Switzerland - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture [Paperback]

Kendall Maycock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2006 | Series: Culture Smart!

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

Editorial Reviews

Review

Culture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers, Sunday Times Travel - ...the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries, Global Travel - ...full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas, Observer - ...as useful as they are entertaining, Easy Jet Magazine - ...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world, New York Times.

About the Author

KENDALL MAYCOCK is a Canadian author and journalist living in Zurich. After graduating in political science from the University of Calgary she worked for an independent newspaper in South Africa, where she met her Swiss husband. Her book Black Taxi: Shooting South Africa documents her experiences there. She has contributed cultural essays to the Washington Times magazine “The World and I,” and writes a monthly column for the Swiss parenting magazine The New Stork Times about life as an expatriate resident coming to terms with, and growing to love, her adopted Switzerland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kuperard; Reprinted edition edition (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857333209
• ISBN-13: 978-1857333206
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Travel > Europe > Switzerland
  • #64 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Etiquette > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and acurate, December 6, 2006

By 

Rolf Riesen (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Switzerland - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

I grew up in Switzerland and bought this book out of curiosity to see how others see the Swiss. I found the information in this booklet very concise and easy to read. For the most part the book is very acurate and up-to-date. It is also fun to read and gives lots of information on understanding the Swiss, their history, and their customs. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about the Swiss and their country.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Switzerland - Culture Smart!, June 26, 2007

By 

Sarah W. Megonigal (Lanham, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Switzerland - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

I bought this book as a gift for a graduate student who was going to work in Switzerland for two years. However, I did look through it before giving it away, and I had done quite a bit of research on line before picking this particular item. The book seemed to me a very practical guide for someone taking up residence in Switzerland, and was not so much meant for the casual 2-week vacationer. The sections on cultural differences between the Swiss and other people were particularly interesting, and would head off some awkward moments for a new immigrant. The parts about rules for apartment living sound quite strict for someone from America, but, again, would prevent misunderstandings between Swiss and foreign tenants. There are also the more usual guidebook sections on recreation, such as hiking, skiing, eating in restaurants, etc. The student who received the book proclaimed it "great", and I think it will come in handy in the months ahead.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comment from a Swiss, November 30, 2008

By 

Christine Weber (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Switzerland - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

I bought this book for a friend in the U.S.A. As a Swiss I was very curiouse to read how "the Swiss" are.

I can agree with most things in the book and recomand "Switzerland - culture Smart!" to everybody who is interested in getting a quick overview about the general Swiss culture and attitude.