Germany and the Germans: The United Germany in the Mid-1990s; New Edition

If you're not planning to do it the hard way, i.e do some heavy reading on German history combined with living in Germany for a long time, this book should suffice in providing you with some serious insights on the country, its people, and their psyche. Written from the perspective of someone who did live there for many years (while doing some intense travelling within Germany) as well as having a German wife, Ardagh rpoves to be a more than adequate source. His biggest asset is that he's an excellent researcher not to mention a very accurate observer. What this book basically covers is the post-war Germany. It picks it up starting with the immense difficulties the Germans faced in re-establishing a country laid in ruins and an economy in shambles,. It then proceeds on to how the Germans reached what is by now known as the "deutsche wunder" , and how the whole process coupled with the denazification and distancing from a troubled past reshaped the German folk and life in general. While all this is basically presented in a summarily fashion it still gives you an efficient backround as you move on the 70s and further all the way to the fall of the Berlin wall. Intriguingly, Ardagh does a region by region analysis too which should provide you with a good glimpse on the quite different peoples that share nationlity but vary in mentality, demeanor and customs if not ethics. Perhaps his strongest chapter is the one covering the former East Germany and the reunification. While the 40 or so pages dedicated to this will surely not be enough, they will still give you a good overview on life under "socialism" and the surreal logistical (and other) problems as the 2 forcibly divided nations became again one in the 90s with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ardagh isa good writer who backs up convincingly his analysis and often uses humor to entice and enhance his observations. Having myself lived in Germany for several years i think this is one of the best books on the subject. If one thing did "bother" me is his somewhat shallow analysis of the politics involved. But then again this is not what i was looking for when i bought the book. On every other aspect it was more than fulfilling, and to this, as an extra argument, i add the numerous things i learned by reading it even though i've spent a big part of my life here and had still not discovered them.

I read this book at the beginning of my six month stay in Germany while working. As I became more familiar with the Germans and their culture, I realized that this book absolutely right about so many things! Any foreigner going to live in Germany should read this book!

Very thorough and honest look at the German society from almost all different aspects. A must read for those interested in the country.