Editing How to be an Alien (section)

{{short description|1946 book by George Mikes}}
{{Infobox book
|name=How to be an Alien
|author= [[George Mikes]]
|illustrator= [[Nicolas Bentley]]
|genre= Humor
|publisher=
|published= 1946
|image=HowToBeAnAlien.jpg
|caption=First edition cover
}}
'''''How to be an Alien''''' is a humorous book by [[George Mikes]], illustrated by [[Nicolas Bentley]] and published in 1946. It was Mikes' second book and is the most famous of the 44 he wrote.<ref name=Penguin>[http://www.penguinreaders.com/pdf/downloads/pr/teachers-notes/9781405879095.pdf Penguin Readers Notes] Teacher's Guide</ref>  It is a classic of [[British humour]] and by its 32nd impression in 1966 had sold over 300,000 copies.<ref name=Blurb>According to the jacket of the 32nd impression</ref> It pokes gentle fun at the English and their relationship with foreigners, "[[Alien (law)|alien]]" meaning in this context any non-English person. The book is characterised by much humour, affection and a total lack of rancour or bitterness. Mikes, [[Hungarians in the United Kingdom|an immigrant from Hungary]], demonstrated not only his knowledge of English society but an insight into the English language.