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hotmessmamareads's review against another edition
4.0
A very funny collection of essays on cultural observations about the British from an outsider's perspective. The beauty of this particular collection is that it holds appeal for English readers as a source of comedy about their own culture, and it provides some measure of understanding or commiseration for those of us that aren't British but are now living among them.
When I started reading this book, I was struggling a little with adjusting to life among the Brits. My entire circle of friends from home has markedly shrunken from hundreds to, like, three. It's not that I don't still have access and communication with my friends from home--it's just that they're not going through the same thing I was. They weren't faced with the same things, and trying to convey what I was feeling or thinking was sometimes difficult given the distance and degree of separation from what has become my reality, my life here. But then, there was this book.
This was a gift from my brother-in-law, and knowing his humor and nature, I had assumed that this would be a funny little excursion noting some quirky things about British life and culture. What I didn't expect was that I'd so keenly identify with the author's observations, at least from the first third of the collection which was written when he was a fairly new 'alien' to Britain. Since it's the time I am also going through, reading about such a varied topical commentary on what is daily life here really struck a chord with me. It helped me feel less alone, less removed from the experience of what other expats have gone through--even the handful of friends of mine who are already here and who have already transitioned into daily life in the UK.
Many times, I laughed out loud at Mikes's observations about British conversation, passion for queues (lines to my fellow Americans), navigation through social situations involving lots of talk of weather (which is becoming somewhat less foreign to me but is still somewhat bewildering for a Californian who is generally used to the same sort of weather year-round), demurring, and the art of understatement which can be seen in everyday British conversations/interactions and even on their television shows. I found myself nodding and cracking up about his humorous comments on how the British identify, name, and number their streets because it can be confusing and disorienting.
All in all, I'm thankful for this book because I really feel like it helped me understand a bit more of England--of life and of culture. And understanding, I found, has been the first step towards adjusting.
When I started reading this book, I was struggling a little with adjusting to life among the Brits. My entire circle of friends from home has markedly shrunken from hundreds to, like, three. It's not that I don't still have access and communication with my friends from home--it's just that they're not going through the same thing I was. They weren't faced with the same things, and trying to convey what I was feeling or thinking was sometimes difficult given the distance and degree of separation from what has become my reality, my life here. But then, there was this book.
This was a gift from my brother-in-law, and knowing his humor and nature, I had assumed that this would be a funny little excursion noting some quirky things about British life and culture. What I didn't expect was that I'd so keenly identify with the author's observations, at least from the first third of the collection which was written when he was a fairly new 'alien' to Britain. Since it's the time I am also going through, reading about such a varied topical commentary on what is daily life here really struck a chord with me. It helped me feel less alone, less removed from the experience of what other expats have gone through--even the handful of friends of mine who are already here and who have already transitioned into daily life in the UK.
Many times, I laughed out loud at Mikes's observations about British conversation, passion for queues (lines to my fellow Americans), navigation through social situations involving lots of talk of weather (which is becoming somewhat less foreign to me but is still somewhat bewildering for a Californian who is generally used to the same sort of weather year-round), demurring, and the art of understatement which can be seen in everyday British conversations/interactions and even on their television shows. I found myself nodding and cracking up about his humorous comments on how the British identify, name, and number their streets because it can be confusing and disorienting.
All in all, I'm thankful for this book because I really feel like it helped me understand a bit more of England--of life and of culture. And understanding, I found, has been the first step towards adjusting.
sangfroid's review against another edition
5.0
I have never laughed out loud as much with P G Wodehouse and Tom Sharpe as I have with George Mikes's "How to be a Brit". It is so unputdownable that I devoured it all almost at one sitting. The author's use of humor, irony, exaggeration, and ridicule to expose and criticise the British's manners, habits, idiosyncrasies, belief and vices makes him a humorist par excellence!
The book was entertaining and risible right from the beginning!
The chapters "The Language", "Civil Servant", "Journalism", "On Not Knowing English", "Language", "How to Become a Colony" stood out for the text's savage satire on the country, her foreigners, and pride.
The book was entertaining and risible right from the beginning!
The chapters "The Language", "Civil Servant", "Journalism", "On Not Knowing English", "Language", "How to Become a Colony" stood out for the text's savage satire on the country, her foreigners, and pride.
limonik's review against another edition
3.0
This feels a bit outdated, but still manages to be funny at times. I felt that the themes such as the weather, queuing and sex became repetitive.
jaimiejaimiejaimie's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 actually.
This book is pretty darn amusing, and a lot of it made sense to me as a former alien myself. Some of the newer text is a little...uncomfortable for modern sensibilities. However, this is recommended if you have spent any time in the UK as a non-native and need an explanation for why things didn't seem quite right.
This book is pretty darn amusing, and a lot of it made sense to me as a former alien myself. Some of the newer text is a little...uncomfortable for modern sensibilities. However, this is recommended if you have spent any time in the UK as a non-native and need an explanation for why things didn't seem quite right.
ireadtosurvive's review against another edition
3.0
This book is made up of three books:
* How to be an alien (1946).
* How to be inimitable (1960).
* How to be decadent (1977).
I found how to be an alien very funny and easy to read, and in many ways still accurate to British life despite being written 70 years. I would give it a strong 4 stars. However, I found the next two books didn't really add much but were still funny so overall they were 2 or 3 stars.
* How to be an alien (1946).
* How to be inimitable (1960).
* How to be decadent (1977).
I found how to be an alien very funny and easy to read, and in many ways still accurate to British life despite being written 70 years. I would give it a strong 4 stars. However, I found the next two books didn't really add much but were still funny so overall they were 2 or 3 stars.
estacer's review against another edition
3.0
I understood the humour / irony he was going for but I just didn't find it very enjoyable. There were pockets that earned my appreciation or inner smirk (eg the bit on Belsize Park, Belsize Mews, Belsize Park Mews, Belsize Road, etc, that having been the first neighborhood in which I went flat-finding), but on the whole, I found I was muddling through*.
Generally, I enjoyed How to be an Alien more than the subsequent portions. Less of an overtly negative grumpiness. (Again, I understand that's what he was going for, I just didn't enjoy it.)
Given I did find some connections, I hate to give it only 2 stars, so I'll round up.
*Wink to one of the final chapters.
Generally, I enjoyed How to be an Alien more than the subsequent portions. Less of an overtly negative grumpiness. (Again, I understand that's what he was going for, I just didn't enjoy it.)
Given I did find some connections, I hate to give it only 2 stars, so I'll round up.
*Wink to one of the final chapters.
booksandflowers's review against another edition
3.0
This feels a bit outdated, but still manages to be funny at times. I felt that the themes such as the weather, queuing and sex became repetitive.
amaryllys's review against another edition
4.0
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14500760
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14500760
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