As you’d guess, I am drawn to books in which immigrants learn to understand the bizarre and strange ways of their new adopted country.
Some of the funniest – and best – are by George Mikes (How To Be An Alien), Nino Culotta (They’re A Weird Mob), and Bill Bryson.
Mutual incomprehension is a rich source of humour, so no wonder all were prolific writers.

How To Be An Alien is about a Hungarian (Mikes himself) trying to settle in England but almost completely without understanding of English ideas & culture! He then followed up with English Humour for Beginners (a must).
Culotta’s book is (purportedly) about an Italian adapting to Australia and is also gut-busting funny. The shine was taken off it a bit (though some people were actually very angry when they found out) when one discovers that it was in fact written, under the pseudonym, by an Aussie. But it’s still well-observed.
And Bill Bryson – an American astounded by European customs – is just the best I suppose…
They are all worth reading – even the older books.

So… help me please… does anyone have other examples of humorous books in which the author is puzzled by his/her new country? Just use the comments field below for your thoughts.

Also… examples of the funniest bits in such books?
I still remember Bryson’s example in which he wants to buy some applesin an old fashioned greengrocer’s shop, and says to the English owner that he doesn’t want any of the bruised apples on show. I don’t remember exactly the following passage, but it went something like this… — The greengrocer was outraged: “… if you don’t have your share of the bruised ones, then someone will be left with ALL the bruised apples. And that would not be right, sir, surely?” Bryson was too amazed to argue.
So … email me your examples – of books like this, or examples from such books.
I need the laugh…

Feel free to leave a comment (further down this page)