Britain Etc.

by Mark Easton

Mark Easton's Britain Etc.looks at the UK through its relationship to 26 subjects - one for each letter of the alphabet. From Alcohol, Beat Bobbies, Cheese and Dogs through Immigration, Justice, Knives and Murder to the Queen, Umbrellas, Vegetables and the Zzzz of a well-deserved rest, the book's meticulously researched but accessible essays map the back-story of contemporary Britain. With each lettered chapter, the reader is invited to look at the United Kingdom in a new standing back to see our small islands in a global or historical context, and then diving down to scrutinise vital details that may be overlooked. Taken together, the essays reveal a Britain that cannot be seen through the prism of daily news or current affairs. A park, a wedding, a beggar and a carrot all take on new significance once you have read Britain Etc.As the UK welcomes millions of visitors to its shores for the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, this is a book that offers insight into the psyche of Britain; a nation's obsessions, prejudices, values and idiosyncrasies. What sort of place is it, what are the natives like, and how did we get to where we are?

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Travel, British Literature, Sociology, Politics

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The author is a veteran BBC journalist and this is really a collection of essays from A-Z designed to illuminate the British character. Like a lot of journalism you feel facts and studies are selected to support the hypothesis, and some bits are better than others but some chapters such as "Family" challenge current dogma in an entertaining "Freakonomics" style way.

[David Battersby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shockingly well written, well sourced and interesting book. It is a brilliant account and analysis of the various neuroses of the British public, broken up into 24 short, easy to read chapters. A must-read for anyone living in or studying the UK.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting as I'd hoped, partly from the author injecting his politics often. Really 2.5 stars.

[Steve Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light-hearted look back at changing social history. Informative without getting dull!

[Jane Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays on British attitudes. Easton brings some interesting facts to bear on such topics as poverty and youth, looking at how history shapes current attitudes.

[Paul Whitla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Articulate and considered collection of essays all designed to throw light on the current state of British society and how we arrived there. Good variation of topics although some may find that the book has a heavier emphasis on politics than is suggests by the cover. The most interesting parts for me was the authors ability to look at many aspects of society that we now take for granted, looking back at these from a historical perspective to show that things weren’t always necessarily this way. Perhaps a bit much to read from cover to cover in one sitting, but something to spread out over a longer period to allow the thoughts expressed in each essay to sink in. Extremely well written.

[Laura Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It's a light and entertaining insight into the quirks of the British population. Excellent for anyone with an interest in human behaviour and society. It's the kind of book that reveals things you didn't realise you knew about yourself / your country until it was pointed out to you.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a perplexing book for me because there is so much of "INSIDE" English thinking that I could not grasp. I think the information would resonate more with an English person

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly below Average. Got a little political heavy in some of the chapters. A - Z got a little tiresome and I would of chosen different subjects for some of the topics, D for Democracy instead or Dogs and maybe T for Transport rather than Toilets.

2 stars.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Great Britain, its strong sense of tradition, a glorious history, and the cool rainy climate. My two trips to England and Wales in 2011, complete with visits to medieval castles, picturesque villages, expansive museums, scenic countryside, and yes the pubs, were among the highlights of my life. So too, I wanted to love this book, or at least not be irritated by it.

This curious examination of Britain, divided into 26 independent subjects, is often more disappointing than fun. With innovative selectivity, each chapter is an alphabetic letter, beginning with “A is for alcohol.” Often the author dives deep into amusing British cultural habits or widely recognized traditions to explain root causes and modern consequences. When he does, as is the case with ‘S’illy hats, ‘R’egions, and ‘Q’ueen, the book soars and the reader is both informed and charmed.

Unfortunately, the writing often devolves into rolling rants about what’s wrong with Britain, including ‘I’mmigration, ‘P’overty, and ‘Y’outh, as seen through the eyes of a left-leaning BBC journalist who just can’t seem to help himself. I appreciate the attempt, but it’s just too political and doesn’t feel balanced between contrasting mainstream perspectives. Consider the treatment of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill, who despite numerous criticisms throughout the read, their only noted positive achievement was to employ the routine of mid-day napping.

[Einar Snorri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Britain etc. | Mark Easton | 291 bls | Höfundur, sem er margreyndur fréttamaður hjá BBC fer yfir stafrófið með áherslu á breska þjóðfélagsrýni. Hann gerir þetta ágætlega, fer þó hægt af stað -líklega fyrsta bók höfundar-, húmor vantar og skrifin eru stíf. Þegar á líður bókina liprast penninn og skrifin batna verulega. Rýnin er upplýsandi og góð. Byggt er á traustum heimildum og starfsaðferðir fagmannsins úr fréttunum skín í gegn. **** stjörnur fyrir áhugaverða samfélagsrýni.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easton takes each letter of the alphabet as a chapter and gives the lowdown on the corresponding subject matter. Some of the information was more interesting than others but overall it was an easily accessible and well written book.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's an intelligent look at some of the issues facing modern day Britain, as well as looking into why they have become issues. Well written, witty, and thought provoking. I'd definitely recommend this - if anyone wants to borrow it just let me know!

[Michael Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. But filtered through too much of a politic slant.