It had been on my book shelf since March this year when I had got it as part of the clearance gift from my neighbour who was moving out. I am not an English myself though a resident in UK for the past several years. When I lived in France I had read many books on the French and what makes them that unique species that they are and one especially called Merde (cannot remember the complete title) written by an English (of course:)) was very humourous, entertaining and informative. This book 'Watching the English - The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour' by Kate Fox had been, thus, on my reading priorities from the moment it adorned my book shelf. And when the Christmas ...  Read the complete review

Initially, I was fairly skeptical of this book. As an Anthropology graduate, I was not expecting much from a 'pop-lit' book. But this, in a nutshell, is a well-written book, balancing well between pop-lit and academia. As a proud Welshman, I'm often annoyed about the blurring between the distinction of 'English' and 'British'. Fox sets out however by noting that although much of her research could be applied for all of these islands, it's most applicable to the English nation. That's me pacified, then. But this book is not about Englishness. It's about what makes people English. About the small nuances, the general customs, the social oddities. It's ...  Read the complete review