How to be a Brit
The hilariously accurate, witty and indispensable manual for everyone longing to attain True Britishness
Published on 5. November 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-241-97500-8 (ISBN)
Description
A complete guide to the British Way of Life. If you're British, you'll love it. If you're not, you'll recognise it.
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Born in Hungary, George Mikes spent more than forty years in the Britain observing behaviours and misbehaviours of local and foreign Brits.
Queuing: "An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one."
How to plan a town: "Street names should be painted clearly and distinctly on large boards. Then hide these boards carefully."
Sex: "Continental people have sex lives: the English have hot water bottles."
With essential chapters such as "How to Avoid Travelling", "In Praise of Television", "On Not Complaining" and "How to Panic Quietly", they'll get to know Britain like never before with this fun and informative gift!
_______
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
'Got me in tears of laughter'
'Hilarious and informative essays about the British way of life'
'So many people have tried to describe the English mentality . . . This book is as near as you can get!'
'Laugh-out-loud hilarious, witty and insightful
_______
Born in Hungary, George Mikes spent more than forty years in the Britain observing behaviours and misbehaviours of local and foreign Brits.
Queuing: "An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one."
How to plan a town: "Street names should be painted clearly and distinctly on large boards. Then hide these boards carefully."
Sex: "Continental people have sex lives: the English have hot water bottles."
With essential chapters such as "How to Avoid Travelling", "In Praise of Television", "On Not Complaining" and "How to Panic Quietly", they'll get to know Britain like never before with this fun and informative gift!
_______
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
'Got me in tears of laughter'
'Hilarious and informative essays about the British way of life'
'So many people have tried to describe the English mentality . . . This book is as near as you can get!'
'Laugh-out-loud hilarious, witty and insightful
Reviews / Votes
In all the miseries which plague mankind, there is hardly anything better than such radiant humour as is given to you. Everyone must laugh with you - even those who are hit with your little arrows. * Albert Einstein to George Mikes * An instant classic -- Francis Wheen on 'How to Be an Alien' Very funny * The Economist * Bill Bryson is George Mikes' love-child -- Jeremy Paxman This is the vital textbook for Brits, would-be Brits, and anyone who wonders what being a Brit really means. Pass me my hot water bottle, please -- Dame Esther Rantzen Wise and witty -- William Cook on 'How to Be an Alien' * Spectator * Brilliantly comical -- Pico Iyer on 'How to Be an Alien' * New York Times * Mikes is a master of the laconic yet slippery put-down: "The trouble with tea is that originally it was quite a good drink" -- Henry Hitchings I love it and read it cover to cover. Also has good tips for talking about the weather, not that we need them -- Rachel Johnson Full of the very best advice that any would-be Brit should need (and for those of us who have forgotten exactly how it is to be ourselves) it's a jolly good read * The Telegraph *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
196 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-97500-8 (9780241975008)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
George Mikes
How to be a Brit
The hilariously accurate, witty and indispensable manual for everyone longing to attain True Britishness
E-Book
04/1986
1st Edition
Penguin Books Ltd
€8.49
Available for download
Person
George Mikes (pronounced 'me-cash'), was born in Hungary 1912. In 1938 he moved to London to become the correspondent for a Hungarian newspaper, and then he never left. A keen observer of the behaviour and misbehaviour of foreigners and natives in Britain, he is frequently cited by later authors including Kate Fox and Jeremy Paxman. He died in London in 1987.