Rating: Summary: Bizarre but deliberate omission! Review: How can you have a book about Germany that *doesn't* mention the Holocaust!
Rating: Summary: Great if you read your own countries too Review: I am a German living in the USA and can really recommend this book. It is funny but true to very small details! And to have most fun, read it along with the one for your own country!
Rating: Summary: Must read for business and leisure travelers to Germany Review: I am part German and was a little surpirsed at how much of the book rang true. It is as revealing and as much fun as an excellent horoscope or a fun-house mirror, and offers better insight than all the other information about doing business in Germany.
Rating: Summary: Excellent, funny and on the ball (almost) Review: 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. A bit expensive for only 64 pages, but worth it for the laugh.
Rating: Summary: Funny, but accurate, account of German Kultur and Volk Review: I lived in Germany for over 3 years, and was a tour guide part-time, explaining aspects of German society to Americans. I saw first-hand a lot of the material in this book, written by transplanted Germans. While one may think the book generalizes too much, I can say my experience was the passion for Ordnung, Bildung, and Kultur are exactly as this book describes, and there is really is no concept of "small-talk" in German. Excellent for anyone who lives there or plans to visit.
Rating: Summary: Very Insightful Indeed Review: I really enjoyed reading this book when I purchased it a few months ago. I used to live in Bitburg, Germany when I was small, and reading this book should help me when I make a planned trip back. I plan to read it again and recommend it.
Rating: Summary: concise, true and very funny Review: I'm a German working from time to time abroad (often in the UK). The book is written by two Germans working now for decades in the UK and explains the culture difference from a british point of view. 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!
Rating: Summary: Not even finished but already worth the purchase Review: It is concise, funny and true for the most part. I can recommend it to foreigners as well as to my own people. A visitor/tourist can use it as a valuable supplement along with a regular travel guide. For someone knowing Germany and Germans well enough some examples seem to be out of date, inaccurate and do not reflect the current situation.
Rating: Summary: Informative and interesting Review: The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans is a small and concise paperback that I've read more than once. It talks about many aspects of German society. It's been written by two authors: Stefan Zeidenitz and Ben Barkow. This useful, gratifying guide is 64 pages long and covers a total of 17 topics--examples of some of these are beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, conversation and gestures, custom and tradition, health and hygiene, government and bureaucracy, and business. Subjects discussed that I especially find to be engaging are the ones dealing with Christmas, television, and eating. Anyone who's interested in learning about Germany, or planning a trip, should find this book to be worthwhile and helpful. The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans is a good reference publication that I'm glad to have; it's one that I plan on reading again.
Rating: Summary: Informative and interesting Review: The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans is a small and concise paperback that I've read more than once. It talks about many aspects of German society. It's been written by two authors: Stefan Zeidenitz and Ben Barkow. This useful, gratifying guide is 64 pages long and covers a total of 17 topics--examples of some of these are beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, conversation and gestures, custom and tradition, health and hygiene, government and bureaucracy, and business. Subjects discussed that I especially find to be engaging are the ones dealing with Christmas, television, and eating. Anyone who's interested in learning about Germany, or planning a trip, should find this book to be worthwhile and helpful. The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans is a good reference publication that I'm glad to have; it's one that I plan on reading again.
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