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The Xenophobe's Guide to the Danes by Helen Dyrbye, Steven Harris and Thomas Golzen
A guide to understanding the Danes that highlights their character and
behaviour with warmth and wit.
NOW Available online as an eBook.
See button below right to sample.
| Everything in moderation |
| Denmark is a land of modesty and moderation. This is largely a
consequence of the Danes' sense of social responsibility. The touchstone of any
activity or point of view is whether it is samfundsrelevant, that is, socially
useful. |
| That's not funny | | Danish humour suffers from the handicap of the Danes' literal-mindedness
('Can you play the violin?' 'I don't know, I've never tried.'), and for their
need to conform. In a country where all right-thinking people think the right
things, no-one is sufficiently different to laugh at. |
| Combined forces | | Danes co-operate. Lego comes from the Danish words leg godt which means
'play well', and this is just what the Danes are good at. They get along well
with other people. In any brochure translated for the world market, the word 'co-operation'
will appear at least three times per page along with a generous sprinkling of
'joint ventures'. |
| Frankly speaking | | They say what they think about sex, politics, religion, everything. Small
talk can assume monstrous proportions. They will tell you frankly how much their
mortgage is, how much they earn per hour and whether or not they shave their armpits. |
| I laughed
till I cried. After two years in Denmark this book still managed to provide insights
into the Danes. I find myself quoting it when trying to describe Denmark to others
... and even to my Danish boyfriend .. His constant 'you mean other people don't
do that' was only interrupted by his laughter. |
| Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Amazing
book. The three authors are 100% attuned to the Danes. They get the Danish humor
right. We could not have written it better ourselves, really! So, if you are going
to Denmark, or need an introduction to the Danes, this is the book to get. |
| Denmark |
I
admit to being a Dane, and reading this book my reactions alternated between amused
pride and sincere embarrassment as I saw one layer after another of our national
character accurately dissected - but most of all I laughed!
This book has
a wonderful energetic sense of irony and humour, combined with a deep insight
into the Danish culture and mentality. The only objection I have to some of the
conclusions and observations is that they are rather obviously made in Copenhagen
and apply the best to Danes from the capital. Denmark is a small country, but
there is still some regional variance in our culture. For instance, people in
Jutland have a better sense of humour than those in Copenhagen. I think a Copenhagen
Dane might have laughed less...
If you are going to Denmark, if you have travelled
or lived there for a while, if you hate us, love us, or feel puzzled about us,
or if you are a Dane yourself, you will almost certainly enjoy this book! |
| Denmark |
| ...it has
been used as a textbook in a Danish Business School's cultural understanding classes
and the Danish AIESEC (the world's largest student organisation) offers this series
to all students participating in their international traineeship exchange programme.
What more recommendation do you need. | |
Cape Town, South Africa |
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This is a book written by people who know us well and view us with a mixture of
kindness, indulgence, scepticism and quirky humour. |
| Information, Denmark |
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 | |
|
Authors:
Helen Dyrbye,
Steven Harris and
Author: Thomas Golzen |
| Format:
96
pages, pb |
| Published:
24/07/2008 |
| NEW
EDITION |
| Price:
£4.99 |
| ISBN:
978-1-906042-27-1 |
| Online
eBook. Click on button below to sample. |
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