What does it mean to be middle class in Britain in 2010? Do you wear a blue, white or pink shirt to the office? How wide is your TV screen? Does it mean that you call the lavatory "the euphemism", and actually quite like the sound of "restroom"? Does it make a difference if you call dinner "supper" or supper "tea" or lunch "dinner"? Can you be middle-class and not have a secret sexual fantasy about either a BBC newsreader, Cheryl Cole or Richard Hammond? Is it still acceptable to have straightened hair? Or highlights? What about fake tan? Is Victoria Beckham middle-class? Is Jordan? She is keen on horse riding, after all. You can think of this book, based on a website of the same name, as a handy reference guide to the myriad ways in which we can be middle-class in Britain today. And let's face it, most of us could use a guide some of the time - because, even now, in our hyper-driven, inter-connected and over-heated consumer-universe, it can be hard to keep on top of all this. The Middle Class Handbook is an indispensable and humorous must read that analyses more than 100 tribes and sub-tribes of Britain's battered and bruised society. You can follow us @MiddleClassHB
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
-
Seasonal Offer:
This title is part of our Seasonal Offers promotion.
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"Indispensable... whether you're middle class or pretending not to be." --GQ magazine, 2010
"Hilarious... we laughed our organic, brushed cotton socks off." --Grazia, 2010
"The Middle Class Handbook skewers the middle classes, and then dissects them with ruthless comical accuracy. Social groupings are divided and then subdivided, sketching out the all-too-real character traits of couples you may well know, or even (cringe) be a part of yourself. An amusing read for amateur sociologists or anyone who's simply after a light read, a good snigger and the chance to judge one's neighbours possibly a little unfairly." --Esquire, 2010
"Hilarious... we laughed our organic, brushed cotton socks off." --Grazia, 2010
"The Middle Class Handbook skewers the middle classes, and then dissects them with ruthless comical accuracy. Social groupings are divided and then subdivided, sketching out the all-too-real character traits of couples you may well know, or even (cringe) be a part of yourself. An amusing read for amateur sociologists or anyone who's simply after a light read, a good snigger and the chance to judge one's neighbours possibly a little unfairly." --Esquire, 2010
About the Author
Not Actual Size is small creative brand content agency that explores the big meanings of small things, both in its own creative projects and work for clients, who currently include Nike, Ray Ban and the V&A. Our own projects, like the Middle Class Handbook, seek to consider aspects of modern life in Britain with intelligence and humour, teasing out the wider significance in the minutiae of the mundane. We have, for example, produced award-winning work based on such commonplace activities such as using mobile phones, eating fast food, and commuting by car. These subjects are not glamorous - not usually, anyway - but people have strong feelings and ideas about them, and they enjoy sharing those feelings and ideas with each other.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By David Pearce
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
The author of this field guide to the Middle Classes new and old has clearly done his research and fashioned an amusing and well structured book. Each chapter deals with an individual 'tribe', usually to great comic effect. At the back is a question and answer flow chart that enables the reader to put themself into a particular 'tribe'. Now I can't promise anything, but it had me perfectly summed up, even to the extent that my name was the one given to the male member of the tribe! If you've got this for Christmas, pick it up and dip into it. Its great fun with more than a few real insights.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
With a background in sociology, demographics and marketing during the mid-80's with its Yuppies and Dinkies et al, I was expecting the book to be either an analysis of the new middle class groupings as defined by the market research analyst authors, OR light reading with humorous or satirical assessments of class groupings. From its description I wasn't sure which slant it would take and, having slogged through it, for me, it falls into neither category. Instead it is a slightly tongue-in-cheek observation of various groups within the 'middle class' - the Loft Wingers, 'Chaveaux Riche' and the 'Hornby Set' amongst others whose names I've instantly forgotten.
Swayed by its description and the 'Grazia' review quoted on its reverse cover "Hilarious... we laughed our organic brushed cotton socks off", I ordered it for some light humour, expecting it to be a sharp-witted observation of the middle class, ie a novelty book to dip into for a bit of fun. Instead, I've found myself dipping into it looking for the humour but then quickly putting it down again. It is disappointingly dry reading - and I'm not referring to a dry humour. Yes, it contains observations on the new 'sub-classes' as defined by the authors such as which stores they shop at, which recycled store bags they'll be seen with, what they'll think of Cheryl Cole... but it's distinctly lacking in the anticipated humour. It may raise a watery smile but that's about all.
I'm not really sure who the target audience is for this book: Someone looking for a light-hearted read? Not really: there's not much humour and it's too dry. A market research enthusiast or a reader with an interest in demographics or stereographics? Maybe, but there's not much depth to the book in this context.... Read more ›
Swayed by its description and the 'Grazia' review quoted on its reverse cover "Hilarious... we laughed our organic brushed cotton socks off", I ordered it for some light humour, expecting it to be a sharp-witted observation of the middle class, ie a novelty book to dip into for a bit of fun. Instead, I've found myself dipping into it looking for the humour but then quickly putting it down again. It is disappointingly dry reading - and I'm not referring to a dry humour. Yes, it contains observations on the new 'sub-classes' as defined by the authors such as which stores they shop at, which recycled store bags they'll be seen with, what they'll think of Cheryl Cole... but it's distinctly lacking in the anticipated humour. It may raise a watery smile but that's about all.
I'm not really sure who the target audience is for this book: Someone looking for a light-hearted read? Not really: there's not much humour and it's too dry. A market research enthusiast or a reader with an interest in demographics or stereographics? Maybe, but there's not much depth to the book in this context.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This book is quite funny, and quite interesting (though not in a Stephen Fry sort of way). You'll probably quite enjoy it. But then again it doesn't quite acheive what it set out to do.
A small 'humour' book, designed to catch the 'Oh my god, what should I buy them for Christmas?', many people will think buying this for a relative a good idea. On balance, it probably isn't. (I appreciate that placing this review in January, makes this an untimely observation.)
Separating the middle classes into various tribes, The Clarkson loving 'Damn-Rights' or 'Jamie Oliver's Army, this book seems to judge people using popular culture. This might be a valid thing to do, but that's just about all the book does, making it funny, but only in one-dimension. So whilst I enjoyed the first chapter of the book, the others are pretty much all the same. There was apparently some serious research behind this book, but as that research was by a marketing company, it's hardly surpising it's veneer thin.
Clearly, this is not intended to be a serious analysis of the middle class, but is in essence just a collection of sterotypes; amusing for a while, but ultimately lazy humour. There are many funnier books out there. Expect to catch this book in charity shop near you.
A small 'humour' book, designed to catch the 'Oh my god, what should I buy them for Christmas?', many people will think buying this for a relative a good idea. On balance, it probably isn't. (I appreciate that placing this review in January, makes this an untimely observation.)
Separating the middle classes into various tribes, The Clarkson loving 'Damn-Rights' or 'Jamie Oliver's Army, this book seems to judge people using popular culture. This might be a valid thing to do, but that's just about all the book does, making it funny, but only in one-dimension. So whilst I enjoyed the first chapter of the book, the others are pretty much all the same. There was apparently some serious research behind this book, but as that research was by a marketing company, it's hardly surpising it's veneer thin.
Clearly, this is not intended to be a serious analysis of the middle class, but is in essence just a collection of sterotypes; amusing for a while, but ultimately lazy humour. There are many funnier books out there. Expect to catch this book in charity shop near you.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Philip Harkins
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Incredibly pithy and amusing book, in an ideal size for the smallest room!
Easy to drop into and out of... so too speak.... its insights are funny and very acute with great humour and sarcastic wit combined with an almost sociapathic disection of the things we... or most of us at least... hold dear and these days seem to aspire too.
Recomended and a great small present for a loved one or indeed for the loo!
Easy to drop into and out of... so too speak.... its insights are funny and very acute with great humour and sarcastic wit combined with an almost sociapathic disection of the things we... or most of us at least... hold dear and these days seem to aspire too.
Recomended and a great small present for a loved one or indeed for the loo!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Mark Cory
Format:Hardcover
This is a great little book, full of observations about life in Britain today. There is a diagram that helps you work out which tribe you are, although annoyingly it's not until p138 - it really should be at the front. Once I worked out which tribe I was, I wanted to do the same for everyone I know, and kept pulling it off the shelf. I think most people fit into one of the types although some of them seem to be a bit of one and a bit of another. I keep finding new things when I go back to it, it's packed with funny details.
I'm giving this to several people for Christmas this year. And then on boxing day I'm looking forward to arguing with them about which tribe they are!
I'm giving this to several people for Christmas this year. And then on boxing day I'm looking forward to arguing with them about which tribe they are!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This part-comic, part social-commentary, part deconstruction of market segments, 'not actual size' book is subtitled 'an illustrated field guide to the behaviour and tastes of Britain's new middle-class tribes'. Herein lies the reality: this book is not about the middle-classes at all, but, rather, about the aspirational group of people who would like to be middle-class, and perhaps imagine they are. This irony is not lost on the writers. Whether, as a reader, you get this, is rather up to you: if you believe that Victoria Beckham really is 'posh', but Jordan is nonetheless middle-class, then you might find yourself accurately described in the book, but you won't get the ironic subtext.
Whether this book describes you, or your friends, or people you secretly enjoy laughing at (which is why I give this book just 4 stars -- it is ultimately a merciless and uncompassionate book which, ever so condescendingly, manages to sneer at everything it describes), or is just about a different world which you've noticed in passing but never really encountered, it does contain numerous gems of vocabulary which will enhance anyone's conversation. Wikillectuals are people who bone up on Wikipedia to appear knowledgable on topics they know otherwise nothing about. Poorgeois is what the otherwise bourgeois (and possibly gorgeous) buy now that the boom is over and bust has set in. Free-Whelans are a sub-tribe of the Hornby set who look up to Harriet Harman and never quite recovered from being sixties radicals.
Ultimately, this book has a rather serious and slightly sour purpose.... Read more ›
Whether this book describes you, or your friends, or people you secretly enjoy laughing at (which is why I give this book just 4 stars -- it is ultimately a merciless and uncompassionate book which, ever so condescendingly, manages to sneer at everything it describes), or is just about a different world which you've noticed in passing but never really encountered, it does contain numerous gems of vocabulary which will enhance anyone's conversation. Wikillectuals are people who bone up on Wikipedia to appear knowledgable on topics they know otherwise nothing about. Poorgeois is what the otherwise bourgeois (and possibly gorgeous) buy now that the boom is over and bust has set in. Free-Whelans are a sub-tribe of the Hornby set who look up to Harriet Harman and never quite recovered from being sixties radicals.
Ultimately, this book has a rather serious and slightly sour purpose.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny
Funny and insightful, but society is changing at such a rate that book like these quickly become outdated. Very witty, though.
Published 16 days ago by Naomi Anderson Whittaker
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not great
Was hoping for something a little funnier but actually if you are looking for an amusing book on the middle class "The Art of being Middle Class" is, in my opinion, a... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mousewife
2.0 out of 5 stars
Pretentious
What is basically a sneery subjective poke at the Brit middle classes is given a 'social lab' spin that merely serves to add pomposity to cynicism.
Published 7 months ago by R. Munro
3.0 out of 5 stars
A one joke book
A lot of time and effort has gone into creating this book but I'm still not entirely sure what the purpose of it is. Judging from the description it is intended to be funny. Read more
Published 21 months ago by F. Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
I found myself in the book and was surprised how accurate it was. Also found some of my friends. Have gone back and read several chapters again. Really good read.
Published 22 months ago by Ellie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining but inconsequential
There's something very entertaining about analysing the British and their deseprate need to identify with the certain classes. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2011 by L. Holdsworth
2.0 out of 5 stars
These middle classes are revolting
I found this a rather depressing book. It profiles 11 "tribes" - Jamie Oliver's army, the Damn-Wrights, the Fair to Middlings, etc. Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2011 by Caterina
3.0 out of 5 stars
Could be funny for some people
The author has identified various types of middle class tribes and describes them in detail here according to what they drive, wear and live in. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2010 by Sally Wilton
2.0 out of 5 stars
Rather sad
I thought this book might be insightful, funny and allow me to question some of my behaviours and prejudices. Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2010 by Crazy Seahorse
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
