Exeter alumnus Dr Tariq Ali publishes You Can’t Please All

Exeter College alumnus Dr Tariq Ali (1963, PPE) has published his latest book, You Can’t Please All.  

Dr Ali’s latest memoir follows his life from 1980 to 2024 and recounts a life committed to writing and cultural interventions as one of the most sought-after socialist and anti-imperialist public intellectuals of our time. From being an eyewitness in Moscow to the fall of the Soviet Union to striking up a friendship with Hugo Chávez in Porto Alegre, You Can’t Please All is a moving portrayal of Dr Ali’s life, with anecdotes, reflections, jottings, and storytelling underlying the narrative. The book explores his works for theatre and film, and also contains a moving family portrait, describing how his parents met and lived during the early years of Pakistan. 

Recently Dr Ali featured on Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth, a podcast in which Legendary British writer, broadcaster, ex-MP and TV star Gyles Brandreth talks to famous and fascinating people about their first memories and first experiences. Dr Ali features in the episode ‘More Rosebud,’ which aired on the 25 February 2025 and is a remarkable insight into the radical and optimistic days of the late 60s and early 70s, when anything seemed possible.  

You Can’t Please All is available to purchase from Waterstones and other booksellers now. You can also listen to More Rosebud-Tariq Ali for free via Audible or Spotify.