Of Wankers, Flat Whites and Units of Inquiry: Observations by an “expat americanus” living in the United Kingdom (?), Great Britain (?) or is it just England?

Of Wankers, Flat Whites and Units of Inquiry shares observations of an “expat americanus” on life in the U.K. One could say it takes off in the tradition of Mark Twain, Bill Bryson and many other “Americans abroad” but in the era of amazon kindle, offering an honest and refreshing look at life in Britain from the unique vantage point of an, at times, facetious and sarcastic, American. (But that’s a lofty comparison.) This book provides reflections on a range of topics, from the purely lighthearted “first-world problems” that expats endure “across the pond,” to more serious fare, such as reflections on the Scottish referendum and the challenges of setting up a business in the U.K. as an expat. It’s one part perspectives and one part practical advice and tips for those looking to or who have made the move across the pond. The title highlights three things that framed the author’s experiences—“wankers” (as a proxy for all of the unique “Britishisms” we encountered), “flat whites” (for the popular coffee drink that isn’t actually British) and “units of inquiry” that shaped his daughters’ school learning. Rumors that the author was exiled back to the U.S. for expressing his First Amendment views on life in the U.K. are unfounded. Oh wait, the First Amendment doesn’t apply in the U.K… just add that to the list of things expats take for granted and would “expect” to be true abroad. In all seriousness, though, the book was intended to give readers a glance at the expat experience and thoughts on how to shape their own. James Black is an American expat who lived in Hampstead, North London, for a couple of years. Born in the suburbs of New York and educated at Harvard, James was a brand manager with P&G and a consultant with McKinsey before he moved to London as a trailing spouse, whilst his wife’s consulting firm relocated them, and their two daughters, to London. And yes, “whilst” is one of those great works in British English (“BrE”) that expats increasingly adopt into their daily conversation.