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The Xenophobe's Guide
to the Swiss
by Paul Bilton
A guide to understanding the Swiss that reveals a nation of people who
are anything but the cuckoo clock-making, yodelling stereotypes generally
portrayed.
NOW
Available online as an eBook. See button below right to sample.
| Mountain mentality | | Swiss farmers are tough, independent, hard-working, resilient,
well-prepared for every kind of natural disaster and above all staunchly conservative.
These characteristics have been passed on to Swiss town-dwellers, who go about
their day as if they too were farming a lonely mountain cliff. |
| We can do better | | The Swiss stubbornly refuse to believe they are doing well and will even
dispute the figures that prove it. So, like the poor donkey chasing the carrot,
they pull their collective cart along ever faster, chasing the goal they passed
years ago. |
| Peak performers | | The perceptions of the Swiss being dull, staid and boring while at the
same time displaying a talent for ruthless efficiency and a limitless capacity
for hard work are uncomfortably close to the truth. Likewise the clichéd
impressions of high mountains, watches, cheese - with and without holes, chocolate
bars and gold bars are genuine. |
| Degrees of unease | | The diversity of the Swiss is apparent in the degree to which they worry.
The German-speakers do little else. The French-speaking Swiss are great visionaries
and philosophers with noble thoughts and global dreams. They worry that their
Swiss-German compatriots do not share these dreams. The Italian-speaking Swiss
are less interested in the solid values of work and have a terrible tendency not
to worry nearly enough. |
| I work in
the US for the Swiss. This little book is very funny and fun to read. At the same
time it is amazingly insightful with regards to Swiss culture, customs and people.
I sometimes give it to others doing business with the Swiss. |
| Rome, Georgia, USA |
| As
a Swiss I read this book with great pleasure since it is very funny but true indeed.
As a foreign reader you will find lots of hints and information to help you understand
Swiss mentality and differences between cultures in one small country. |
| Weisslingen, Switzerland |
| The
author manages to sum up every aspect of the Swiss with a typical British sense
of humour! Having lived in Switzerland for some time now - this book was still
able to teach me some idiosyncrasies of the Swiss I didnt know. If you want to
find out who what where why and how the Swiss do things - read this book. Essential
reading for the smallest room in the house. |
| Switzerland |
| The
Xenophobe's Guide to the Swiss is a literary jewel, so very accurate and timeless,
CONGRATULATIONS! | | Northwestern Alberta, Canada |
| The opening
paragraphs of a Xenophobe's Guide to the Swiss set the tone for the rest of an
irreverent, amusing and highly informative portrait of the Swiss people. |
| Arts & Culture section at
www.swissinfo.org |
| An enlightened
new series, good natured, witty and useful. The Xenophobe's Guides to different
nations deserves a real cheer. | | The European |
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:
Paul
Bilton |
| Format:
96
pages, pb |
| Published:
24/08/2008 |
| NEW
EDITION |
| Price:
£4.99 |
| ISBN:
978-1-906042-50-9 |
| Online
eBook. Click on button below to sample. |
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