Watching The English

There's a lot of interesting and amusing stuff about English culture and behaviour in this book, and I mostly enjoyed it, but the way it's written is frequently irritating. For one thing, the author's use of language is very, very repetitive, and she uses some words and phrases that I found quite irritating, such as "Eeyoreishness", "oh, come off it", "social dis-ease" repeatedly throughout.There's also the false pretense that the author is just some idiot with no special knowledge and that she's coming upon this information in the same order the reader is and formulating her conclusions as she goes, and obviously that's not the case; Fox is an accomplished anthropologist and books aren't written like that. She collected the information first and put it together in a specific and intentional order, and pretending that that's not the case seems pointless and dumb.

As a way to really get some sense of Englishness, this is well worth the read. Fox does a fine job of incorporating the trademark English humour throughout the book, and makes a fine go at really covering a wide range of situations. If there is any fault in the book, it is that at times it violates its stated cardinal rule of Englishness: it almost becomes too earnest in spots. Still, if you are travelling, or are an Anglophile, or just curious (or, heavens forbid, are actually English) this is a good read.

Although I have lived in this country for nearly 30 years now, Kate Fox's book was still useful ! I had worked out quite a lot by myself but certainly not all her scientifically obtained characteristics.I appreciate even more my English friends' patience as they had to discover that I am not really rude by being so direct and that my seriousness is to be taken with a pinch of salt.The book is a bit repetitive - but then, there was a book to fill. And as the author demonstrates her Englishness in her writing, the stylish - classy I should say - wit and humour keep it readable. I'll certainly recommend the book to all foreigners living in this country or having to work with British people as it will help mutual understanding and provide a chuckle on a rainy day.

An entertaining and at the same time a serious diagnosis of the English "condition". Makes one think about ones own national and personal charachter. A delightful read.

Best example of Englishness-put-on-paper, in terms of humor and irony. Anthropological classics in terms of studying your own culture. A bit of repetitiveness can be easily excused and overlooked.

The description of the rioters who make a line to pillage a general store, and lift the eyebrow to show disappointment if one of them tries to pass the line, is simply superb.

Not the easiest read because of the lot of information

Great fun for the English, great learning for other cultures. Well written, but a little repetitive. Recommended.

I just saw that I bought this book about three years ago so getting through it has obviously been a bit of a struggle at times. The book could do with a strict editor who removes the repetitive bits and cuts it down to 300 pages at most (from its current 566). The author has made a valiant effort to characterise Englishness but is rather biased by the fact that she is English herself and does not appear to have lived in other countries for any large amounts of time (10 years or more). Therefore, several things that she considers to be typically English would be characterised as typically Dutch by most Dutchmen, or typically Swedish by most Swedes. Furthermore, this edition was published in 2014, prior to the Brexit referendum that split the UK into two very separate tribes. In the past five years we have witnessed many things that would appear to be a trifle at odds with some of the fundamental elements of Englishness as identified by the author - modesty, fair play, humour, courtesy and moderation are not exactly elements of your typical Farage speech or "Tommy Robinson" rally. Time for a second revision.

Bought as an update to the previous edition which taught me so much as I tried to settle in this country from Australia. It is incredible to read so many cultural differences and my husband and I made gaffe after gaffe (without realising it) during our first year living in London 2006). Another Aussie recommended we read this book and ... .... what can I say ... our eyes were opened wide. It was a huge help to us in adjusting (we are elderly retirees). We have lived here for 12 years now and every once in a while we have to pull back and say to ourselves ‘are we being too Australian’. Our neighbours usually help us out with the answer. Recommended as a great read - for the English as well to understand themselves better.

Is it really necessary to write yet another book about all those silly class clichés as perpetuated by Rosamunde Pilcher? After having lived in England for many years (and no doubt putting my foot in at every opportunity), I am now glad to be back in a country where my husband can, without feeling embarrassed, take sugar in his tea, wear a metal watch strap and look stunning in his Armani suit!

Very entertaining, a serious document written with humour......not surprising, as the author identifies humour as one of the determining features of Englishness! It made me realise that Scotland and Wales are two entirely different nations, although they are locate on the same landmass. There is one point I would take issue with, from the section on holidays....the English don't really celebrate New Year, whereas the Scots do.

Excellent second edition (I have both) updated to include how the internet and mobile technology, among other things, have impacted British life.Kate maintains her love/hate relationship with her fellow Albions, freely venting her frustrations with our quirks and oddities with lashing of humour and sharp insights.Recommended for natives and foreigners alike!