact of the loss of public transport as community numbers decline. The whole issue of community and its value is discussed. As we reflect on the broader impact of Covid lockdowns, impacting all classes, perhaps recognising the broader impact of closures of large employing entities on one class might be enlightening. Hill’s work is a start to that discussion.

When she turns to her own work, Fiona Hill is as thoughtful - and incisive - about the way in which former President Trump reacted to the serious responsibility of his position; the way in which he treated her, and other woman, denying their status; lack of responsiveness to policy; unpredictable relations with foreign powers; and supine attitudes toward powerful men such as the Russian and North Korean leaders with whom he interacted. As with the earlier chapters, these are written with a wide audience in mind. Comprehensive, nuanced and without partisanship, these chapters resonate with clarity, are written to inform and involve the reader in serious debate rather than presenting obfuscation disguised as serious writing.

Hill’s thoughts on the role of education; accent and class in Britain; entertainment and its relevance to politics are all treated with reference to her experiences as well as in a broad context. She addresses the problems raised by presidency of former President Trump, long term American economic conditions and the significance of populism in American politics. raises. The undermining effect on individuals and societies of sexism and racism are dealt with through personal example as well as a larger perspective. In doing all of this in well written, accessible and engaging prose Fiona Hill’s There is Nothing Here For You Finding Opportunity In The 21st Century is an excellent read.

Fiona Hill's book is not just a personal history, but primarily a history of socioeconomic issues which she knows first hand, having been born in a poor working class town in northern England. She delves into how America has suffered from the same problems that plagued her birth place, but offers concrete solutions for "Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century."

There is Nothing for You Here
by Fiona Hill
Pub Date:October 5, 2021
Mariner Books

Thanks to Mariner Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
I learned so much about the workings of foreign affairs helping me respect the policymakers and other long-term professionals we seldom hear about. Those interesting in politics will find this book interesting too!
As a former teacher, I agree with her suggestions on education. Improvements in transportation, employment opportunities, income equality, the illumination of poverty, all will meet needs and stave off populism.
I recommend this book!
5stars