French

German
Greeks
Italian
Spanish
 



Americans
Aussies
Austrians
Belgians
Californians
Canadians
Chinese
Czechs
Danes
Dutch
English
Estonians
Finns
French
Germans
Greeks
Hungarians
Icelanders
Irish
Israelis
Italians
Japanese
Kiwis
Poles
Russians
Scots
Spanish
Swedes
Swiss
Welsh
   


The Xenophobe's Guide
to the Americans

by Stephanie Faul

A guide to understanding the Americans which dispels or confirms preconceived prejudices with humour and insight.

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Americans
is now available on Kindle
CLICK HERE FOR KINDLE STORE UK

CLICK HERE FOR KINDLE STORE USA

Extracts from the book

Friends without friendship
Americans are friendly because they just can't help it; they like to be neighbourly and want to be liked. However, a wise traveller realises that a few happy moments with an American do not translate into a permanent commitment of any kind. Indeed, permanent commitments are what Americans fear the most. This is a nation whose fundamental social relationship is the casual acquaintance.

It's not a 'good day' unless it's a 'good hair day'
When asked in a survey what they notice first in a potential mate, the answer from both men and women was hair. Having good hair is more important than having a college education or a happy family.

Americans shoot from the lip
American speech is remarkably straightforward. They tell it as it is, even when it's not a particularly good idea to do so. Linguistic subtlety, innuendo, and irony that other nations find delightful puzzle the Americans, who take all statements at face value, weigh them for accuracy, and reject anything they don't understand.

Always aim to win
Winning is central to the American psyche. As American football coach Vince Lombardi put it, 'Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing'. Virtually every event in American life, from school graduation to marriage to buying an automobile, is structured so that one party wins, or at least comes out looking better than any of the other participants.

Comments from readers

An excellent cure for national chauvinism. This is a book to give to your solipsistic acquaintances who think the United States is the centre of the universe. From her opening observation that Americans are like adolescents, to her analysis of American materialism and underlying insecurity and her samples of American English, the author maintains a consistent balance between humor and truth.
San Francisco, California

This is a great gift to give to someone coming to America or to a foreigner living in the US. This little book irreverently captures what is unique about American life - a topic that others have struggled with, starting with de Toqueville in the 1800s. I just wish the author would now do one just specializing in Southerners! I have read two other books in this series - one about the Swiss, one about the Germans -and they are just as accurate and funny. These little books take no more than an hour or two to read.
Rome, Georgia

This book is an excellent combination of humour and irreverence. It accurately captures how a lot of us non-Yanks view Yanks :-) Non-Yanks will find themselves rolling on the floor laughing at the incredibly accurate and witty observations of the author, most of which they would have made themselves at some time but unable to compile or put to paper in such an intelligent and well-written manner. Yanks should read this concise paperback to understand how the rest of the world views them. I'm sure they'll see the humour in the observations. I own eight of these 'Xenophobe's' guides and think they're all hilarious.
Boston, Massachusetts

A humorous and irreverent overview of the American people, American customs and other things American. It is short, and would be a good gift for someone moving to America. Americans will find it interesting, amusing, and, for the most part, accurate.
Houston, Texas

Reviews from the Press

An enlightened new series, good natured, witty and useful. The Xenophobe's Guides to different nations deserves a real cheer.
The European

Each book is an entertaining essay on the failings, foibles and good points of their subjects. Their humour is relaxed and gentle and it would be a sour, churlish native of a subject country who would object seriously.
The Northern Times

Table of Contents
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

 

Author: Stephanie Faul
Format: 96 pages, pb
Published: 01/03/08
Updated: New Edition
Price: £4.99
ISBN: 1-906042-19-5
Online eBook. Click on button below to sample.
Myebook - The Xenophobe's Guide to the
                      Americans - click here to open my ebook

This is no bluff! Bluffer's Guide®, Bluffer's Guides®, Bluffer's® |
Bluff Your Way®, and Xenophobe's®
are Registered Trademarks |

PLEASE NOTE: Oval Books has new contact details which are as follows:
Oval Books, 5 St John's Buildings, Canterbury Crescent, London SW9 7QH, UK
Tel: 020 7733 8585 Fax: 020 7733 8544 E-mail: info@ovalbooks.com