Review: 365 reasons to be proud to be a Londoner by Richard Happer

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

London – one of the world's most exciting cities. Teeming with life, bursting with history, it houses over 8 million people, and has thousands of stories to tell. 365 Reasons to be Proud to be a Londoner is a quirky, fun exploration of the people and events that make London so special, with an entry for every day of the year. From the building of London's frankly awe-inspiring sewer system to the founding of the iconic Abbey Road recording studios, from the diary of Samuel Pepys to the invention of the World Wide Web, this fascinating book provides 365 compelling reasons why every Londoner should be proud of their wonderful city. Maybe it's because you're a Londoner…that you'll love this book! Word count: 30,000 Related titles: 365 Reasons to be Cheerful (9781906032968) 365 Reasons to be Proud to be British (9781907554391) 365 Reasons to be Proud to be English (9781909396715) 365 Reasons to be Proud to be Irish (9781909396401) 365 Reasons to be Proud to be Scottish (9781907554872) 365 Reasons to Look on the Bright Side (9781907554681)

MY TAKE:
If you love fact-a-day or on-this-day calendars, then you'll love this book.

In 365 reasons to be proud to be a Londoner, readers get to learn more about the people, places and events that are part of London's history.

While there were some topics covered here that I wasn't particularly interested in (the buildings, mostly), I did pick up a number of new things that I thought were pretty cool. For example, I had no idea that the traveller's cheque was invented in London or that Marlboro originated in London. I also learned how prolific a writer Enid Blyton actually was. Since there are 365 entries here, you're bound to learn something new and find something that you'll find interesting.

The book is written with a relatively light tone, and there were several jokes here and there that I found humorous. There were also a couple or so David Cameron jokes that I didn't quite get since I live in a different country, but which you'll probably appreciate if you're familiar with David Cameron and his politics.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pavilion Books for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. It's very informative.
2. It's written in a light, entertaining tone.
3. There are quite a few funny jokes here. 

THE BAD:

1. It's not the type of book that you read in one sitting. 

READ IT IF:

1. You are visiting London.
2. You have lived in London for a long time.
3. You want to learn more about London and its history. 

RATING:


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