Watching the English cover art

Watching the English

The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour

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Watching the English

By: Kate Fox
Narrated by: Joan Walker
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About this listen

 THE BESTSELLING MODERN CLASSIC. OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD.

'Brilliant and hilarious' GRAYSON PERRY
'A delightful read' SUNDAY TIMES
'Laugh out loud' MARTIN PARR
'Absolutely brilliant' JENNIFER SAUNDERS
'An entertaining, clever book' TELEGRAPH

WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY GRAYSON PERRY

The unofficial guidebook to the English national character by anthropologist Kate Fox.


From the class system to conversation etiquette, Kate Fox picks apart and exposes the bizarre codes of behaviour that the English unconsciously obey.


If you are English, this book will make you re-examine everything you take for granted. And if you aren't English, it will help you navigate the rules of this peculiar culture.


©2004 Kate Fox (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd Anthropology Europe Great Britain England
All stars
Most relevant  
The narrator has the perfect voice, I had to keep reminding myself they weren’t the author. And lots of interesting insights, all expressed in an appropriately meta way.

Thoroughly enjoyed

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As an Englishman in my 40’s living overseas, this was an affirming book to demonstrate why and wherefore of English cultural behaviour. I don’t personally agree with the reviews I’ve read that say it’s boring or un-entertaining. It’s a research based, anthropology. If you want whimsical low brow observations, read ‘Bill Bryson / notes from a small island’.

Insightful and well documented

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The narrator’s voice makes this hilarious book a boring , tedious to listen to. I read this book before and was so impressed with the humour of it. Thought I could get a bit fun by listening to it. So disappointed.

Disappointed

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Some interesting points but the book needs some serious editing: it is highly repetitive and mixes academic observations with subjective opinion. The narration caused me to tune out repeatedly and grated on me at other times.

Some interesting points

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