Swiss Watching was published in June 2010 by Nicholas Brealey Publishing in London and went on to be a Number 1 bestseller in Switzerland and a Financial Times Book of the Year. For more information and to order online, please click on the cover.
Der Schweizversteher ist die deutsche Übersetzung von Swiss Watching und ist soeben beim Piper Malik Verlag in München erschienen. Für weitere Information oder wenn Sie das Buch online kaufen wollen, klicken Sie bitte auf das Bild.
The next book – Swisscellany: a collection of facts & figures about Switzerland – will be published in June 2012 by Bergli Books in Basel. You can pre-order a copy here.
4 Comments on "About the books"
I actually bought my copy in Stauffacher’s, though I don’t think you sold it to me! I very much enjoyed reading it — an outsider’s slightly sideways look at the mass of contradictions that is Switzerland. I found the motorway driving much less pleasant, though — while people are happy to stand around and chat for ages, I had the feeling that they felt that time spent driving was wasted time, so they would often drive like maniacs. And, they say, the cops will tailgate you, trying to make you drive faster so you can be stopped and fined…While many people are happy to rent a flat for ever, younger people will do this until they “settle down”, when there is a trend to have their own place. But the major problem for many people is getting a mortgage — you need at least 20% of the cost in cash up front, and houses are expensive; for many people home-owning is financially impossible.And the bureaucracy; a major difference from the UK is having to pay just about every time you need something from the Gemeinde. Indeed, the emphasis on reducing so many things to their monetary “equivalent” is something I found disturbing.Mountain railways are narrow gauge because they are cheaper and easier to build, compared to standard gauge; and because the curves can be made much tighter. And next time you go to the Jungfraujoch, look at the tracks; standard gauge to Interlaken, meter gauge on the BOB, 800mm on the WAB, and back to meter on the JB. And the electricity supplies are different — the JB is 3-phase.The mountain railways and cable cars are great for getting up high in the Alps — and there’s always a restaurant at the top to refresh you. And an Alp is, strictly, pasture above the tree line.
Hi Diccon! Thanks for the super book. (I purloined it while on the way to its rightful owner). Since my wife is a natural born Swiss (St Gallen), I have all intentions of becoming a Swiss or as near as possible. Your book is my “bible” to getting Swiss citizenship eventually. Unfortunately during my third (!) reading of this excellent publication, I left it in an aircraft on a flight back to Australia, and now I am without my guide to being Swiss and must remain an Aussie for the time being until retirement comes around. Thanks again and will make a special pilgrimage to Geneva on my next visit.
Thanks Johann. Glad to hear you like the book so much. Here’s hoping it found a good new home after your plane trip!
did a red shoe survey at a modern dance show in Geneva this week – only saw three pairs. Is Geneva an exception? Ex-Which? myself, love your approach that takes the fact-based Which? approach and makes it much more personal, readable and fun. Are you going to stand for election?