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The English - A Field Guide
Who are the English?
Where do they live? What do they eat? Why do they eat that? And how have they survived with such strange mating rituals? Join Matt Rudd on a journey deep into the natural habitat of this remarkable species -a journey to rival anything David Attenborough ever did with gorillas.
Matt's fearless anthropological approach leaves no stereotype unchallenged in his attempt to capture the real English. Are we really a nation of binge-drinking, horse-meat-eating, grumbling slobs or is something more beautiful to be found lurking behind the cypress leylandii?
Where do they live? What do they eat? Why do they eat that? And how have they survived with such strange mating rituals? Join Matt Rudd on a journey deep into the natural habitat of this remarkable species -a journey to rival anything David Attenborough ever did with gorillas.
Matt's fearless anthropological approach leaves no stereotype unchallenged in his attempt to capture the real English. Are we really a nation of binge-drinking, horse-meat-eating, grumbling slobs or is something more beautiful to be found lurking behind the cypress leylandii?
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
9 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 20, 2013
Back in 2012 I was approached by a Sunday Times Magazine journalist to be involved in an article on Extreme Commuting. Matt (Rudd) wanted to experience part of my 9 hour daily roundtrip commute. Some of you may remember the article, Matt wimped out after a few hours, leaving me to continue on my own... cheers Matt. Noted.
At the time, Matt had mentioned that he was part way through writing his new novel, which would be examining the English way of life. Now, I have to admit, this type of book usually does nothing for me, and what little precious reading time I have is spent reading science fiction. However, when I saw that Matt's book, The English: A Field Guide, had been published by Harper Collins (and that there was a chapter on commuting!), I made my one-click purchase.
It arrived in time for my annual week long vacation, the one time of the year when I get to read without interruption from work. Broken down into 11 chapters, Matt takes a humorous journey as he examines the often ignored parts of English (and British) life, taking us with him as he looks at the anthropology of sofa etiquette, the outside room, the commuter train (!), the pub and dogging...
At 310 pages long, I settled down to start, ignoring the immediate temptation to jump straight to chapter 4 'The Commuter Train' (page 107 to be exact if you're really interested). By the end of the Introduction, I was hooked. With some real laugh out loud moments (which in typical Britishness I rarely do when reading), genius footnotes, the author has put together a fantastically funny piece of work. There are a lot of home truths that you automatically relate to, and Matt's self deprecating wit gives it an honesty that feels fresh. This humour is not staged or contrived, this is the author.
"It is the most romantic story I've ever heard from a man called Phil"
'My' chapter, was of course sublime, and the above line certainly put me in the good books with Mrs.O!
Particular favourites were Matt's first time playing 5-a-side football, experiences with English customer service and faulty goods, the love affair we have with kitchen gadgets, and the recounting of ridiculously arduous time spent in a Blackpool hotel from hell, where Matt
"was awoken by the sound of a child telling another child to fuck off, and a man telling that fucking child to stop fucking shouting and the fucking child telling him to fuck off, and then all of them fucking laughing"
Despite my connection with the book, I can honestly say that I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. It hit a number of recognition chords and I really did find myself smiling throughout. It's an easy read, I finished it in a couple of sittings, and as I write this post, remembering the stories, I think I'll start reading it again. A rarity.
Highly recommended, Matt Rudd's The English: A Field Guide, published by Harper Collins, is available from Amazon, and at time of posting, it's currently priced at a very reasonable £8.27 for the paperback (£5.99 Kindle edition)
At the time, Matt had mentioned that he was part way through writing his new novel, which would be examining the English way of life. Now, I have to admit, this type of book usually does nothing for me, and what little precious reading time I have is spent reading science fiction. However, when I saw that Matt's book, The English: A Field Guide, had been published by Harper Collins (and that there was a chapter on commuting!), I made my one-click purchase.
It arrived in time for my annual week long vacation, the one time of the year when I get to read without interruption from work. Broken down into 11 chapters, Matt takes a humorous journey as he examines the often ignored parts of English (and British) life, taking us with him as he looks at the anthropology of sofa etiquette, the outside room, the commuter train (!), the pub and dogging...
At 310 pages long, I settled down to start, ignoring the immediate temptation to jump straight to chapter 4 'The Commuter Train' (page 107 to be exact if you're really interested). By the end of the Introduction, I was hooked. With some real laugh out loud moments (which in typical Britishness I rarely do when reading), genius footnotes, the author has put together a fantastically funny piece of work. There are a lot of home truths that you automatically relate to, and Matt's self deprecating wit gives it an honesty that feels fresh. This humour is not staged or contrived, this is the author.
"It is the most romantic story I've ever heard from a man called Phil"
'My' chapter, was of course sublime, and the above line certainly put me in the good books with Mrs.O!
Particular favourites were Matt's first time playing 5-a-side football, experiences with English customer service and faulty goods, the love affair we have with kitchen gadgets, and the recounting of ridiculously arduous time spent in a Blackpool hotel from hell, where Matt
"was awoken by the sound of a child telling another child to fuck off, and a man telling that fucking child to stop fucking shouting and the fucking child telling him to fuck off, and then all of them fucking laughing"
Despite my connection with the book, I can honestly say that I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. It hit a number of recognition chords and I really did find myself smiling throughout. It's an easy read, I finished it in a couple of sittings, and as I write this post, remembering the stories, I think I'll start reading it again. A rarity.
Highly recommended, Matt Rudd's The English: A Field Guide, published by Harper Collins, is available from Amazon, and at time of posting, it's currently priced at a very reasonable £8.27 for the paperback (£5.99 Kindle edition)
February 19, 2022
Oh it was all right, (summed up in my head by David Mitchell - the comedian not the other one).
But not much more than that, and I was desperate for it to end so maybe a 2 is too generous. But I reserve 1 for terrible books that are truly badly written and it isn't that. It's just rather dull, with a glib sarcasm that grows wearing as the book progresses. I confess I skipped much of the last couple of chapters.
But not much more than that, and I was desperate for it to end so maybe a 2 is too generous. But I reserve 1 for terrible books that are truly badly written and it isn't that. It's just rather dull, with a glib sarcasm that grows wearing as the book progresses. I confess I skipped much of the last couple of chapters.
October 5, 2017
Świetnie bawiłam się podczas tej lektury. Rudd pisze w sposób lekki, przyjemny i zabawny, nie sili się na wymuszone żarciki, a jednak bawi do łez. Jest tak angielski jak jego rozmówcy, czego prawdopodobnie ma świadomość i czym z premedytacją się bawi. Jednym słowem, dla wszystkich miłośników tego, co związane z Wyspami, Anglicy. Przewodnik podglądacza będzie wyśmienitą pozycją i uzupełnieniem biblioteczki. Serdecznie polecam!
Cała opinia:
http://www.kacikzksiazka.pl/2017/10/a...
Cała opinia:
http://www.kacikzksiazka.pl/2017/10/a...
July 30, 2014
The English... They're a strange bunch as nationalities go, and Rudd has made it his mission to uncover the psyche of this island just off Europe.
His 8,000 mile journey takes him from the sofa to the kitchen, the commute to the office via the pub, round the shops and has a brief sojourn to the sporting arena. Having considered the delights of exercise, he has a brief trip down the motorway for a day at the beach and then home and to bed.
In all of these he looks that the way that we are, and the things that we do, with razor sharp accuracy, wit and a good dollop of humour. He spends a slightly cringeworthy saturday night with a family, discovers more dating takes place by the photocopier than in the usual haunts, finds out that we are working longer hours now than 30 years ago, and that people having now filled their lounges with 50 inch plasmas, are prepared to pay a fortune to revitalise their gardens, before opening the bedroom door, slips between the sheets and learns that we are not as prudish as we like others to think we are.
There are some genuine laugh out loud parts in this book, and it is full of those moments when you realise he is talking about you...
His 8,000 mile journey takes him from the sofa to the kitchen, the commute to the office via the pub, round the shops and has a brief sojourn to the sporting arena. Having considered the delights of exercise, he has a brief trip down the motorway for a day at the beach and then home and to bed.
In all of these he looks that the way that we are, and the things that we do, with razor sharp accuracy, wit and a good dollop of humour. He spends a slightly cringeworthy saturday night with a family, discovers more dating takes place by the photocopier than in the usual haunts, finds out that we are working longer hours now than 30 years ago, and that people having now filled their lounges with 50 inch plasmas, are prepared to pay a fortune to revitalise their gardens, before opening the bedroom door, slips between the sheets and learns that we are not as prudish as we like others to think we are.
There are some genuine laugh out loud parts in this book, and it is full of those moments when you realise he is talking about you...
June 8, 2014
moderately enjoyable. no dazzling insights. no laugh out loud moments.
August 4, 2021
I was a little disappointed in this book perhaps unfairly comparing it to Bill Bryson's 'Notes from a Small Island', as both books attempt to explain what is 'English' or 'British', and like Bryson's, it appears already somewhat dated with some of its examples, despite its copyright date of 2013. Some of Rudd's observations are amusing and quite perceptive, but I found much of his tone to be a bit sardonic and perhaps in places a bit presumptuous, as he appears to only be talking and considering English life from one particular point of view. This was a quick read and mildly entertaining, the best part about the book was his choice of chapter headings which is how he organised his thoughts on what being english is supposed to be.
January 15, 2024
Razem z autorem przyjrzymy się rzekomo typowym angielskim zachowaniom i upodobaniom.
Posiedzimy na kanapie, która jest obowiązkowym meblem w każdym domu. Zajrzymy do kuchni i dowiemy się, że Anglicy używają w niej głównie mikrofalówki do odgrzewania gotowych dań z supermarketu. Za to w ogrodach wykazują się wyjątkową gorliwością i ambicją. Ogród jest dziedziną, w której dobrze jest wypadać lepiej, niż reszta sąsiadów. W kolejnym rozdziale udamy się w podróż do pracy pociągiem podmiejskim. O zgrozo! wczesnym rankiem. Popracujemy w najlepszych firmach, gdzie pracownicy czują się, jak w rodzinie. Ha! Istnieją takie? Ciekawostką jest, że boom na porodówkach następuje dokładnie w 9 miesięcy po Christmas Party. Autor przedstawia na to pewną teorię... Po pracy dobrze jest się zdrowo narąbać. A najlepiej to zrobić w nocnym klubie. Swoją drogą istnieje co najmniej 119 angielskich określeń na pijaństwo, wśród których najciekawsze to chorować na nogi, słuchać płyt chodnikowych, czy tropić węża. Dlaczego w pobliżu nocnych lokali uwijają się tzw. party paramedics? Nikt z nas nie chciałby się przekonać na własnej skórze. Jeśli nie chcemy iść do klubu, możemy skorzystać z salonów Bingo albo wypić piwo w pubie. Zakupy, to następny temat. Supermarkety i małe wiejskie sklepiki, a w końcu carbooty. Co Anglicy kupują, gdzie i jakie są rytuały... Tężyzna fizyczna? Też będzie się z czego pośmiać. Narodowe sporty, codzienna aktywność, np. w siłowniach. Czy wiecie, ile trzeba odstać w kolejce, żeby dostać bilet na Wimbledon? I że stanie w takiej kolejce ma pewne tradycje i zasady? Wsiądziemy też do samochodu z typowym Anglikiem i dowiemy się, jak zachowuje się np. w korkach. Pojedziemy na letni wypoczynek do angielskich uzdrowisk i skonfrontujemy standardy ośrodków dla klasy bogatej, średniej i dla plebsu. A na koniec zajrzymy pod angielskie kołdry, żeby poznać zachowania seksualne Wyspiarzy. Okaże się, że niekoniecznie robi się to w domu pod kołdrą z własnym współmałżonkiem. Można z cudzym i na oczach innych, czyli dowiemy się, czym jest dogging. A w domu najbardziej ekscytującym wydarzeniem sypialnianym może okazać się... zakup nowej kołdry.
Do typowo angielskich przypadłości, dodałabym obdarowywanie innych kartkami przy najróżniejszych okazjach.
Posiedzimy na kanapie, która jest obowiązkowym meblem w każdym domu. Zajrzymy do kuchni i dowiemy się, że Anglicy używają w niej głównie mikrofalówki do odgrzewania gotowych dań z supermarketu. Za to w ogrodach wykazują się wyjątkową gorliwością i ambicją. Ogród jest dziedziną, w której dobrze jest wypadać lepiej, niż reszta sąsiadów. W kolejnym rozdziale udamy się w podróż do pracy pociągiem podmiejskim. O zgrozo! wczesnym rankiem. Popracujemy w najlepszych firmach, gdzie pracownicy czują się, jak w rodzinie. Ha! Istnieją takie? Ciekawostką jest, że boom na porodówkach następuje dokładnie w 9 miesięcy po Christmas Party. Autor przedstawia na to pewną teorię... Po pracy dobrze jest się zdrowo narąbać. A najlepiej to zrobić w nocnym klubie. Swoją drogą istnieje co najmniej 119 angielskich określeń na pijaństwo, wśród których najciekawsze to chorować na nogi, słuchać płyt chodnikowych, czy tropić węża. Dlaczego w pobliżu nocnych lokali uwijają się tzw. party paramedics? Nikt z nas nie chciałby się przekonać na własnej skórze. Jeśli nie chcemy iść do klubu, możemy skorzystać z salonów Bingo albo wypić piwo w pubie. Zakupy, to następny temat. Supermarkety i małe wiejskie sklepiki, a w końcu carbooty. Co Anglicy kupują, gdzie i jakie są rytuały... Tężyzna fizyczna? Też będzie się z czego pośmiać. Narodowe sporty, codzienna aktywność, np. w siłowniach. Czy wiecie, ile trzeba odstać w kolejce, żeby dostać bilet na Wimbledon? I że stanie w takiej kolejce ma pewne tradycje i zasady? Wsiądziemy też do samochodu z typowym Anglikiem i dowiemy się, jak zachowuje się np. w korkach. Pojedziemy na letni wypoczynek do angielskich uzdrowisk i skonfrontujemy standardy ośrodków dla klasy bogatej, średniej i dla plebsu. A na koniec zajrzymy pod angielskie kołdry, żeby poznać zachowania seksualne Wyspiarzy. Okaże się, że niekoniecznie robi się to w domu pod kołdrą z własnym współmałżonkiem. Można z cudzym i na oczach innych, czyli dowiemy się, czym jest dogging. A w domu najbardziej ekscytującym wydarzeniem sypialnianym może okazać się... zakup nowej kołdry.
Do typowo angielskich przypadłości, dodałabym obdarowywanie innych kartkami przy najróżniejszych okazjach.
December 30, 2021
A random charity shop purchase that provided some entertaining light reading at the end of the year. Matt Rudd looks at the idiosyncrasies of British life, from our experiences of motorway services to our attitudes towards kitchens. There's a lot to smile at, especially if you recognise yourself in his writing. It wasn't always clear what kind of book Matt was aiming for, as he moves quickly between different scenes, but it was an enjoyable read.
August 24, 2019
Tak sobie podobała mi się ta książka. Uwielbiam czytać o innych krajach i z serii Mundus mam jeszcze wiele książek na liście "Do przeczytania", ale tutaj miałam wrażenie, że autor szczególnie skupił się na różnych skrajnych przypadkach bardziej niż na życiu takiego przeciętnego Anglika. W efekcie mamy tu zbiór owszem ciekawych opowieści, ale nie można nimi mierzyć każdego mieszkańca Wysp.
November 18, 2020
An amusing book, for those who are British, or have lived here a long time, more than for foreigners, though it offers little insight into how we tick. For that, you need ‘Watching the English’ by Kate Fox.
May 17, 2019
A highly entertaining and at times sardonic look at Englishness and what it means to be English
October 16, 2020
Not laugh out loud funny as some books of this ilk,more of a wry smile.
November 29, 2017
"Anglicy. Przewodnik podglądacza" to ciekawa lektura, która pokaże, że wcale nie różnimy się pod wieloma względami od Brytyjczyków. Napisana lekkim i przyjemnym językiem publikacja nie tylko poprawi humor czytelnikom, ale też pomoże nieco lepiej poznać tę wyspiarską nację i jej dziwactwa.
Całość na: http://wiedzma-czyta.blogspot.com/201...
Całość na: http://wiedzma-czyta.blogspot.com/201...
August 14, 2016
Other books have done it better. With the aftermath of the "Brexit" vote still revealing itself, I thought it was time to read something about the British. I've had this book for awhile now and thought it seemed like a good time to read it.
The author looks at various aspects of British (really, the English in this case). He discuses everything from the commute, sports games, the kitchen, the office, etc. The quirks, the etiquette, the idiosyncrasies, etc.
I think this book is very much for the English/British/people who have spent a significant time in England, etc. I really liked 'Watching the English' by Kate Fox and thought this would be similarly funny and good read but I found it quite boring. There were occasional points where I smiled or found something amusing, but I think not being British and not living this probably hindered me. I also saw a review that said if you like Bill Bryson you'd love this. *whisper* I've read several of Bryson's books but didn't like any of them.
I also thought Sarah Lyall's 'The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British' was also quite good, as she is a US-born journalist who spent nearly 20 years in the UK. That was more approachable and readable for me your mileage will vary.
Bought this as a bargain book, wish I had borrowed it from the library. Oh well.
The author looks at various aspects of British (really, the English in this case). He discuses everything from the commute, sports games, the kitchen, the office, etc. The quirks, the etiquette, the idiosyncrasies, etc.
I think this book is very much for the English/British/people who have spent a significant time in England, etc. I really liked 'Watching the English' by Kate Fox and thought this would be similarly funny and good read but I found it quite boring. There were occasional points where I smiled or found something amusing, but I think not being British and not living this probably hindered me. I also saw a review that said if you like Bill Bryson you'd love this. *whisper* I've read several of Bryson's books but didn't like any of them.
I also thought Sarah Lyall's 'The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British' was also quite good, as she is a US-born journalist who spent nearly 20 years in the UK. That was more approachable and readable for me your mileage will vary.
Bought this as a bargain book, wish I had borrowed it from the library. Oh well.
December 23, 2015
English folks writing about English folks why they are so English, that would be almost sub-genre, or at least niche, wouldn't it? Well may be not exactly, but there are some books of this sort and this one is quite a fun to read. In my very humble opinion it my be not such a cracking (and well informed and written) fun like Watching the English by Kate Fox, but still good enough read. We start at sofa pondering if English are really such a lazy bunch as they think they are, a while later we turn up on absurdly early morning train station platform asking people how they like their daily commute - surprisingly author lived to tell the story...which was about people happily buying their morning coffee and having mostly a top of the morning really. There are among other thing chapter on motorways, beaches, and um errr well bedroom, yep it all end in English bedroom, not to mention an late night car park. Rudd being an journalist goes about his investigation on life and customs of English in journalistic way: goes there, talk to people, ask question. What they say to him you will find in this really readable book.
February 15, 2017
This book will stick in my mind every time I walk across the glass bridge at Newport Pagnell services, or see the Travelodge there. I'll also never be able to pass Thetford woods without thinking about what goes on there at night.
I'll also be looking out for the 'Aroma' every time I visit Blackpool and the 'live every day like your hairs on fire' poster in Croyde.
Many excellent observations in this book and they all ring true. If you like the writings of Bill Bryson, you'll also enjoy this entertaining read. Now I must go and check the quality of my duvet, as I made need to strike up a conversation with the sales person in John Lewis.
I'll also be looking out for the 'Aroma' every time I visit Blackpool and the 'live every day like your hairs on fire' poster in Croyde.
Many excellent observations in this book and they all ring true. If you like the writings of Bill Bryson, you'll also enjoy this entertaining read. Now I must go and check the quality of my duvet, as I made need to strike up a conversation with the sales person in John Lewis.
May 17, 2013
A very observant, witty, self deprecating view of Englishness. We might be very difficult to define and are certainly a very eccentric bunch , even slightly mad. But as this superb look at what it is that defines the English in the 21st Century concludes, we are not at all a bad bunch once you dig around a bit. We are still a bit reserved, a bit stiff upper lipped, a bit well er conservative but overall we could be a lot worse. Infact we are not a bad bunch at all. A great read and guaranteed to make even the most reserved Englishman smile at himself !
May 26, 2014
Un retrato humorístico de los ingleses en sus diferentes facetas: el sofá, la cocina, el jardín, el transporte público, la oficina, el tiempo libre, las tiendas, el deporte, la autopista, la playa y el dormitorio. Hay que tomarlo en dosis moderadas.
October 3, 2014
Witty look at the idiosyncrasies of the English, this was a quick and entertaining read. The author styles this as a nature guide, and goes to observe English people in their various 'habitats' to try and understand what truly makes a person English.
May 22, 2013
4.5/5 due to occasionally not being able to translate British English. Americans could stand a glossary. But I bought my copy in the UK so I stumbled happily through. Sarcastic and fun.
June 6, 2013
humourous and funny look at the life of the English where the author travels around England to discover what makes us ranging the sofa to other parts of our lifes
June 30, 2013
Witty,amusing and observant.
November 1, 2013
This book probably suffered by read immediately after Bill Bryson's At Home: A short history of private life. It covered some similar ground but Bryson's book was better.
October 8, 2014
This is a good laugh, and some strange facts contained within.
April 12, 2017
(3.5 Stars!)
This is an enjoyable book and Rudd is good company and it should have you nodding your head in recognition and even raising the occasional laugh as he takes us through his version of England and the English. He falls short in some places, almost seeming to just stop short of really getting to the heart of his subject and really giving us that extra push that would make this book better.
If you enjoyed this and are looking for something on the same subject, might I recommend A.A Gill's hilarious "The Angry Island" and the mighty, "Musn't Grumble" by Joe Bennett which cover the same territory but with more depth, humour and flair.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews