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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
A truly interesting read! Though unfortunately, the amount of uninteresting information in this book was more than I bargained for. But let's start off with the pro's:
As a non-English person, this book gave me very clear and detailed insights into English culture; not just explaining how they communicate and behave, but also explaining why. As a Dutch person, some of the 'rules' mentioned in the book blew my mind. It's incredible how an entire population manages to get by on awkwardness and embarrassment.
Now the downside. It's important to note that this downside is not due to a lack of, well, anything by Kate Fox, who did an amazing job. The book simply did not align with my expectations. There's a lot of information about class, and how people of different classes behave. Besides this there is a lot of information about oddly specific elements that most foreigners will never get in touch with. This is why the first part of the book (conversation codes) was a lot more interesting to me than the second part (behaviour codes).
If you want to know everything about English behaviour this book is for you.
If you want to read a book as preparation for visiting the UK, this book has everything and (unfortunately) a lot more.
As a non-English person, this book gave me very clear and detailed insights into English culture; not just explaining how they communicate and behave, but also explaining why. As a Dutch person, some of the 'rules' mentioned in the book blew my mind. It's incredible how an entire population manages to get by on awkwardness and embarrassment.
Now the downside. It's important to note that this downside is not due to a lack of, well, anything by Kate Fox, who did an amazing job. The book simply did not align with my expectations. There's a lot of information about class, and how people of different classes behave. Besides this there is a lot of information about oddly specific elements that most foreigners will never get in touch with. This is why the first part of the book (conversation codes) was a lot more interesting to me than the second part (behaviour codes).
If you want to know everything about English behaviour this book is for you.
If you want to read a book as preparation for visiting the UK, this book has everything and (unfortunately) a lot more.
A very useful read. Definitely clarified why the English would be put off by US behaviour. What's interesting is that English that read the book find it humorous and amusing, while as a foreigner I found it factual and dry. Even had to take a 3-book reading break to finally finish it.
Most important lesson: they are reserved and modest: http://www.langmaidpractice.com/wp-content/uploads/Rules-of-E1-1024x702.jpg
No more non-fiction for a while, please.
Most important lesson: they are reserved and modest: http://www.langmaidpractice.com/wp-content/uploads/Rules-of-E1-1024x702.jpg
No more non-fiction for a while, please.
I technically haven't finished this book (I've only got the last couple of chapters to go) and, in fact, I've only just picked it up again after abandoning it a year ago.
Admittedly, the above doesn't sound like the greatest of recommendations but actually I found this book fascinating. I think it's a must read for immigrants - it would be much more useful for them to read this than take British citizenship test that most Brits would struggle to pass given the randomness of its questions. With this book, the non-English (Fox does explain why she refers to English rather than British) can understand some of the more bonkers behaviours of the people of this green and pleasant land. The basic point is that the English are all a bit socially inept, which causes them no end of problems in areas of life - which is probably fair enough.
For me, as an English person, there were real moments of recognition and reassurance that my "Eeyorish" attitude is a product of my culture rather than me being an innately negative person (well, OK, so I am a bit of a natural pessimist).
That said, the reason I gave up on the book at the very end was because I think Fox's point about the English social dis-ease (as she puts it) gets a bit repetitive. This book is a revised version of her 2004 bestseller, which was smaller. You do wonder if it would be have better to keep the book at its original size.
Admittedly, the above doesn't sound like the greatest of recommendations but actually I found this book fascinating. I think it's a must read for immigrants - it would be much more useful for them to read this than take British citizenship test that most Brits would struggle to pass given the randomness of its questions. With this book, the non-English (Fox does explain why she refers to English rather than British) can understand some of the more bonkers behaviours of the people of this green and pleasant land. The basic point is that the English are all a bit socially inept, which causes them no end of problems in areas of life - which is probably fair enough.
For me, as an English person, there were real moments of recognition and reassurance that my "Eeyorish" attitude is a product of my culture rather than me being an innately negative person (well, OK, so I am a bit of a natural pessimist).
That said, the reason I gave up on the book at the very end was because I think Fox's point about the English social dis-ease (as she puts it) gets a bit repetitive. This book is a revised version of her 2004 bestseller, which was smaller. You do wonder if it would be have better to keep the book at its original size.
Very interesting read that will allow me to insert cultural aspects in my job (I'm an EFL teacher). It can feel quite long and too complicated at times, I struggled through some chapters because of that. One thing is sure, it's very thorough. And sometimes funny.
Fun and mostly interesting, though a bit repetitive
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
great insightful and fun book. makes academic points in a thorough easily readable and understandable way - which is a real credit to Katie Fox, as so much anthropology is written inaccessibly. have loved watching the rules of this book play out in real life
This book was interesting in explaining English cultural behaviors, but the format was repetitive which I found somewhat annoying. Also, it was based on some assumptions she had about English people (being English herself) and Americans.
Very much a pop-anthropology book.. sort of interesting, it I mostly skimmed. The author is quite accurate in depicting the behavior of "the English".
Fun, quick read with a lot of amusing observations about English culture. Recommended if you're going to be visiting or living anywhere in the British Isles, or if you read a lot of English fiction!
I feel the need to go back and re-read several novels by English writers, now that I'm a bit more clued into some of the subtleties.
I feel the need to go back and re-read several novels by English writers, now that I'm a bit more clued into some of the subtleties.