Rating: 
Summary: Not bad for "The British Peter Jennings"
Review: The author is part-Scottish and hosts a TV news show of some sort in Britain. Knowing American newscasters, I had low expectations going into this book -- I expected an earnest, babbling celebrity quickie. Surprisingly, this book is a very literate historical overview of the nature of Englishness. Paxman does a good job of quoting authors and journalists from each era he covers. As a result, you get a good sense of how the Englishmen of each era regarded themselves.The book goes off the rails a bit near the end, when Paxman stops quoting the historical record and starts extending his own opinions about what the English need. This shift from history to cultural criticism is disconcerting -- it's like the first 4/5 of the book comes from "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", and the last fifth comes from "The Closing of the American Mind." [In genre, not in content, though Paxman does seem to have a slighly conservative streak.] I'm moving to London in about six weeks; once I'm over there we'll see how accurate Paxman's book is. It's a good read regardless.
Rating: 
Summary: Well written, but not quite meaningful
Review: Well, the style is very good indeed. It is quite evident that he comes from what he calls "The breed", but the insular character of "The English" gives a very unbiased view of what an English is. I could write another version of it, I think he was not successful in taking distance from the subject and in some cases not only minimises some facts about ordinary English life, in other cases he has not got a wider view from other cultures on how The English is seen from abroad.
I would suggest Mr. Paxman to travel a bit more accross Europe at least...
Rating:
Summary: An intelligent overview of the English from on high.
Review: Yes Jeremy Paxman comes from an Elitist background, yes he is telling only one man's account of who we are. Yes this book is a good read, and I'll tell you why....because it is well written, well argued and very insightful. Paxman's writing is very much based on an historical overview which may betray his academic roots, but as political journalist and a clever man to boot he draws the threads of our society and presents it as he sees it. I can not identify with him on all points, but then when have I identified with an English hooligan. It's a while since I read this, but I remember his arguments being most forceful and interesting. For example: The English produce more new editions of work per capita than anywhere in the world demonstrating the strength of the English language. Though Paxman does not make all the insights into the English, all his points are valid and makes the case that we are in fact heading towards a shift in character and perception built upon our more recent history. I defy someone else to produce a more readable and likeable book. .... From the lad from a comprehensive.
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