Mike Marqusee was an American writer, journalist and political activist in London. His partner was the barrister Liz Davies... (wikipedia)
The point of this book was to explore the paradoxes and difficulties of the period.
His songs haven't dated because he penetrated the surface of these issues. He said what was wrong at a deeper level He is trying to make sense of a world that is utterly chaotic.
He was quite serious about his own music. He let it speak for itself.
It was a general response to his times.