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Title: Flippant, silly, but still delightful light reading
Review: Hammond's book falls within that subgenre that might be labeled 'silly travel writing,' a niche also occupied by such writers as Nick Middleton, Peter Biddlecombe, and Bill Bryson. For all of these authors, the reader doesn't learn anything useful about the destination, but the author's wit and command of the language make for an enjoyable read. Hammond's all-too-flimsy premise for his book is that he, a London resident, will play the role of tourist in his city, while referring to various existing travel books. But really, what makes the book so much fun is the author's witty stream-of-consciousness style of writing. It was fun to read, but is no replacement for a real guidebook to London. Also, not incidentally, Hammond's book presupposes a thorough familiarity with London; otherwise, it will all go over the reader's head. It might be the last guidebook to London you read, but it shouldn't be the first.
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