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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

Divided by a common language

I just finished reading Jane Walmsley's 'Brit-Think, Ameri-Think', [UK|US] an impulse purchase in Waterstone's which appealed because it seemed to go beyond the usual dictionary of differences in english usage and instead claimed a humourous yet insightful glimpse of the psychological engine rooms of Britain and the USA. Superficially, it looked pretty amusing and offered the promise of insight from a Yank married to a Brit and broadcasting on the BBC.

Sadly, I'm disappointed. It's not bad, but the chapters are very short and the examples all seem to stop short of either real insight or real spleen-aching humour (or even humor). A strength as I said is that it's not just a list of word usage differences and tries had to look at the deeper cultural differences. But Jane is always skirting around a really insightful analysis of the deep truths about each nation and never quite makes it to the punch. For example, after 15 years of shuttling to and fro between the US and UK I still struggle with understanding the US education system, but the book doesn't even discuss the huge differences in philosophy and practice.

For myself, I have often espoused the view that America idolises 'freedom' and all its true weaknesses and strengths come from there, and that Britain is the slave of subjecthood which has led to endemic cynicicm. It has a reasonably deft touch and flashes of brilliance (I love the Jolliffe cartoons), but sadly, I didn't learn as much from this book as I'd hoped and it's not one I'll be readily recommending.

posted at 5:35 AM (UK) | |