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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Her conclusion that the English are pretty odd is well supported by her evidence. I enjoyed her pointing out bizarre social rules such as everyone pretending no one else exists on public transport and when it's acceptable to break that rule. Her bits on class are a little dated in places. But much fun is had at the expense of English social ineptitude.
"Ethnic minorities are included, by definition, in any attempt to define Englishness. [...] Research tends to focus on the adaptation and adoption elements at the expense of the equally interesting and important issue of influence. This is odd: we acknowledge that short-term tourists can have a profound influence on their host cultures--indeed the study of the social processes involved has become a fashionable discipline in itself--but for some reason our academics seem less interested in the processes by which resident immigrant minority cultures can shape the behaviour patterns, customs, ideas, beliefs, and values of the countries in which they settle. [...] Where immigrants from former British colonies are concerned, perhaps the degree of acculturation demanded should match that which we achieved as uninvited residents in their cultures. Of all peoples, the English are surely historically the least qualified to preach about the importance of adapting to host-culture manners and mores. Our own track record on this is abysmal. Wherever we settle in any numbers, we not only create pockets of utterly insular Englishness, but also often attempt to impose our cultural norms and habits on the local population."
'We English are probably the least religious people on Earth. […] In 1941, George Orwell wrote that “the common people are without definite religious belief, and have been so for centuries.” […] The Church of England is notoriously woolly-minded, tolerant to a fault, and amiably non-prescriptive. […] Whether or not one believes in God tends to be sidestepped. It's not quite in good taste. […] The Archbishop of Canterbury bemoaned the fact that “A tacit atheism prevails.” […] And the key word was tacit. We are not a nation of explicit unequivocal atheists. Nor are we agnostics. Both of these imply a degree of interest in whether or not there is a deity — enough either to reject or question the notion. Most English people are just not much bothered about it.'
"The English really are quite capable of Latin-Mediterranean warmth, enthusiasm, and hospitality; we can be just as direct and approachable and emotive and tactile as any of the so-called 'contact cultures'. It is just that these qualities are only consistently expressed in our interactions with animals. And, unlike our fellow Englishmen, animals are not embarrassed or put off by our un-English displays of emotion. No wonder animals are so important to the English: for many of us, they represent our only significant experience of open, unguarded, emotional involvement with another sentient being."
"The quintessentially English 'Typical!' combines huffy indignation with a sense of passive, resigned acceptance, an acknowledgement that things are bound to go wrong, that life is full of little irritations and difficulties and that one must simply put up with it. [...] But there is also almost a perverse sense of satisfaction. [...] We may have been thwarted and inconvenienced, but we have not been taken unawares. We knew this would happen. [...] We start learning these mantras in our cradles, and by the time we are adults, this Eeyorish view of the world is part of our nature. Recite these mantras in a decidedly humorous tone, adding the odd 'mustn't grumble' or 'never mind' or 'better make the best of it', and you will be well on your way to becoming English. Learn to greet every problem, from a piece of burnt toast to World War Three, with 'Typical!', somehow managing to sound simultaneously peeved, stoical, and smugly omniscient, and you will qualify as a fully acculturated English person."
'We English are probably the least religious people on Earth. […] In 1941, George Orwell wrote that “the common people are without definite religious belief, and have been so for centuries.” […] The Church of England is notoriously woolly-minded, tolerant to a fault, and amiably non-prescriptive. […] Whether or not one believes in God tends to be sidestepped. It's not quite in good taste. […] The Archbishop of Canterbury bemoaned the fact that “A tacit atheism prevails.” […] And the key word was tacit. We are not a nation of explicit unequivocal atheists. Nor are we agnostics. Both of these imply a degree of interest in whether or not there is a deity — enough either to reject or question the notion. Most English people are just not much bothered about it.'
"The English really are quite capable of Latin-Mediterranean warmth, enthusiasm, and hospitality; we can be just as direct and approachable and emotive and tactile as any of the so-called 'contact cultures'. It is just that these qualities are only consistently expressed in our interactions with animals. And, unlike our fellow Englishmen, animals are not embarrassed or put off by our un-English displays of emotion. No wonder animals are so important to the English: for many of us, they represent our only significant experience of open, unguarded, emotional involvement with another sentient being."
"The quintessentially English 'Typical!' combines huffy indignation with a sense of passive, resigned acceptance, an acknowledgement that things are bound to go wrong, that life is full of little irritations and difficulties and that one must simply put up with it. [...] But there is also almost a perverse sense of satisfaction. [...] We may have been thwarted and inconvenienced, but we have not been taken unawares. We knew this would happen. [...] We start learning these mantras in our cradles, and by the time we are adults, this Eeyorish view of the world is part of our nature. Recite these mantras in a decidedly humorous tone, adding the odd 'mustn't grumble' or 'never mind' or 'better make the best of it', and you will be well on your way to becoming English. Learn to greet every problem, from a piece of burnt toast to World War Three, with 'Typical!', somehow managing to sound simultaneously peeved, stoical, and smugly omniscient, and you will qualify as a fully acculturated English person."
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I wanted to like this book, I really did. But so many of the things that she describes as particularly English seemed..... awfully universal. As in, descriptive of typical Americans. So that made it kind of hard to enjoy it. The few sections that actually got into class differences or pub rules or whatnot were enjoyable, but there just wasn't enough of that stuff.
emotional
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
A fantastically well-written book that captures the essence of the English. Fox is able to thread humour with observations and research that are presented in a way that is refreshing, witty, and balances academic study with a general reading seamlessly. Embodying much of what Fox writes, the book is fun to read and enjoyable whether or not you live in England or engage with the English. I didn't enjoy the last chapter on rites of passage as I found it slightly lackluster compared to other parts of the book, but would definitely recommend it.
I much preferred the first edition, this second edition is huge and feels harder to get through. Just read the conclusion chapter & use it as a reference book.
A really amusing anthropological look at the English by an Englishwoman. Fox’s sense of humor is what really makes this book; it’s a bit long and repetitive at parts—skewing too much toward being an academic text when what I want (need) it to be is a work of popular science—but Fox’s own innate “Oh, come off it!” reaction always pulls through in the end. Somewhat frightening: how much of Fox’s “grammar of Englishness” I find applicable to myself—social awkwardness, humor, cynicism, belief in fair play… Bloody hell! Sodding, blimey, shagging, knickers, bollocks… Oh, God! I’m English!
I found that it got a bit repetitive after a while and I started skipping the summary at the end of every chapter. Nonetheless, it was a witty, enjoyable and interesting read.
funny
informative
reflective
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced