Very British Problems: The Most Awkward One Yet

by Rob Temple

Have you ever . . .

*Watched in horror as someone helps themselves to the last roast potato?

*Broken out in hives at the suggestion that you 'Introduce yourself...' over Zoom?

*Been extra dramatic while rubbing in the shop's hand sanitiser, so everyone knows how thoroughly decent you are?

. . . then you may be suffering from VERY BRITISH PROBLEMS

Very British Problems are sweeping the nation like never before. They are in our homes, in our Zoom calls, in the queue for the supermarket, in our schools, cafés, parks, rivers, cities, towns, villages, glove boxes, sock drawers . . Basically, they're inescapable. There is no vaccine. There is no cure. So there we have it, we're stuck with the malady of Britishness for the foreseeable. Nightmare, isn't it?

Ah, well. Could be worse.

Not quite sure how, though, off the top of my head. Any thoughts?

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2019

About the author

Rob Temple is a journalist and founder of the @SoVeryBritish Twitter account, which now has more than one million followers, and a consultant on the official Channel 4 Very British Problems series.

Originally from Peterborough, he recently moved from South London to the countryside to provide more storage space for his rapidly expanding collection of inedible hot sauces and to be alone with his thought(s). He’s not that keen on hot drinks but is fine with just water if that’s okay?

Reviews

[blueisthenewpink]

Not too bad at all.

Like binge-reading the fb page. I love his sense of humour and giggled my way through the book, highlighting half of it never to get around to actually quote it. Go, visit the fb page, it's fun. Not in a "well, this is fun" way. I truly enjoyed it.

[Mikhail]

Not too bad, but not not too bad at all.

[Jade Moore]

It was alright. Passed an hour or two on during Boxing Day. The cup of tea I drank while reading it was nice too.

[Valé]

Relatable.

[Mary Lou]

The social media posts from Rob Temple's Very British Problems are a highlight of my day, and I looked forward to picking up one of Temple's books. Sadly, it just wasn't quite the same. I think there are two reasons why Temple's humor works better online than in hardcover.

Temple has a delightfully understated, self-effacing, English humor. So do his followers. Temple makes an observation about something mundane (often about tea and biscuits or bin day) that provides a humorous prompt allowing his followers to come in with some hilarious responses. This book had all the prompts, but no opportunity for readers to interact, raising the humor to the next level.

Second, VBP posts are doled out judiciously - one, maybe two posts a day. It's a delightful little snack (dare I say a biscuit and cup of tea?) to help break up one's day. The book is more like eating an entire package of Oreos for dinner. If you get the book, keep it handy and open it up when you need a quick smile, but resist the urge to ingest it all at once - a challenge, as it's printed in 2 or 3 short observations per page, which makes it hard to put down without reading "just one more."

[Odd Ball]

More excellent, amusing and uncannily accurate observations on the behaviour of British personages. With the added bonus of some fun facts about food and inventions! (Basically if you enjoyed the first three books or the VBP social media accounts, you'll enjoy this.)

[Christine]

Inconsequential - the joke is starting to wear a bit thin now

[Kimberley Perkins]

Always enjoy a good giggle. Passed the time while travelling. Not to everyone's humour, some chapters weren't as fun but definitely worth a read.

[Agata]

One of these few books you read in 1 day. Loved it!

[Shivani]

I found this hilarious and so true. Especially from an outsider looking in its extra funny!

[Anna Košařová]

I'm kind of disappointed. I expected more :(

[Darth Schrader]

This is just as fun as the others. Bit repetitive as it is the 4th book. What I do enjoy is that the chapters can differ in format from time to time. Easy to either binge in an hour or so or read a bit from time to time when you get a few minutes. Just like the others. If you liked them, you’ll like this.

[Jan]

The usual bunch of national generalisations. Mildly entertaining for an hour or so.

[Ana Monteiro]

(I’m reviewing as a whole the 4 titles: Very British Problems: Making Life Awkward for Ourselves, One Rainy Day at a Time; Very British Problems Abroad; Very British Problems Volume III: Still Awkward, Still Raining; Very British Problems: The Most Awkward One Yet)

Hilarious episodes and short stories with an imaginative and curious common theme: how British people behave in multiple situations with their idiosyncrasies, awkwardness and self-consciousness, among a multitude of social conventions and cultural norms.
The result is brilliant, mainly because - British or not - we can identify many of these traits in our own lives. The ones we are unfamiliar with and cannot grasp are equally funny, and we perceive them as part of an identity the author proudly owns.
So entertaining.

[Dorothy: ebookofashes Boyd]

Great book

I enjoy read this book and I have just got the book.😅 I have a good time read this book. The new stuff it great. I hope you enjoy this too.

[A MD]

Not too bad

[Albert]

It was fine.

[Joe Elliott]

An enjoyable, entertaining and humorous book and much to relatable for many Brtish people!

[Helen Carolan]

Got a bit of a giggle out of this one but can't say I bust my pants laughing. A bit underwhelming.