Download Watching the English The Hidden Rules of English Behavior Kate Fox 9781857886160 Books

Product details Paperback 228 pages Publisher Nicholas Brealey; 2 edition (January 7, 2014) Language English ISBN-10 185788616X

Watching the English The Hidden Rules of English Behavior Kate Fox 9781857886160 Books Reviews

• A book that is both extremely informative about every aspect of English culture, yet also highly entertaining to read. Written by an English sociologist who can look at her own culture through the eyes of an outsider. I'm giving this book my highest recommendation.
• Honestly, I'm completely shocked just how much I enjoyed this book.
  
  Written in a conversational and witty tone, Kate goes in depth on seemingly every social mannerism of English society, and manages to make it absolutely fascinating. Reading this book, I felt at times a total outsider peeking in with a microscope, and at other times a distant relative visiting a family reunion and realizing just how much we all have in common. Kate can get a bit preachy at times, especially when she's speaking about anyone not out to have fun, but it's easy to forgive her and move on as she provides an endless supply of interesting insights that made me reflect on my own culture as much as the English.
  
  To think I never would have heard of this book if I hadn't of stumbled across it on a random shelf of books in an Airbnb host's living room in London.
• Interesting but tedious. It's a sociological study conducted by an actual anthropologist. I was frustrated by the first couple of chapters which give a detailed account of the methodology of the study. I was much more interested in actually learning about the habits of the English so, after a while, I skimmed ahead to get to that part. Once there, the book continues to be very detailed and exacting (though often humorous and interesting, as well). As a traveler going to the UK on vacation I was more interested in a general overview of the British character than the sort of detailed analysis found here. So, my main complaint is that the book was something different than what I was looking for. But if you want a thorough, detailed examination this book may satisfy. Still, I have to wonder just how valid and up to date all these details are. With such a well-qualified and diligent author it seems foolish to pose such a question. But from my limited experience it doesn't seem that the British are quite so constrained and uniform in behavior as described here.
• Kate Fox provides a great read for those who are trying to understand the English and their culture. From how to start a conversation all the way to what not to say, Fox provides all the rules and examples ensuring there is no confusion on how to interact.
  
  Throughout the book there is a lot of humour added as that is a big component of the English culture. The book itself is broken down into two major sections. The first is conversation codes and how one should go about interacting with the English whether it be at the pub, the race course, in the work situation or even a London cab. The second part is on behaviour which delves into another area of the English culture touching on class codes, rules of play, sex, religion etc.
  
  Fortunately I have lived in the UK twice in my life and a lot of these aspects I have picked up over time. The book is very long and at times goes a little overboard in description. For the person coming to England for the first time, this is a one stop shop book in getting up to speed with the English.
  
  Three key takeaways from the book
  1. The weather is the first go-to conversation topic in most situations. Always agree with the weather call and do not criticise the English weather. Note television shows is the second go-to conversation topic
  2. National average for watching television is 4 hours a day (including online viewing) …. Wow!
  3. There are 50,000 pubs in England, frequented by three quarters of the adult population. One third of those are regulars visiting the pub at least once a week
• I've seen other comments that people think that this and that aren't unique to Britain, but you really have to look at the whole picture to grasp what she's saying. Since she has an entertaining way of writing her observations, that's not a chore.
• A word of caution If you haven't been to or lived among the English for a specific period of time, these books may not appeal to you. But if you have, and found the change of atmosphere and humor and down to earth funniness, these books are a delight.
• Read the first three chapters - good stuff (I am English), but overwhelmingly long!!
  Good value per pound .....
• Love this book! It's amusing and enlightening.