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Germany: Unraveling an Enigma

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.

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Germany: Unraveling an Enigma

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  1. Germany: Unraveling an Enigma By: Greg Nees

  2. 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

  3. 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!)

  4. 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.”

  5. 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?

  6. 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

  7. What does Google think?

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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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.”

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

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

  18. 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”

  19. 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

  20. Self Unconscious Most Personal Most Public

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 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…

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