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The Xenophobe's Guide to the Russians by Vladimir Zhelvis A guide to understanding the Russians which goes behind the curtain of
bearishness to reveal their soft underbelly.
| Efficiency deficiency | | There are said to be some countries in the world where the government
is even less efficient than in Russia. Don't you believe it. There has never been
an efficient administration in Russia from time immemorial. Efficiency and government
in Russia are incompatible. This, at closer inspection, is not so very bad. When
you know that you can expect little or nothing from your government, you feel
free to act on your own. |
| Mother Russia | | Power
in Russia has been in the hands of women for a long time. If the husband is the
head of the family, the wife is the neck, telling the head which way to look.
Defeated and subdued, Russian men submissively and, it seems, almost willingly
bow to the 'weaker' sex. It is not for nothing that grammatically, 'Russia' is
the feminine gender. She is Mother Russia -- nobody would dream of calling her
'Father'. |
| Getting pickled | | A
Russian who has not pickled at least a hundred kilos of cucumbers, green tomatoes
and peppers, plus a barrel of cabbages, will be looked upon with pity and compassion:
he must either be ill or too lazy. |
| Sealed together | | The
most characteristic feature of Russians is their feeling of togetherness. Imagine
thousands of seals sunning themselves on a hard oceanic rock, so closely pressed
against each other that it looks as if it is one big, black, gleaming beast. This
is them, the Russians. Once you understand this, you understand what it is to
be Russian, for there is hardly anything they may say or do that does not encompass
this precious quality of togetherness. |
| The publisher
would welcome your comments on this title. |
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| Xenophobe's
Guides make great gifts for friends travelling abroad. |
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| An
enlightened new series, good natured, witty and useful. The Xenophobe's Guides
to different nations deserves a real cheer. |
| The European |
| The
Xenophobe's Guides raise a smile and give you an understanding of the beliefs
and foibles of nationalities. | | Glasgow Evening Times |
Nationalism
and Identity
Character
Attitudes and Values
Behaviour
Manners
Obsessions
Drinking and Eating
Health and Hygiene
Sense of Humour
Systems
Leisure
and Pleasure
What is Sold Where
Custom and Tradition
Government and Bureaucracy
Business
Culture
Crime and Punishment
Conversation
Language |
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| Author:
Vladimir Zhelvis | | Format:
64
pages, pb | | Published:
31/07/01 | | Updated:
January 2004 | | Price:
£3.99 | | ISBN-10
& ISBN-13: 1-902825-41-1 |
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