Rating: 
Summary: Provides vital insights into German gestalt
Review: In dealing with my German colleagues, Lord's insights have proven very accurate and useful. I didn't find his treatment to be mean or bitter. On the contrary, Lord is entertained by, but respectful, of the German culture. He portrays the culture not only as it is, but as it is transforming.
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps Too Many Axes to Grind?
Review: Richard Lord warns the reader in his introduction that he may have a few axes to grind in this book, and he isn't kidding! This book does deliver on its promise in that it is full of interesting and useful facts and anecdotes about German culture, but the underlying and pervasive tone of the book is negative. It is clear that Mr. Lord is harboring some deep dislikes/distrust of Germans and German culture and after reading 80 percent of the book I find myself feeling rather depressed at the prospect of even visiting Germany, let alone living there. Poor Mr. Lord who has had stay in such an unpleasant place as he describes for 15 years--due to being married to a German! His book dedication states plainly that he certainly wouldn't stay there if it weren't for her. How miserable he must be, if his tone in this book is an indication! Not all of what Lord says about Germans and German culture is negative, but the positive points are mentioned almost as an afterthought, whereas the negative points get center stage. Imagine a book written about the U.S.A. for foreigners (and I know there are plenty of this type out there) that takes a truism here (violent crime), a stereotype there (loud, obnoxious, back-slapping American--admittedly there are a few of these) and mixes them together into a strong concentration with a dash of personal frustration (the author stings from an incident that happened to him/her that might not routinely happen to the majority of people) and you would get an unbalanced view of the U.S. as a dangerous, loud, and unfriendly place. I'm writing this to warn readers that this book is laced with (mostly negative) opinions and is not (and really doesn't pretend to be) a balanced, journalistic discussion of German culture. I think I would have been happier with a book that simply told me the facts, leaving myself to make up my own mind what I think about the cultural differences after I've experienced them myself.
Rating: 
Summary: pretty good except for bitter undertones
Review: This book is packed with information and little interesting historical tidbits. It was interesting and easy to read. After living in Germany for a year now, I can say that while plenty of his observations seem accurate, others seem exaggerated....especially the negative ones. And most of the book has a really bitter negative undertone. It seems the author actually doesn't like Germany or Germans all that much. The dedication reads "For Gudrun, the main reason that I've stayed in Germany"...clearly Germany itself was not reason enough for him to stay. Nonetheless, this is still a decent and informative book. If you read it just keep in mind (it's hard to forget) that it was written by someone who is only there for his wife and doesn't really like it.
Rating: 
Summary: Bitterness overwhelms this book
Review: This book WOULD have been very useful and accessible for the average person looking for info on the everyday life in Germany. However, the bitterness and underlying resentment completely overwhelm this book. The bad parts are exaggerated, and it seems to poison even the few good factors the author lists-- thus completely ruining both the book and the reader's impression of Germany. It is more a book of the author's commentary about Germany than Germany itself, and is filled with less than entertaining and inspiring anecdotes. But moreover it leaves the reader with a sickly tainted feeling and a twinge of dread for Germany and its people. Sadly, this book could have been a five star if it lost the attitude. If you want to like Germany, DO NOT read this book.
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