Britain According to Kaleb: The Wonderful World of Country Life

by Kaleb Cooper

An entertaining whistle-stop tour of rural British traditions, from the bestselling author of The World According to Kaleb.

Ever wondered what goes down at a Tar Barrel Festival? Don't know your wassailing from your wife carrying?

Well buckle up, because Kaleb Cooper - star of hit TV show Clarkson's Farm and Sunday Times bestselling author - is here to take you on a guided tour of some of the UK's most eccentric rural traditions.

In his smash-hit debut The World According to Kaleb, we learnt how Kaleb feels about everything from existentialism to comb-overs, and why he doesn't want to visit the Mediterranean. In this follow-up, Kaleb casts his focus closer to home to examine what people like to get up to in the great outdoors. You'll go gravy wrestling in Lancashire, nettle eating in Somerset, and venture to Hereford for the significant occasion that is Best Dressed Stick.

Along the way Kaleb will muse upon enduring British traditions like Morris Dancing and country fairs with his trademark warmth and deadpan wit. For fans of Kaleb's unique perspective and amusing hot takes, this will be a must-read.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Autobiography, Audiobook

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2023

Reviews

[Kerrie 💫 Rundle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hilarious non fiction book from the Clarkson Farm star Kaleb Cooper. I read the first book from him last year when he wrote about the world but this book brings us back to Britain and the wonderful world of country life.

This book takes us through different areas of Britain and the obscure cultures and customs of each territory in Kaleb’s hilarious straight talking way.

A light hearted look at Britain, which was funny, entertaining and educational. A quick read that I would recommend to anyone, and you never know you might learn something!

[Mark Salmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting to read all the customs taking place in such a small country and a I’ll to flick over whilst having breakfast .

[Joycej Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, enjoyed it initially but needed stories about the traditions rather than short description with a lot of unnecessary unrelated pictures.
Kaleb needs to participate to give best insight with I am sure would be a hilarious twist.

[Ross Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book. Also not what I expected. I thought it would be more autobiographical in style whereas actually it’s Kalebs opinions on various traditions within Britains counties.

[Sybiee Colvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly funny and lovely and short!

[Mat · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I do wish the dates of these events had been printed so that the book could be used as a sort of guide book. Perhaps sort by date rather than region.

[eileenhardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Country Traditions.

This is a good read, written in typical Kaleb style. Straightforward. Says it as he sees it. In it he describes some of the fun practices country people take part in to celebrate their lifestyle. Some are bizzare, many very traditional. Many especially those in the Midlands and the North of the UK were familiar.
I enjoyed this book. It's an easy read . It made me laugh.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up when we stayed in Chipping Norton because I’m a sucker for a signed book and had found Kaleb enchanting on Clarkson’s farm.
The book itself was filled with lots of fun festivals, competitions etc from all over England. Written in the same manner as Kaleb talks it was very entertaining.
It would have been good if more detail was given for some of them. Lots of pictures so could be classified as a picture book. 😂

[Shannon Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was much easier to read than the first one, the pages were all light colours that didn't hide the text.

I enjoyed seeing the traditions and ongoings that Kaleb decided to share alongside his commentary.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hilarious book from Kaleb Cooper. This book covers a mixture of bizarre and also iconic British traditions, such as pancake racing and world stinging nettle eating championships. It's very much a Kaleb Cooper view on the UK, and you can hear his voice throughout the book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better!

Made me homesick for England and all the weird stuff we do over there! I love the sense of humor throughout the book and some of it’s just laugh out loud funny. Even better than The World According to Kaleb in my opinion.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pick up, put down book. It is interesting to read of the old ways, customs, and traditions of places around Britain

[Christie Racher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book. Wasn’t what I was expecting. It cracks me up he says it’s a family book but swears quite a bit. Nice bit of learning.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read but I feel he could have gone into more depth about the traditions. And I also feel he didn't do much research into the North east. But overall it was entertaining.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kaleb!! Absolutely hilarious!

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun, signature Kaleb 😊

[nina turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got it as a gift, glad I never spent any money on it, mildly interesting but not funny

[Stephen Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun read. As enjoyable as the first book.

[Natalie Waterworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic overview of the different traditions around the country, summed up in hilarious words by Kaleb.

[Zoe Thurman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Britain According to Kaleb: The Wonderful World of Country Life 🐑🚜🧑🏼‍🌾

Kaleb Cooper returns with another gem in Britain According to Kaleb: The Wonderful World of Country Life, a delightfully funny and affectionate tour through some of Britain’s quirkiest rural traditions. If The World According to Kaleb gave us a glimpse into his brilliantly blunt worldview, this new book takes it a step further, celebrating the weird and wonderful side of life outside the cities — all served with Kaleb’s signature dry humour and genuine charm.

Throughout the book, Kaleb acts as a down-to-earth, hilariously opinionated tour guide. From the chaotic thrills of gravy wrestling in Lancashire to the head-scratching traditions of nettle eating in Somerset and wife-carrying competitions, he dives headfirst into the eccentricities that make British rural life so colourful. Every tradition is met with his trademark mix of disbelief, admiration, and no-nonsense commentary that will have readers laughing out loud.

One of the highlights of Britain According to Kaleb is how effortlessly Kaleb blends humour with heart. His affection for country life — strange customs and all — shines brightly through every chapter. Whether he’s discussing the deeply odd Best Dressed Stick competition in Hereford or the timeless oddity of Morris Dancing, his pride in Britain’s rural culture is unmistakable and incredibly infectious.

Kaleb’s writing style is chatty, easygoing, and authentic — it feels like you’re sitting across from him at a pub while he tells you about all the mad things people get up to when tractors aren’t involved. His deadpan wit, combined with a surprising level of insight into why these traditions endure, elevates the book beyond simple comedy; it’s a real love letter to the countryside and its wonderfully stubborn spirit.

Fans of Clarkson’s Farm and Kaleb’s first book will find even more to enjoy here, but even newcomers will quickly warm to his honest voice and unapologetically rural perspective. Whether you’re a city dweller curious about life beyond the suburbs or a country soul who’s lived these traditions firsthand, Britain According to Kaleb offers both laughter and a genuine appreciation for Britain’s enduring oddities.