Book Interview: One man’s journey from inner-city strife to god

"Phillips calls on an eclectic range of philosophers, poets, and novelists as tutelary spirits; and he extracts unexpected lessons from disparate, real-world events."

Jacob Phillips grew up in Hackney, one of London’s poorest areas. He was involved in anarchist politics, illegal raves, and environmental politics.

• Obedience is Freedom 
• Jacob Phillips 
• Polity Press, £45 hb, £14.99