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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Clever and humorous way of portraying the everyday life of English people. I don't particularly like to generalize and attach behaviours and quirks to nationalities but this convinced me that stereotypes exist for a reason.
This book is awesome!! I wonder if my U.S. family is secretly British, or if WASPs in America have a lot of traits we share with Brits. I recognize a lot of the behavior from having visited England several times, and from having a chunk of family who actually live there. And I really like the concept of Eeyorishness. It's perfect.
Fox is a fascinating writer and blends a healthy dose of humour, whit, and irony (as a good Brit) with thorough research and fascinating findings.
Her quest in the book, as an anthropologist, is to uncover the essence of what it means to be English.
With the ever-increasing cultures and ethnicities on this island, many think the task of defining “Englishness” impossible. And while it is true that Britain is increasingly changing under the effects of globalism within its shores, Fox still finds many commonalities between the classes, cultures, and generations that make up the heartbeat of Englishness.
For a much fuller review and quotes, refer to my journal or ask questions.
Her quest in the book, as an anthropologist, is to uncover the essence of what it means to be English.
With the ever-increasing cultures and ethnicities on this island, many think the task of defining “Englishness” impossible. And while it is true that Britain is increasingly changing under the effects of globalism within its shores, Fox still finds many commonalities between the classes, cultures, and generations that make up the heartbeat of Englishness.
For a much fuller review and quotes, refer to my journal or ask questions.
I read this book because an english person came into the store and bought it, and I figured, I wouldn't buy a book like this on america so it must be good. Now it certainly didn't hurt that John is also English and that Barsby yelled at me for commenting that he sounds like Ringo star (I hold fast he does, this is not a british thing on the basis that I do not think any other people sound particularly like Ringo star,only Barsby). Moving on, basically I read this book and I was vindicated, the book is hilarious, the author spends a good deal of time making fun of bill bryson, which I'm sure he would appreciate and just generally making fun of British people while still managing to sound pompous when discussing how the colonies do it. I thought the depiction of America was commonly very flawed, but it was a small part of the book a contrast not a topic and she has not spent nearly as much time studying it, although her sister is "American" so I forgive her. Just as Bryson cannot get inside the British mind she seems inherently unable to get inside the American mind.
Things I have learned from this book:
British teenage girls are much better (or worse depending who you ask) at losing their virginity than Americans.
England has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe.
"come off it"
Growing up in rural New England is a bit like growing up in england sans the class structure and possibly with a slightly less developed sense of humor.
English people are always lying liars.
Upper class english people eat peas in the most inefficient manner possible. honestly chopsticks would be easier.
English men think being born male is a possible sign of homosexuality (okay that is an exaggeration, but basically the only things that appear not to be signs of homosexuality are buying rounds and swearing).
British people do not tend to watch too much TV.
British people like the internet because it allows them to interact with people without interacting with people.
Things not included in this book that perhaps should be:
the british women's obsession with Bingo.
Why it is insulting to be compared to Ringo star.
Pop Idol.
Pop culture generally (sub cultures were included but not mainstream except to say people avoid it. they can't all be avoiding it)
why upper class children have stupid names. Some of the names are included but no explanation of why a parent would name a child Saskia.
all in all worth a sit down.
Things I have learned from this book:
British teenage girls are much better (or worse depending who you ask) at losing their virginity than Americans.
England has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe.
"come off it"
Growing up in rural New England is a bit like growing up in england sans the class structure and possibly with a slightly less developed sense of humor.
English people are always lying liars.
Upper class english people eat peas in the most inefficient manner possible. honestly chopsticks would be easier.
English men think being born male is a possible sign of homosexuality (okay that is an exaggeration, but basically the only things that appear not to be signs of homosexuality are buying rounds and swearing).
British people do not tend to watch too much TV.
British people like the internet because it allows them to interact with people without interacting with people.
Things not included in this book that perhaps should be:
the british women's obsession with Bingo.
Why it is insulting to be compared to Ringo star.
Pop Idol.
Pop culture generally (sub cultures were included but not mainstream except to say people avoid it. they can't all be avoiding it)
why upper class children have stupid names. Some of the names are included but no explanation of why a parent would name a child Saskia.
all in all worth a sit down.
This was really a fun read. I haven't spent much time in England, but from the countless novels and movies that are set there, her observations seem pretty legit.
In a lot of ways, this book did what I wished [b: Snoop:what your stuff says about you] had done. The descriptions of what things like your garden plants say about your social class were priceless.
In a lot of ways, this book did what I wished [b: Snoop:what your stuff says about you] had done. The descriptions of what things like your garden plants say about your social class were priceless.
Delightful book on English behaviour. I, as an honorary Brit, recognised most of the aspects and recognised them with amusement and sometimes plain laughter. But that could be a typical reaction, because the middle name of the English is humour. As Kate Fox writes: when in doubt, joke. Or impersonate Eeyore. After reading this book I became aware that I am more English (in behaviour) than I thought I was and I don't think that's a bad thing.
It’s interesting and unexpectedly funny to read, but after the first 350 pages it can get a bit repetitive.
Indispensible to the newly-arrived expat. I read it a few months after I arrived, and thought it was mildly amusing but a bit obvious/over the top. I read it again after being in the UK for three years, and thought My lord, they really DO do all this stuff - and finally now I realize what to look for, and how to interact with it. Fox is a proper scientist/PhD, and at points this reads more like a dissertation than a Malcolm Gladwell ripoff - which is maybe why it only resonates after you've been here a while; she's trying to define and describe, rather than dazzle. But still, pretty amusing as social anthropology books go, and one of the most useful/apply-able books I've read in the past five years.