Books by Gerald Bratley MCIEx
Gerald Bratley’s books draw on nearly six decades of international trade, overseas travel, engineering, public service and political observation.
His work ranges from personal memoir and practical export guidance to examinations of British democracy, inherited privilege, cultural conflict, modern technology and electric vehicles.
Select a title below to learn more.
The Export Adventurer
A Life in International Trade Before Globalisation Went Digital
A personal account of nearly six decades in exporting and international trade, beginning in Yorkshire industry and extending across more than sixty countries.
The book explores how international business was conducted before email and digital communication, when relationships, cultural understanding, personal judgement and repeated overseas travel were essential to success.
The Aromatic Bush Chronicles
Fifty Years of Work, Wanderlust, and Women
A candid memoir of the private life that followed the working day for a man travelling internationally on business.
Gerald Bratley reflects on the loneliness of overseas assignments, the search for companionship, and the relationships, risks and cultural encounters that filled the long hours after offices and boardrooms closed.
The House of Inherited Privilege
Britain Never Dismantled Its Elite — It Just Learned How to Hide It
An examination of inherited power, land, privilege and political influence in Britain, tracing the survival of elite institutions from the medieval period to the modern House of Lords.
The book questions how far Britain can be considered fully democratic while unelected and inherited influence remains embedded within government.
The House of Managed Democracy
Representation, Party Discipline, and Institutional Continuity in the United Kingdom
A study of the gap between how British democracy is described and how it is experienced by voters.
The book examines the electoral system, political parties, parliamentary discipline, the House of Lords and the institutions that shape representation and political power.
Blowing the Myths on Electric Cars
What Actually Matters, What Doesn’t — and How to Decide What’s Right for You
A practical examination of electric-vehicle ownership written from the perspective of an EV driver.
The book considers charging, range, battery life, running costs, public infrastructure and the claims commonly made both for and against electric cars.
Culture, Conflict, and Separation
An Empirical Survey of Cultural Coexistence, Conflict, and Partition, 1925–Present
Drawing on historical research and first-hand experience in conflict and post-conflict regions, this book examines how borders, partitions, migration and political decisions affect communities.
Rather than imposing a single conclusion, it presents evidence and observations that allow readers to reach their own judgements.
Working but Wrong
Why Modern Systems Silence Understanding — and Why It Matters
A study of modern systems that operate as designed but still produce unreliable or unsatisfactory results.
Drawing on practical experience in engineering, servicing and administration, the book considers what is lost when genuine understanding is replaced by procedures, screens and automatic instructions.
The Practical Export Guide
How to Prepare, Plan and Trade Internationally
A practical guide for businesses and individuals preparing to enter international markets.
The book covers market research, export planning, tariff classification, pricing, documentation, transport, payment, risk and the procedures required to trade successfully across borders.
Expected publication: Summer 2026