THE TRANSFORMATION OF BRITISH LIFE.

1950-2000

This book has been written by Andrew S. Rosen, who has been named
president of Kaplan, Inc., a leading provider of educational services to
individuals, schools and businesses.
The author has chosen his title carefully: British life in the second half of the
twentieth century was transformed but not changed.
The book talks about some aspects as life, transport and other, like customs.
The religion, for example. There was a division of that. On the one hand, there
are Christians. On the other hand, there are non-Christians, as Jews, who their
denominations experienced more or less similar declines, as did Christians.
Also Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, increased number of devout. The Protestant
churches received a lot of Presbyterians pilgrims.
Another aspect that has changed a lot over the years is the concept of
marriage. It is one of the most important social function in religion, but, over
time, the mentality of the people change, and are increasingly less concerned
with marriage, because people have stopped believing that a role remains to a
couple united by and each day, couples seeking divorce. Before, the young girls
married with old man because they had no option but to be married to leave
home of their parents and have children. Today, couples have children
unmarried. This aspect has been influenced by education and by working
women.
Rosen speaks about ethnic minorities, although it is related with immigration.
The study established ethnic minorities makes manifest ethnic, demographic,
socio-economic and cultural and even space of its population, all of which
constitutes a very important component they representative of the new
company being set up in areas European urban areas as a result of
immigration.
Trade unions have been another institution in decline. The origin of the decline
was the post-war nationalization. Also, must be added the decline in coal
industry.
Despite this, commercial unions were recovering, and the standard of living of
the British has gradually improved. Before, only some people could take home
electronic appliances such as TVs and stereos, but little by little, everyone has
acquired these items before they could be considered luxurious.

Rosen offers an overview of post-war architecture. He speaks about it because,

normally, social historians don`t talk so much about architecture. This changed
profoundly by American culture and the growth of Britain`s relationship with
continental Europe, and Britain was redefined.
But, why only architecture? Why did not choose visual culture like pictures or
movies? Or books? And even more, why does not address the health care of
the British? I think that health system is important know, but appears he doesnt
think it.
Like education, health care is a decentralized affair, so Britain had his own
system of health care, along with alternative therapies, holistic and
complementary. The National Health Service is the agency responsible for
providing medical care to all permanent residents of the United Kingdom for
free. In 2000, the World Health Organization has placed the National Health
Service as the fifteenth best in Europe and the eighteenth in the world.
In addition to the National Health Service, there are several agencies
responsible for health care that are administered by government.
Since 1979, expenditure on health care has been increased significantly to
bring it closer to the European Union average.
To talk about it, we can realize that the changing society of Britain is due in
large part to the influence of countries with which it has relationships, whether
trade, immigration or culture.
I think that the book has not been written to teach, because the author relies
heavily on statistics, and this makes the reading is not very pleasant, removing
much interest the reader about important aspects such as changes in society.
This book gives an incomplete picture of British society, but it is interesting.
.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Article: York University
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www.businessleader.com
Article: National Health Service