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- Verified Buyer
I've traveled to Switzerland numerous times and I know something about the country and its people, as my mother was born there and I still have family there. This book, which I purchased in Zurich in 2004 for roughly $30 American, is a quick and interesting read and gets you thinking, even if you don't agree with all the author's conclusions.Certain observations, such as why the Swiss value their privacy, I found to be quite insightful and helped me achieve a more complete understanding of my Swiss friends and family, along with some of my own character traits.However, the author reaches a bit too far at times. For example, she cites the story of a Swiss neighbor being unwilling to help a foreigner with a plumbing repair as an example of how all Swiss are rather standoffish. Or maybe this individual just didn't feel like being friendly, was busy, didn't know a good plumber, etc. The point is, it's simply impossible to define any group of people as being all one way or another.However, despite the heavy use of anecdotal evidence, this is still a thought-provoking read and would be useful for anyone either moving to Switzerland or interested in exploring their Swiss heritage, as I was.Having been to Switzerland a few times in 2006 (and planning to go a few times in the future), I bought this book to help me understand the people and culture. It was recommended by a couple of Swiss people. I found it an easy read, with many examples from a variety of people's experiences. It covers quite a variety of topics from friendship to the workplace. It opened my eyes to many of the subtle understandings Swiss people share that may not be immediately evident to Americans, such as I. As long as one remembers that sometimes individual Swiss are not 'typical' to the book's descriptions, the book is a wonderful asset if you are planning in staying in Switzerland for a good length of tme. [...]
