Product Description

In the 80s there was The Sloane Ranger's Handbook. In the 90s we had the Essex Girl Joke Book. Now, 21st century Britain is gearing up for the next hilarious new wave - CHAV! A USER'S GUIDE TO BRITAIN'S NEW RULING CLASS. CHAV is an attitude, a way of life, a tribal thing, and those in it (or innlt) have chosen to be there. Now, with this sensational user's guide, you can check out the new cultural phenomenon that is sweeping Britain (and every shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon!)...CHAV CULTURE - Includes sections on TV, sport, music, film, and find out what every self-respecting CHAV does every Saturday afternoon! CHAV LIFESTYLE - everything you've ever (and never!) wanted to know about CHAV grooming, baby names, holidays, weddings, cars, food, eating out, mobile phones and pets...CHAVSPEAK - The Phrase Book - detailing the kind of thing you will hear a CHAV say and its meaning in English, so you can if you wish, converse with a CHAV! CHAV! - the sensational spoof celebrity magazine containing articles on Beauty and fashion tips by Tracy and Savannah, Gardening by Alan Titchchav, a 'How Filthy is Your House?' feature and, of course, a problem page with problems solved by a CHAV agony aunt. CELEBRITY HEROES - hear about the famous people all CHAVS love, try to emulate (as cheaply as possible) and aspire to be. Here you'll find features on Chavtastic Jordan, Daniella Westbrook, Jade Goody, Michael Carroll (dubbed the Lottery Lout) and, of course, the King and Queen of Chavdom, David and Victoria Beckham. And much, much, more...Welcome to the wonderful world of CHAV!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #217422 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
" 'Brilliant! A lighthearted yet insightful look into the world of the gangs of spotty youths that intimidate you on the streets of new millennium Britain. The authors are truly in touch with what is wrong with the nation, exposing the street culture of ignorance that is eating at the fabric of our society. An Ideal Xmas present for the youngsters in the family for sure!!!' - Johann Hari"

From the Back Cover
Chav is an attitude, a way of life, a tribal thing, and those ‘innit' have chosen to be there. Here's how to check out your chav rating…
Do you…
* fancy yourself in a bit of ‘bling' – BIG 9-carat-gold hollow-hoop-earrings, faux-gem-encrusted chunky crosses, chains and sovereign rings?

* have a taste for burgers, chips, beans and bangers – all washed down with a nice alcopop or lager top?

* like to tune in a good daytime tv fight with ‘Trisha', a late night one with ‘Jerry Springer' – and a bit of ‘Hollyoaks' in between?

* have a penchant for ‘designer' trackie bottoms, hoodies, baseball caps and sparkling ‘prison-white' trainers, teamed up with a genuine fake-designer bargain (say a nice ‘Louis' or ‘Burberry' bag) you've picked up down the market?

Welcome to the world of CHAV! – the amazing cultural phenomenon that is sweeping Britain, and a shopping centre near you!

Customer Reviews

Comic yet spookily accurate
You can look at this book two ways. Firstly you can look at it lightheartedly or as some people seem to, look at it as a serious social insight. Now personally if we're going to be serious i'm quite scared because i'm not a scal (scouse equivalent of a chav) yet this book seems to deem me, my family and most people I know as one and despite my appearance, etc I'm not a scal. That is why you can't take it seriously, it's over the top for a reason people! It's funny! Yes the book over generalises and stereotypes but another way it charms you is by being so ridiculous that it can be almost anti-anti scal in a way. What interests me however is how this book has been described as racist and to that I have two comments:

1. In modern Britain, can't any form of negative comment towards an individual or group be percieved as racist? And this is coming from someone who has suffered genuine racial abuse, yet anything can be described as racist today; political correctness gone mad!

2. What exactly is "black culture"? I mean isn't that stereotyping people of a skin colour to all be the same race of people? And how does mentioning the chav love of rap music an the such make this book racist against black people?

Finally growing up in Liverpool I would consider myself to be quite liberal and alot of my mates are scals but I'd reccomend this book to them. This is an essential read to all people from all backgrounds. You'll know at least one person who is perfectly described by the book which tends to make it all the funnier. It trueley is a great insight into modern culture. Just remember however that it IS NOT TO BE TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY!!!

Brilliant sign of the times
Brilliant!

A lighthearted yet insightful look into the world of the gangs of spooty youths that intimidate you on the streets of new millenium Britian.
The authors are truly in touch with what is wrong with the nation, exposing the street culture of ignorance that is eating at the fabric of our society.

An ideal Xmas present for the youngsters in the family for sure!!!

10/10

A critique of the counterculture
This is the first book to document the rise of the new social underclass that is infesting British cities - namely the chav. The chav, for the uninitiated is essentially the nineteenth century lumpen proletariat transported to the present day. Chavs exist in a neo-Dickensian world of petty crime, shellsuits, longterm unemployment and gold plated jewellery.

The book provides a useful counterpoint to the standard theories on the underclass in UK society and as such is essential reading for sociology students everywhere.