Bog-Standard Britain
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I just loved this book and could not put it down. It gave voice to all the rage I have felt over the last ten years at the awful decline in standards in this country. When we have one ex Prime Minister whose early ambition was to a pop star and another who thinks he can gain popularity by appreciating such tripe as the X factor, just what have we come to? There is such a thing as excellence, there are such things as good standards of behaviour. The truth (sad for some, but understood by those who were lucky enough to live their formative years in a less trivial age) is that the best man can achieve is only ever attained through a combination of genuine talent and an awful lot of hard graft and self-discipline. How can this nation ever survive in a competitive world if these values are not inculcated in our education system and fostered in the offerings of our television programmes? Most people I know prefer "Little Dorrit" and those excellent earlier series such as "War and Peace" and "I Claudius" to "Big Brother" and all of the rest of the reality TV rubbish. What we get now is "bread and circuses" An attempt by a powerful elite to satisfy a public they assume to be utterly stupid! Quentin Letts manages to pinpoint all that is wrong in Britain a way which will both make you laugh and feel glad that your views are shared. Get it and read it!!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Rather disappointing - Letts off form.
Similar to 50 People Who Buggered Up Britain, but without such individual targets, and less accurate. Has the author grown careless or success gone to his head? There is still plenty of clever invective, but too much that seems ordinary or nasty. There are too many metaphors and too many fail (for example good manners being like the bones of a trout, preventing it from turning into squelch, plus other rather forced comparisons.)
Much of the invective could only preach to the converted. A reference to Nevil Shute's novel about an invasion of England discusses the Englishmen's continuing to address each other by their surnames. The codes of politeness the British used (and discarded) are subtle, their purpose was subtle; you cannot just cite them and say we have declined. It's right to complain about being addressed as "mate" though. I sacked an estate agent partly for that, though like Letts, I have to grin and bear it everywhere else I turn.
This book is amusing, but it should either be thought-provoking by making you realise how and why the various awfulnesses described have happened, or else actually explain them (amusingly above all.) Thus I think Letts has deployed his furious skills too easily and carelessly.
"50 People" is far better. It is funnier, and by attaching each of its rages to Britons that embody their cause, it is more revealing and more accurate. That said, there is still a fair bit of really decent stuff in here - a paean to Hyacinth Bucket amongst plenty of others, so please don't let me put you off if you fancy these articulate rants.
Nevertheless if you haven't read "50 People" then I urge you to read that; then you'll need to thirst a bit to need to read "Bog Standard" too.
Similar to 50 People Who Buggered Up Britain, but without such individual targets, and less accurate. Has the author grown careless or success gone to his head? There is still plenty of clever invective, but too much that seems ordinary or nasty. There are too many metaphors and too many fail (for example good manners being like the bones of a trout, preventing it from turning into squelch, plus other rather forced comparisons.)
Much of the invective could only preach to the converted. A reference to Nevil Shute's novel about an invasion of England discusses the Englishmen's continuing to address each other by their surnames. The codes of politeness the British used (and discarded) are subtle, their purpose was subtle; you cannot just cite them and say we have declined. It's right to complain about being addressed as "mate" though. I sacked an estate agent partly for that, though like Letts, I have to grin and bear it everywhere else I turn.
This book is amusing, but it should either be thought-provoking by making you realise how and why the various awfulnesses described have happened, or else actually explain them (amusingly above all.) Thus I think Letts has deployed his furious skills too easily and carelessly.
"50 People" is far better. It is funnier, and by attaching each of its rages to Britons that embody their cause, it is more revealing and more accurate. That said, there is still a fair bit of really decent stuff in here - a paean to Hyacinth Bucket amongst plenty of others, so please don't let me put you off if you fancy these articulate rants.
Nevertheless if you haven't read "50 People" then I urge you to read that; then you'll need to thirst a bit to need to read "Bog Standard" too.
16 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Quentin Letts writes entertainingly with no punches pulled. He is quite specifically nasty about a number of public figures. If you are essentially in agreement that most of the people of Britain seriously need to raise their game, then this book will be a comfort and reaffirmation. If you think that we're all doing fine, then it will be a wake up call. Either way, well worth a read.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bog Standard Britain - a recipe for hopelessness
Following on from "50 People Who Buggered Up Britain", Quentin Letts broadens his theme to reflect upon damaging trends in British society. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Bucentaur
Bog Standrd Britain? Bog Standard Book.
Although this book presents itself as covering all the 'right' areas to highlight the shortcomings of the personalities and issues of Britain, the writing is a hotchpotch of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Constable.
Frighteningly accurate
I read it in one sitting. I may be old and past it but I think Mr. Letts writes a lot of sense about what is debilitating Britain. Revolting? Read more
Published 9 months ago by WM
Dumbed-down Britain
This is an excellent read. Quentin Letts has a very funny
and quirky take on life who says what we are all thinking.
A good way to de-stress at the end of the day.
and quirky take on life who says what we are all thinking.
A good way to de-stress at the end of the day.
Published 22 months ago by Tallulah
Predictable and partisan
Quentin Letts, a Daily Mail vents his predictable spleen at predictable targets, albeit in an eloquent way.
Don't expect any measured reflection or consideration. Read more
Don't expect any measured reflection or consideration. Read more
Published 22 months ago by El Loro
Usual letts - frank and quirky
Some brutally honest observations with which no one I know would disagree!
Chapters make for bite-sized reads. Read more
Chapters make for bite-sized reads. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by G. H
Exit Labour in 2010
All governments need to be thrown out after 10-12 years because they get arrogant, corrupt and out of touch with the electorate. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2009 by S. Ahmad
society modern Britain dumb down New Labour
Quentin Letts has written a furious denunciation of Modern Britain and post 97 dumb down culture.New Labour have wrecked society with a creepy insistence on micro managing Great... Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2009 by L. S. Sinclair
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