del-Understanding Europeans 2 Ed

This is one of the most interesting books I've read in some time. While I can't vouch for its descriptions of the European mentality, I did find that its constrasting descriptions of the American mentality very much rang true. (Of course, being generalizations, they won't always apply to all Americans.) In fact, the book helped me to understand and clarify my own (very American) feelings and attitudes about many of the cultural issues the author discusses, issues on which Americans and Europeans apparently have significant cultural differences.

This book appears to be primarily for Americans who have to live and work in Europe, or with Europeans; less for short-time visitors. It sheds a lot of light on the differences between American and European mentalities. It is well written, intelligent, witty and well-informed; it also nicely _illustrates_ some of the peculiarities (as seen from Europe) of American mentality. It sometimes exaggerates its points and is sometimes -- far from always -- self-congratulatory: Americans in it come out almost always as `outgoing and friendly', whereas, for European sensitivities, they are fairly often overbearing, aloof, and `uppity'. A European having to deal with Americans will profit from the book, but another one, like 'Understanding Americans' will be as helpful. As it would to an American reader.

I have read a number of books on European culture and this is the best of the lot for providing a good understanding of the underlaying cultural dynamics. I strongly recommend this book for anyone from the USA who will be living or working in Europe. Europeans should also find this book useful for understanding the USA.

I have a book that has been an eye opener for me. It may be helpful to those Americans who begin to sense that they are not "insync" with the Europeans with whom they live and work. The sense that there is an indescribable defensiveness, a manipulative art of "non"communication that baffles the American sensitivities. That feeling of being "held at bay", regardless if with Germans or Brits, French or Italians. A feeling there is a collective European attitude passed on through generations born out of institutionalized horror, surviving war and poverty, concealment and distrust.It is NOT tourists, those who only experience sights and foods. It is for those American expats - or those living and working in Europe more than 6 months - who have gotten beyond romanticizing about those quaint tourist traps in which they settled.