- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (21 Jan 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1847370667
- ISBN-13: 978-1847370662
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 191,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Lessons from the Land of Pork Scratchings
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Greg Gutfeld was a high-achieving, slim but anxious New Yorker in therapy when he was posted to the UK to take up the position of editor of Maxim magazine. Once settled in London he had something of a cultural epiphany. Service and transport were poor and slow, food was soggy and came in tiny portions and the beer was warm. The British, he decided, viewed the world through a prism of dreariness but, despite this, they seemed to be more cheerful than his fellow countrymen, who expected to be happy on demand. After two years in the UK, Gutfeld was12 kilos heavier but a lot more content. The key to his new-found contentment lay in adopting the British attitude to life: he too had learned that having diminished expectations reaps its own rewards. His hilarious observations on British culture, rituals and peculiarities at all levels of society are an illuminating insight into the land of pubs and curry, where everyone is called 'mate' and people with pimples, wrinkles and greasy hair can get on primetime TV.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although his American TV show seems to have a large--if morbidly humoured--fan base, I have read, I only knew of Greg Gutfeld from Maxim. He was entertaining in his TV appearances, but I otherwise thought of him as a blustery Yank who amused himself by being clever and shocking but had few other tricks to offer. Reading this book changed that appraisal. It's deadly funny and reads fast. It will make you laugh aloud at things you've seen your entire life but never properly processed--or at minimum never processed in the mentally disturbed yet spot-on manner Gutfeld did during his time here. Highly recommended.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I only finished the book last night, in part because I could not read it without laughing so hard I was in pain. I was literally crying with laughter, also screaming and writhing. I had to stop reading the book in public, because I looked like a freak. People on the bus were staring. I am serious. And I swear on a stack of Maxims I am not a friend of the author nor a Marketing shill nor on drugs. I am an American, married to a Brit. I have been lucky enough to visit England many times, starting when I was five-years-old. Gutfeld's writing style is genius. He's got the details down and he uses an economy of words. His rolling chapter transitions are seamless and awesome. I think anyone would enjoy this, but it's got to be best for any Americans who have been to England. Because how can a Brit fully appreciate how wonderfully bizarre they are to us?
I think if you've seen Gutfeld on TV, you haven't seen his true talent -- on the page, he has a laser-like wit. I am a slavish fan to his writing and hope he produces another book shortly.
I think if you've seen Gutfeld on TV, you haven't seen his true talent -- on the page, he has a laser-like wit. I am a slavish fan to his writing and hope he produces another book shortly.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is gold. Not only is it funny from start to finish - written at such a hurtling, twisty toboggan-ride pace that the belly-laughs-to-words ratio is something approaching 1:1 - but it's a special kind of funny. The rarest kind, in fact: heartfelt, warm, celebratory funny. This guy unreservedly loves British people - his enthusiasm for us is frankly embarrassing. The man is a walking UK Tourist Board. And coming from someone you assume to be a cynical 'yeah whatever buddy, hold the mayo' jaded New Yorker type, this is especially disarming. And he's spot on. I think he's really nailed what it is to be British, capturing that spirit of glorious helplessness ('sod it, let's go to the pub') in the same pitch-perfect way something like Peep Show or a Simon Pegg film does. I loaned it to a mate, who read it in a day and gave it back saying 'I have never read a book that's made me so proud to be British.' A bit Churchillian, but I agree - it's lovely to be reminded that, yes, we're funny, knockabout lot. A right bunch of silly sausages. Read it, if you want to feel that.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dull
I thought this would be an interesting insight into how the average American views the average Brit. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Livsey
Don't waste your money on this book.
Absolute drivel. As others have pointed out this book sheds no light whatsoever on British or English culture. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Jay
So... So Funny...
If you have a sense of humour... please... please buy this book.
As a NZ person who has been here for years... It provides a great view on life in the UK... Read more
As a NZ person who has been here for years... It provides a great view on life in the UK... Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2009 by Jared Lancaster
'You had me at scarf'
I love Greg Gutfeld's show, Redeye, on the Fox Network and bought this book on the strength of it--it did not disappoint! Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Mrs. K. Loomes
It's not meant to be a serious travelogue....
An absolutely hilarious read easily polished off in a day. Yes, it's almost entirely about London and yes, it's almost entirely about drinking but it's quite apparent after about... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2009 by T. Glover
Disappointing
Anyone who has read a Bill Bryson book will be disappointed with this one. The "Bill Bryson for the noughties" comment on the cover of the book is an insult to Bryson. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2009 by H. Maitland
Surprisingly good.
In which New York expat comes over to London to work, and in between sleeping with our beer and drinking our women. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2008 by A. Miles
Lousy misinformed twaddle...
This book was just awful. He constantly spouts "You Brits" when he barely strayed from the London area. Read more
Published on 11 April 2008 by Seasoned Brit
Petered out a bit at the end
I had never heard of this guy until I read a review of the book in a Sunday supplement. It got a bit dull for me towards the end because I think the joke wore a bit thin. Read more
Published on 1 April 2008 by Suze
Hysterically funny!
A very good friend of mine from London recommended this book to me. It's a hell of a laugh, enjoyed every page of it!!!!!!! Don't hesitate to read it!
Published on 2 Mar 2008 by Victoria
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