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Rating: 
Summary: A good read!
Review: As a Brit married to a Yank, I had to laugh at a few of the customer reviews below. Some people seemed to be very seriously expecting a guide about how to avoid horrible breaches of business etiquette. Just because it has 'Survival Guide' in the title..... lighten up!Admittedly, it probably is a little dated. I was given my treasured, tattered copy a number of years ago by an Anglophile Yank, and laughed my head off at the very accurate observations. I suddenly understood why my American friends thought I had a 'poor self-image' - they take all that self-depracating humor seriously!
Rating: 
Summary: Nice idea, but...
Review: I've worked for a British-based company for fifteen years and was introduced to this book by my British colleague a number of years ago. We were working on a three year project involving Brits and Americans. We started each of our workshops by reading a chapter from this book. What a great ice-breaker and afterwards, we convened with a better understanding of our cultural differences. Since then, I own three copies of this book (always on loan and quite frayed around the edges)!
Rating: 
Summary: Poor rehash of the previous version
Review: Not very funny the first time. Not very accurate. Really out of date, cliched throughout. I tend to think that "humour" like this at the expense of others show that the author may be struggling for genuine content.
My advice - leave this one on the shelf!
Rating:
Summary: Perfect as half of the whole picture...
Review: This book by an American born woman who has been transplanted to Britain is a very enjoyable read. Her anecdotal style makes the information fun and fascinating, and her insights invaluable, though one must have a sense of humor about both cultures as she is very tongue-in-cheek. As opposed to most other books I've read on the subject that are almost strictly technical, Walmsley tells the readers in a very conversational style about many differences that wouldn't occur to most travelers - differences in attitude (about sex, gender issues, finance, etc.), values, customs, ettiquette and habits; and she may sometimes touch a little on why the discrepencies exist. Because this is in no way a dictionary style book, she does not offer alternate words, phrases or technical info. Thus, as a supplement, I highly recommend "Divided by a Common Language" by Christopher Davies, who (as opposed to Walmsley) is a Brit who now lives in Florida. All in all, a humorous, anecdotal insight into two very different cultures. Even though this may not be as technical as some travelers would prefer, the information is crucial for developing a truer understanding than is offered in any travel guide, so do not pass it over for the latter; buy it as well.
Rating:
Summary: A good read!
Review: This book has been updated and now reflects many modern cultural traits for comparison as well as new words to compare. It also compares attitudes to war and the Brit perception of the Amis' politics and vice versa. The section on the differences in British/American humor is particularly funny but the entire book is humorous. Tongue-in-cheek but all from those 'grains of truth' we often fail to see in our own cultures. I highly recommend it as a light read that'll make you smile in recognition and give you a few of those 'aha!' moments.
Rating: 
Summary: funny, accurate, but dated
Review: This book is a humorous and mostly accurate comparison and contrast of the British and American cultures. It explores a wide array of the facets of our cultures, showing that George Bernard Shaw was right on the money when he said that the British and the Americans were two peoples divided by a common language. The major problem with this book is that it is dated. A lot of references to the politics and pop culture of the Eighties, including Margaret Thatcher, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, the television shows "Dallas" and "Dynasty" and their characters and stars. Other than this, a good book to have if you are interested in the cultural differences one finds across the Atlantic, but I'm not sure how reliable a cultural guide it would be if you were to travel today.
Rating:
Summary: funny, accurate, but dated
Review: This book is a humorous and mostly accurate comparison and contrast of the British and American cultures. It explores a wide array of the facets of our cultures, showing that George Bernard Shaw was right on the money when he said that the British and the Americans were two peoples divided by a common language. The major problem with this book is that it is dated. A lot of references to the politics and pop culture of the Eighties, including Margaret Thatcher, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, the television shows "Dallas" and "Dynasty" and their characters and stars. Other than this, a good book to have if you are interested in the cultural differences one finds across the Atlantic, but I'm not sure how reliable a cultural guide it would be if you were to travel today.
Rating: 
Summary: funny, but not a useful "guide"
Review: This book is funny -- it will provide laughs for the American expat or traveler who has spent a fair amount of time in Britain, who has seen the socks & sensible sandals combo, suffered through the self-deprecating humor, sipped a few too many sodas sans ice, watched sandwiches eaten with knife & fork, had "puddings" for dessert. Beyond the laugh factor, I'm not sure how useful it is. A casual traveler might be helped by the Brit-American dictionary in the front of the book ("chips = French fries, crisps = potato chips, biscuit = cookie, scone = biscuit," etc., but beyond that, I wouldn't rely on this as a "survival guide."
Rating:
Summary: Just plain fun
Review: This short, biting, tongue in cheek satire does not necessarily pick original targets: bad teeth, the royal family, food, clothing, temperature, sex, etc. This is no small matter as Walmsley gleeflully creates a super fast and light read highlighting the many differences existing on both sides of the pond. An American married to a Brit herself, Walmsley has experienced first hand all the dichotomous behaviors seperating us from our former landlords. My favorite chapter focuses on our respective perceptions and reactions to Death. In this particular chapter, Walmsley hits her target like a SAS (or SEAL) sniper. This is not great literature, it is just simply plain fun as well as required reading for any true card carrying Anglophilic American patriot like myself. A pure harmless (and highly affordable!) way to spend an hour or pass the time on a transatlantic flight.
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