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The Xenophobe's Guide
to the Germans
by Stefan Zeidenitz and Ben
Barkow
A guide to understanding the Germans that
uncovers their insecurities and gently dispels even
the most ingrained prejudices.
The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans
is now available on Kindle
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STORE UK
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| Teutonic
torment |
| In every German
there is a touch of the wild-haired Beethoven
striding through forests and weeping over a
mountain sunset, grappling against impossible
odds to express the inexpressible. This is the
Great German Soul, prominent display of which is
essential whenever Art, Feeling and Truth are
under discussion. |
| Angst breeds angst |
| As a nation, the Germans
are racked with doubt and fight constantly to
keep chaos at bay. Being German, they cannot
brush their doubts aside or put off worrying in
favour of a pint and a laugh. Not for them the
touching British faith that it "will be all
right on the night", that it "all comes out in
the wash". For a German, doubt and anxiety
expand and ramify the more you ponder them. They
are astonished that things haven't gone to pot
already, and are pretty certain that they soon
will. Germany is after all, the Land of Angst. |
| Longer must be
better |
| Most Germans apply the rule
that more equals better. If a passing quip makes
you smile, then surely by making it longer the
pleasure will be drawn out and increased. As a
rule, if you are cornered by someone keen to
give you a laugh, you must expect to miss lunch
and most of that afternoon's appointments. |
| The importance
of being earnest |
| Because life is ernsthaft
(earnest), the Germans go by the rules. Schiller
wrote, 'obedience is the first duty', and no
German has ever doubted it. This fits with their
sense of order and duty. Germans hate breaking
rules, which can make life difficult because, as
a rule, everything not expressly permitted is
prohibited. |
| The nature of the Germans - very
funny but true description. You must read this
book, if you want to learn more about the
strange nature of the Germans because you will
find most of it in no other book. The book is
full of prejudices - but they are all true (I
can assure you because I AM one of the strange
people). There are comments to nearly everything
which is different in Germany, e.g.: Polishing
cars, drinking beer, order & discipline,
"everything is forbidden unless it is explicitly
allowed", why you don't have a German word for
"small talk". Some Germans will NOT like this
book, because they don't like that somebody
laughs about them. But I think, everyone who
reads this bookwill understand their (sometimes
strange) behaviour better. |
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Stuttgart, Germany
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| Concise, true and very funny.
I'm a German working from time to time abroad
(often in the UK). I think it is a great insight
on the attitudes, implicit policies and main
motivations of Germans. Furthermore, it is very
funny (I had to read it in one session and was
laughing out loud most of the time). A must read
if you plan to go to Germany! |
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Dortmund, Germany
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| Brilliant balance between
British humour and German reality! This book is
absolutely hilarious! As a German who lived in
London for 2 years, I think I am well qualified
to congratulate the authors on their well
balanced analysis of the German mind and
culture. The combination of British humour and
German reality is absolutely perfect - it made a
German laugh! |
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Frankfurt, Germany
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| I have read a few of the
Xenophobe's Guides, and this so far is the best
and the funniest. Maybe because I have lived
here for the last two years, and experienced all
the wonderful quirks and traits of the locals
that I could relate to this book, but really, it
is for everyone who plans to visit or live here,
and of cause for the Germans themselves.
Natually, I didn't agree with all of it,
especially the working atmosphere... It's really
not as formal as written in the book, at least
not these days, but much of the rest runs true. |
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Germany
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| Xenophobe's Guides which give a
wickedly satirical look at the foreigners we
love to hate... |
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Cambridge Evening News
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| An enlightened new series, good
natured, witty and useful. The Xenophobe's
Guides to different nations deserves a real
cheer. |
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The European
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Nationalism and Identity
Character
Attitudes and Values
Happy Families
Manners and Behaviour
Leisure and Pleasure
Drinking and Eating
Custom and Tradition
Sense of Humour
Culture
Systems
Culture
Systems
Business and Commerce
Government
Language |
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| Authors: Stefan
Zeidenitz and Ben Barkow |
| Format: 96 pages,
pb |
| Published: 20/02/08 |
| Updated: New
Edition |
| Price: £4.99 |
| ISBN: 978-1906042-33-2 |
| Online eBook. Click on
button below to sample. |
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