Friday, December 30, 2022

Book Review: Silent but Deadly By Kirsten Bell

Silent but Deadly: The Underlying Cultural Patterns of Everyday Behaviour By Kirsten Bell    Paperback 228 pages
Silent But Deadly Book Review

Silent But Deadly answers all the questions you never dare ask in polite society: why do we laugh when someone let's rip in public, why are Americans obsessed with body odour and the Brits with dogs, what's the deal with the Aussie blasting out the C word and much more.

Kirsten Bell is an Australian social anthropologist living in the UK. She writes straight up, no messing about, and she's incredibly funny. Think Erma Bombeck crossed with Jilly Cooper and a dash of Tom Sharpe.

Even better, as she's currently Visiting Professor at King's College London, she also knows her stuff. Between giggles, she slides in a tonne of information. 

Also, if you want to chase up original papers, her end of chapter notes and referencing are impeccable.

Silent But Deadly is an absolute delight. I've read it once to enjoy it and will read it again and chase up some of the references. It is also beautifully edited. 

I am not fond of the cover. It doesn't do justice to the book. But otherwise, a huge five stars. Definitely a must-read and also an excellent gift if you're looking for a late Christmas present. 


Silent but Deadly: The Underlying Cultural Patterns of Everyday Behaviour
By Kirsten Bell   
Price: £11.99 or $14.70 for the paperback
Price: £6.99 for the ebook
Paperback 228 pages
ASIN B0BH55WFB6
ISBN-10 1399936328
ISBN-13 978-1399936323
Publisher Caw Press
Publication date October 31, 2022