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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- What This Book Offers
A hilarious and honest account of life as a British expat in Japan, filled with cultural mishaps, genuine insights, and the kind of dry British humor that makes even the most awkward situations entertaining. Broad doesn't just share the Instagram-worthy moments - he dives into both the wonderful resourcefulness of Japanese society and its darker aspects, like the devastating pressure to conform.
- What Worked
✨ Relatable cultural faux pas that had me cringing in recognition
✨ Perfect balance of humor and genuine cultural insight
✨ Doesn't shy away from addressing serious social issues
✨ Dry British wit
✨ Touching exploration of Japanese resilience, particularly post-tsunami
- What Didn't
✨ As someone more used to fiction, the non-fiction format took some adjustment (though this didn't detract from the content!)
- Writing Style
Broad's conversational tone makes you feel like you're chatting with a mate over coffee about their adventures abroad. His ability to find humor in embarrassing situations - like confusing "genki" (healthy/energetic) with "genkin" (cash) and accidentally fleeing a toll booth - is very entertaining
- Cultural Insights
What sets this apart from typical expat memoirs is Broad's willingness to explore Japan's complexities. He celebrates the incredible resourcefulness and community spirit he witnessed, while also addressing difficult topics like the intense social pressure that can have tragic consequences for young people.
- Final Thoughts
A brilliant read for anyone interested in Japan, travel memoirs, or just wanting a good laugh. While YouTube fans and Japan enthusiasts will find extra layers of enjoyment, the book stands well on its own.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Read this in the couple of weeks before we went to Japan, and easy, entertaining read about the authors experience as an English teacher in Japan, lots of funny anecdotes and stories of the idiosyncrasies of Japan and the Japanese told in affectionate way. The writing style is funny and engaging and you can tell that the author is a youtuber, but not in a bad way.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Chris's voice (literally) shines through, and it's so cool to see the man behind the channel I've watched for so long. Hearing about his JET experience made me a lot less scared, as I'll be going on JET in just under three months! His humor and insight made this a delightful listen.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced