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The Xenophobe's Guide
to the Swiss
by Paul Bilton
A guide to understanding the Swiss that
reveals a nation of people who are anything but the
cuckoo clock-making, yodelling stereotypes generally
portrayed.
The
Xenophobe's Guide to the Swiss
is now available on Kindle
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STORE UK
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| Mountain
mentality |
| Swiss farmers
are tough, independent, hard-working, resilient,
well-prepared for every kind of natural disaster
and above all staunchly conservative. These
characteristics have been passed on to Swiss
town-dwellers, who go about their day as if they
too were farming a lonely mountain cliff. |
| We can do
better |
| The Swiss stubbornly refuse
to believe they are doing well and will even
dispute the figures that prove it. So, like the
poor donkey chasing the carrot, they pull their
collective cart along ever faster, chasing the
goal they passed years ago. |
| Peak performers |
| The perceptions of the
Swiss being dull, staid and boring while at the
same time displaying a talent for ruthless
efficiency and a limitless capacity for hard
work are uncomfortably close to the truth.
Likewise the clichéd impressions of high
mountains, watches, cheese - with and without
holes, chocolate bars and gold bars are genuine. |
| Degrees of
unease |
| The diversity of the Swiss
is apparent in the degree to which they worry.
The German-speakers do little else. The
French-speaking Swiss are great visionaries and
philosophers with noble thoughts and global
dreams. They worry that their Swiss-German
compatriots do not share these dreams. The
Italian-speaking Swiss are less interested in
the solid values of work and have a terrible
tendency not to worry nearly enough. |
| I work in the US for the Swiss.
This little book is very funny and fun to read.
At the same time it is amazingly insightful with
regards to Swiss culture, customs and people. I
sometimes give it to others doing business with
the Swiss. |
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Rome, Georgia, USA
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| As a Swiss I read this book with
great pleasure since it is very funny but true
indeed. As a foreign reader you will find lots
of hints and information to help you understand
Swiss mentality and differences between cultures
in one small country. |
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Weisslingen, Switzerland
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| The author manages to sum up
every aspect of the Swiss with a typical British
sense of humour! Having lived in Switzerland for
some time now - this book was still able to
teach me some idiosyncrasies of the Swiss I
didnt know. If you want to find out who what
where why and how the Swiss do things - read
this book. Essential reading for the smallest
room in the house. |
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Switzerland
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| The Xenophobe's Guide to the
Swiss is a literary jewel, so very accurate and
timeless, CONGRATULATIONS! |
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Northwestern Alberta, Canada
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| The opening paragraphs of a
Xenophobe's Guide to the Swiss set the tone for
the rest of an irreverent, amusing and highly
informative portrait of the Swiss people. |
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Arts & Culture section at
www.swissinfo.org
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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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| Author: Paul Bilton |
| Format: 96 pages,
pb |
| Published: 24/08/2008 |
| NEW EDITION |
| Price: £4.99 |
| ISBN: 978-1-906042-50-9 |
| Online eBook. Click on
button below to sample. |
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