Lonely Planet German Phrasebook

Great small size allows you to carry the book with you all the time. Phrasebook is very well organized. Obviously doesn't include everything you may need to know but this will allow you to "survive" if you're just passing through Germany, Austria or eastern Switzerland.

This review is not simply about the German Phrasebook by Lonely Planet but rather their entire series of phrasebooks. I travel quite a bit and in the past 2 years I have purchased 5 different phrasebooks from Lonely Planet. The greatest strength of this product line is uniformity. They are all set up the same and have the same essential phrases. Once you learn the pattern within your first book, each successive language book just flows as you will already know where to look. Another bonus is the size. Tiny. Perfect for the coat pocket and it can be kept hidden behind your passport if such a book is embarrassing. I actually was praised in Germany on my latest trip for carrying the book because they thought it a sign of respect that I did not simply go to their country and expect them to speak my language. As they also informed me of, this is not unique to American travelers as the stereotype goes. Many peoples of the world travel expecting others to know 'their' language. I received props for my effort. I also like this book because I am also a fan of the Lonely Planet travel guides. This book, along with a country/city guide make a powerful 1-2 punch for the would be traveler.

navigating through this book is easy to do. Much needed information put into helpful categories. Brief dictionaries E-G and G-E.

It really seems like this book could be expanded upon to create a really nice textbook for German students. Some sections are quite hilarious (sex) and some sections inform you not only of the language but parts of the culture and things NOT TO DO. Handy Dandy

If you know no German, like me, it's a useful book for pronunciation and vocabulary. It also includes useful, simple sentences that can help you out in a pinch. It's not a textbook, so purchasers of it shouldn't expect detailed info. I bought it on impulse at LAX on my way to Munich and was glad I did.