Fans of British Writers discussion

Goodreads discussions often tend to focus on fiction, and most of us are avid fiction readers (I sure am!). But we form our knowledge base and ideas about the world largely from the nonfiction we read (as well, of course, as from oral sources like parents and teachers), so that branch of our reading has been important to all of us, too --and often still is. Of the nonfiction books you've read by British authors, which were the ones that influenced you the most? (You don't have to narrow it to just one; I can't!)

For me, there are three by British authors that I'd have to list. C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity really helped me develop the intellectual fiber of my Christian beliefs. Frank Morrison's Who Moved the Stone? was a great help in solidifying my faith, as a young college student. And E. F. Schumacher's Small Is Beautiful put form and substance to a lot of the inchoate socio-political and economic attitudes that were in my young self, but not clearly articulated yet.

Werner wrote: "Goodreads discussions often tend to focus on fiction, and most of us are avid fiction readers (I sure am!). But we form our knowledge base and ideas about the world largely from the nonfiction we ..."

Werner, now I know why I'm still very inchoate -- I'm way behind in reading non-fiction. I agree that it's a failing that I'm trying to remedy now.

She's Australian , even though permanently resident in Britain now, so I guess she is not eligible. But Germaine Greer's Female Eunuch was utterly groundbreaking stuff for me

Hey, Barbara, if she's permanently resident in Britain, Germaine Greer sure IS eligible! :-)

My influential books are probably not on anyone's list but they inspired me to learn more about the history of World War I and Britain's contribution through her sea power. They are: Dreadnought and Castles of Steel, both written by the historian Robert Massie.
These are only a small sample of my influential books but are ones that have a special place in my library. If you are a military history buff, they are a must-read.

My favorite Brit non fic are in the 'moving abroad' category which i collect. Compared to Americans, an unusually large portion of the British population moves abroad. Most go to France, so that's where most of my moving abroad books are about, although I'm not crazy about France specifically. I don't think I've found a single 'moving abroad' book where someone goes to Germany, aside from old diplomatic memoirs (which are also something I collect).

Secondly of course are general memoirs, such as James Herriot ( of course) as well as The Daily Telegraph's books of collected Obituaries which sounds gloomy but are beyond marvelous.

Anne, my wife and I have read (and love) all of James Herriot's wonderful series of memoirs!

James Herriot is fantastic - he and Gerald Durrell make me laugh out loud!

My daughter became a veterinarian, partly because of his books!!!

James Lovelock "The Ages of Gaia".
Held me spell bound. It tells you how the planet ticks and has ticked for all the time life on Earth has existed. How ever fantastical his "theory" seems, in this day and age it is widely, even universally, accepted as a matter of scientific fact.
I would put it on the shelf right next to Darwin's "The Origin of Species".

I really enjoyed the James Herriot series too. Incidentally, when I heard him interviewed, he seemed just as pleasant and unassuming a person as he seems in the books. Made millions and carried on doing what he loved best - being a vet. Not many of us could emulate that!

George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London, The Road to Wigan Pier, Homage to Catalonia, and his numerous essays depicted his experiences and opinions in a simple and highly effective way. His description of the hard life of waiters in the first book have stayed in my mind.

R.A. wrote: "I really enjoyed the James Herriot series too. Incidentally, when I heard him interviewed, he seemed just as pleasant and unassuming a person as he seems in the books. Made millions and carried on ..."

We would read all the Herriot books as a family and talk about them. When my daughter was 12, we went to England and visited Yorkshire because of our readings. Now my daughter is 40 and she is a veterinarian. I always think about how those books influenced her.

My father really liked the Herriott books too. He was a blacksmith in Germany before we came to Canada and so he got awfully close to horses, but not as close as a vet. I watched every one of thE episodes from the British series.
How lucky you were to go to Yorkshire, Carol.

Yes, we loved the television series as well. Nothing on television now seems to have the warmth, the humor, the good feeling of spirit, except maybe The Midwives. It is depressing to me that young people today only have violence and ugliness to watch for entertainment. Maybe that is an overgeneralization. But it is just a feeling I have.

I rarely watch TV now, except with my five-year old grandson. My husband watches TV in the evenings. There are some shows that are not violent and not too "dumbed down" or loud, and they are mostly British.

Rosemarie wrote: "George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London, ..., and his numerous essays depicted his experiences and opinions in a simple and highly effective way. Hi..."

I even quote the first in my debut novel. My Dad put me onto it - I hope things are better, but I don't see how they can be.

We read all the Herriott books, too. Lovely.

Alicia, there are so many unemployed and underemployed young people nowadays that the future for some is bleak.

Rosemarie wrote: "Alicia, there are so many unemployed and underemployed young people nowadays that the future for some is bleak."

I know - but I also know the ones who get degrees get them often in subjects such as 'drama' or 'film,' knowing full well the tiny proportion of people with those degrees who find work. They're so sure they will be 'the one' - and refuse to have a backup plan.

Film is HARD. Drama is unbelievably hard to make a living in.

Adding value to the work world should be a requirement. If it turns out you are the successful artist, more power to you. But being grumpy because you can't find work after you spend four years making yourself unemployable isn't the way.

Me, I studied physics, got the PhD, worked at good places. Before that, though, and to put myself partly through school, I was a darned good typist. Numbers, even (it got you a quarter more per hour).

The kids that can't get an education OR a job are the ones I feel for - if they aren't also making the bad choices. I told mine: you have to give the employer value - or add value to the world by being an entrepreneur - or why should anyone pay you?

Some places there are no choices; some kids never get a chance; but for the rest, there is also feeling entitled without providing a good employee.

I am fortunate that both my daughters have jobs they enjoy. They both attended university in Toronto, so they lived at home and had part time jobs all the way through. My older daughter works for the Toronto Public Library, which now has 100 branches, doing children's programmes. My younger daughter graduated with a degree in Celtic studies, but did not want to continue working in a book store with only part-time hours, so she went to college and one month after graduation got a job working as an office administrator in a busy hospital. Both of them had realistic expectations and worked hard. Both are in their thirties.

But I totally understand what you mean when you say that some feel entitled to start at the top. Maybe they should all work in the food industry. It may be somewhat better than in Orwell's day but there are still a lot of exploited workers in that business.

My wife and I read and greatly liked all four of the James Herriot books, years ago. I also used to watch, and enjoy, the PBS TV adaptations whenever I could.

Until she retired last year, my wife worked for McDonald's for over 20 years, and our oldest daughter worked there part-time from the age of 16 until she graduated from college. They saw the fast food industry from the inside (commenting on the book How Wal-Mart Is Destroying America (And the World): And What You Can Do about It, Rebekah once remarked that someone could write a similar expose' about McDonald's), and could echo the comments about too many young people --and older ones as well-- without a work ethic. But even the ones with a work ethic worked hard for very little pay or benefits.

Rosemarie wrote: "It may be somewhat better than in Orwell's day but there are still a lot of exploited workers in that business. ..."

The exploitation that makes me angry is the one which forces employees to work fewer hours than will get them benefits - at TWO jobs to have enough money to life. That is just plain wrong. If a person is working 50-60 hours a week, they should have benefits - and not be forced to work the way they wouldn't work if they had a choice.

That is certainly one of the problems facing workers today-- of all ages. It is particularly difficult for workers with families to support.

Rosemarie wrote: "That is certainly one of the problems facing workers today-- of all ages. It is particularly difficult for workers with families to support."

Just wanted to add a 'me too' to your earlier post about Orwell being a formative influence . I have never forgotten some of the things in those books. One , not exactly socially compelling , but stuck with me anyway, is that in Down And Out, he remarks that the posher the restaurant the more the food is touched handled and generally messed about before it get to the table.
Not personally my problem I have to say , our taste in restaurants not being at all Silver Service...

I forgot about Vera Brittain. The Testament of War really showed the futility and loss of World War I. So many of her friends and family died during that war.

Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman which I read in university. It and a French book on the same topic laid the foundation for the modern feminist movement.