Tally Ho! More Differences from Across the Ocean

We don’t just talk differently, or drive on opposite sides of the street; we also read different books. Bestsellers from Amazon indicate Americans read more political books (Jon Stewart and Bill Clinton), while the British read the celebrity written books (Gervais, Palin, Oliver). On books, we both rated - Harry Potter (the book not yet published) and Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code are in both of the top 10 lists (number 1 and 2 in France). Both the American and British lists included Eats Shoots and Leaves.

A recent study done at Berkeley indicates that we even smile differently. The typical British smile known as the Duchenne or Prince Charles Smile, is accomplished by pulling the lips backwards and upwards exposing the bottom teeth. Cheeks are more likely to be raised up showing the crow’s feet around the eyes.

The American Smile, known as the Pan Am or Botox Smile, is more likely to part the lips and stretch the corners of the mouth. The muscles at the corners of the eyes are left motionless, albeit the reason for the Botox name.

Keep smiling.