I recently purchased the book, Those Crazy Germans! by Stephen Somers. I was looking for a lighthearted book about German culture to lend to my students. This book met all my needs.
Mr. Somers is a self-proclaimed lover of all things German. After having studied the language in university in the U.S., he traveled and worked throughout Germany for a number of years. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on German culture.
His humor and appreciation of the differences between Americans and Germans comes through in every chapter. Topics addressed include: the German transportation system, eating and drinking habits, celebrations and holidays, politics, music, and many more. The book is organized into 22 compact chapters making it easy for people to choose what is of interest to them.
Of particular interest to me was chapter 3, titled Rules, Rules and More Rules: Is this allowed? It deals with how rule-oriented Germans are. For North Americans this can be a difficult transition to life in Germany as things are more flexible or negotiable in our society than they are in Germanic society. An example given in the book is that a regular citizen can reprimand you for jaywalking!
In sum, this is an excellent book and a fast and entertaining read for anyone looking for some insights into German culture.
