Germany: Unraveling an Enigma By: Greg Nees

How I Spent My Time Started from the beginning Read the first 3 chapters completely Skipped through the remaining chapters and read some particular topics of interest after that

To The Reader The author starts out by saying he will do his best to be unbiased Gives a brief description of his life and how he is connected to both the German and American way of life Attempts to explain German culture to an American audience (without offending either group!)

To the Reader “I was born in Eastern Pennsylvania in 1949 to working-class German and Anglo- Saxon ancestors…this area…influenced me more than I was aware of.”

My Thoughts I think it is extremely important to read this section of the book We learn how objective (or subjective) the author is This will play a role while we read the rest of the book –Can we believe what he says?

Ch. 1 Introduction What does it mean to be German? The author does not answer the question, but rather gives the reader a wide range of “German” topics to think about –The first real Germanic hero to how Hollywood needs the Nazis to politics Very brief

What does Google think?

Did you know? The Legend of Hermann Lead Germanic tribes into victory against the Romans in 9 AD Story became popular during 1871 Why?

My Thoughts An interesting chapter that gets the reader to start thinking about German culture The author often compares American and German culture (like Omaggio says!), but also uses Asian culture as a contrast occasionally throughout the book

Ch. 2 Who are the Germans? He is speaking solely about those in Germany Mentions that Germans tend to focus more on history than Americans do From there gives a mini-history lesson about time periods in German history Continually relates the history to modern trends or culture

Something interesting BRD was divided into two time periods, before and after 1968 Nachkriegsgeneration- Generation of ’68 Their movements resulted in big changes within Germany –Education reform –Childcare changes

Ch. 2 Who are the Germans? The author also includes a section called “A Patchwork Community” where he discusses differences within Germany Historical reasons for these differences Heimat trends North v. South East v. West Urban v. Rural

Not just East and West North v. South = Protestant v. Catholic “The Rheinlanders are thought to talk more and are considered more cheerful and extroverted than the dour, serious, Protestant Swabians, who are famed for their thrift and industry.” Differences in familiarity

My Thoughts This was my favorite section of the book! Having a historical background about a country/people/nation is not something people generally have Dealt well with the Third Reich Explored regional differences

Ch.3 Major German Cultural Themes Nees says that “in order to communicate successfully with people from another culture, it is important to understand how they interpret a given situation and what their intentions are.”

Ch. 3 Major German Cultural Themes Ordnung muß sein Seen in all aspects of life –Rules and regulations –Not chaos! –The class system

Ch. 3 Major German Cultural Themes Clarity and Compartmentalization Set boundaries for… –Homes and work places –Relationships –Daily activities

My Thoughts Autumn’s comment last week made me nervous about this chapter Seemed to be very explanatory, providing many small examples Could probably be summed up in the word “Order”

Ch. 4 German Communication Patterns Du and Sie revisited Nice explanation with diagrams comparing many different types of interactions Connected back to last chapter’s examples

Self Unconscious Most Personal Most Public

Ch. 5 and 6 Business Skipped around here 60 pages out of 170! German attitude toward business Banks Staying late to impress the boss backfires

Ch. 7 Creation of a New German Identity Ends looking into the future Germany’s role in the EU Changes for women Problems with the current higher education system Amerikanisierung

Last Thoughts A little more academic in style Provides reasons in a serious way for why Germans are they way they are More factual than personal. Maybe unbiased? Luckily I am interested in German culture…