Traveling in Germany: These Strange German Ways

by Susan Stern

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3925744088
• ISBN13: 9783925744082
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Atlantik-Brucke
• Length: 127 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Good for Germans to understand how others might see them

Very funny, and very true. This is also a great helper for Germans to understand how others (non-Germans) might see and perceive them, and of course it's quite useful for non-Germans to understand German behaviors and habits in a better way. But: Some observations are a bit outdated as things changed during the past 10 - 20 years, and globalization finally arrived in Germany as well (and frankly speaking: There is not the "one specific German culture", there are many!). So you should take everything really literally, but nevertheless you get a better feeling for "these strange German ways".

Easy reading for understanding an enigmatic people

One of the most comprehensible works for a range of interests in Germanic culture, "These Strange German Ways" approaches the question of "What is German?" with direct, unique descriptions. As a professor at the University of Frankfurt and someone who hast lived in Germany for more than thirty years, Suzanne Stern's occasional, enlightening quips give the impression of an intimate friendship with the Germans. Though Germans may not appreciate her humor, it reflects an Anglo-Saxon perspective on the Teutonic culture (Stern herself is British) whose style is both light and informative. From how to present flowers to the German "Kreislaufstoerung," this book will either picque further interest in this enigmatic people or provide some laughs at their peculiarities.

Truly Spectacular

Susan Stern is a remarkable author. She has helped me not just to understand German culture more, but also my understanding of my native American Culture. I met Susan Stern once at a convention at the University of South Carolina with a few of my fellow German students. She is just as remarkable in person as in this book. If you plan on traveling to Germany, be it for Business, to live there, or for tourism, I highly recomend this book. Even if you're not traveling to Germany, this book is great for understanding and comparing your own culture with that of others. One last thing. Read the up-dated book which was published in 2000, not the 1998 version.

Is that me?

I'm amazed! This book shows a detailed understanding of the German psyche. I as a German myself was totally amazed how highly accurate the descriptions are. Although the author sometimes strays a little from the truth (as I see it) in order to help understanding the Strange German Ways, I feel quite at home reading this book. As I have been to the US for a year and tried to explain Germany and the Germans to 'you folks', I would have been really grateful for this book as a companion. This is definitely a 'must have' if you deal with Germans a lot or intend to visit Germany.

It`s all true!

i guess this is the first book telling about the sometimes really strange german ways. i, as i am from germany, can just say: the author is right. the book contains everthing important (or not important but funny) and will probably do very well, helping you to understand us strange germans. i am now in the us as an exchange student for 11 month and brought it as a present for my host family - it was real fun reading it together and i guess it made the life with me a little easier for my host family. but: only 4 stars because some things aren`t up-to-date