I was puzzled to hear a tour guide ribbing some worthy citizens of Iowa about their place of origin. Iowans, it seems, are generally regarded by other Americans as somewhat slow, even backward in a nice way and therefore legitimate objects of fun-poking. Europeans on the verge of political unification should be allowed the same freedom to talk about each other, even in these days of political correctness, eurospeak and general mealy-mouthedness, to point out that there are a number of differences which mark off the citizens of one area of Europe from the citizenry of a different one. The author Bob Larson, who has been teaching and living in Germany for a very long time, is repeatedly referred to in Lord Mayor Rommel's preface as 'Dr. Larson', which in itself is part of the cultural difference he is writing about.
Titles are very important in Germany.
The book is constructed in fifteen chapters dealing with insights into the way everyday matters are dealt with in Germany. Chapter titles include 'Learn to live with Too-Muchness' , 'Learn to shake hands and count backwards', 'Learn to eat twice as much', 'Just because it's German doesn't mean it always works'. Bob Larson shows how to describe cultural differences without being nasty or superior and reminds the reader of George Mikes' famous How to be an alien. As very serious people who want to be taken seriously, they are embarrassed when they see us horsing around or poking fun at each other, especially in public. Just watch an old American film on the third German TV program and you will see what I mean.