One country, four languages, 26 cantons, and 7.5 million people (but only 80 per cent of them Swiss): there's nowhere else in Europe like it. Switzerland may be almost 400 km from the nearest drop of seawater, but it is an island at the centre of Europe. Welcome to the landlocked island. Switzerland is the country that not only gave us triangular chocolate and holey cheese, but also the world's first Toilet Duck (1980) and the Swiss Army Knife (1897). The country is famous for its punctual trains and strict neutrality. This is the country that has yodelling festivals on national television. But what lies behind these stereotypes? 'Swiss Watching' is a revealing journey around Europe's most individual country. From seeking Heidi and finding the best chocolate to reliving a bloody past and exploring an uncertain future, 'Swiss Watching' proves that there's more to Switzerland than banks and skis, francs and cheese. This is a picture of the real Switzerland, a place where the breathtaking scenery shaped a nation not just a tour itinerary, and where tradition is as important as technology. It's also the story of its people, who have more power than their politicians, but can't speak to one another in the same language - and who own more guns per head than the people of Iraq. As for those national stereotypes, well, not all the cheese has holes, cuckoo clocks aren't Swiss and the trains don't always run exactly on time.
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Review
'A Financial Times Book of the Year 2010 - ...We all know that Switzerland gave us the world cuckoo clocks, triangular chocolate and penknives, but how about the Toilet Duck, Velcro and LSD? Europe's landlocked island is a great subject for a cultural anthropologist and Bewes, manager of an English language bookshop in Bern, is a perfect guide.'
A Financial Times Book of the Year 2010
'Engagingly light and comic... [Swiss Watching] will make you smile.'
Sunday Telegraph
'Informative and Entertaining' … 'Bewes reveals how Switzerland is riddled with contradictions.'
The Mail on Sunday
'Diccon Bewes has the Bryson touch, informing and entertaining readers with his observations, considerable knowledge and love for this little known country.'
Lovereading.com
'[Bewes has] a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity.'
Die Zeit ---
He is one of those Anglo-Saxon authors who describe foreign countries with a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity. --Die Zeit
With 'Swiss Watching' Diccon Bewes has achieved a book that holds surprising insights about the Swiss, and not just for foreigners. --Berner Zeitung
He is one of those Anglo-Saxon authors who describe foreign countries with a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity. --Die Zeit
With 'Swiss Watching' Diccon Bewes has achieved a book that holds surprising insights about the Swiss, and not just for foreigners. --Berner Zeitung
He is one of those Anglo-Saxon authors who describe foreign countries with a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity. --Die Zeit
With 'Swiss Watching' Diccon Bewes has achieved a book that holds surprising insights about the Swiss, and not just for foreigners. --Berner Zeitung
A Financial Times Book of the Year 2010
'Engagingly light and comic... [Swiss Watching] will make you smile.'
Sunday Telegraph
'Informative and Entertaining' … 'Bewes reveals how Switzerland is riddled with contradictions.'
The Mail on Sunday
'Diccon Bewes has the Bryson touch, informing and entertaining readers with his observations, considerable knowledge and love for this little known country.'
Lovereading.com
'[Bewes has] a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity.'
Die Zeit ---
He is one of those Anglo-Saxon authors who describe foreign countries with a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity. --Die Zeit
With 'Swiss Watching' Diccon Bewes has achieved a book that holds surprising insights about the Swiss, and not just for foreigners. --Berner Zeitung
He is one of those Anglo-Saxon authors who describe foreign countries with a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity. --Die Zeit
With 'Swiss Watching' Diccon Bewes has achieved a book that holds surprising insights about the Swiss, and not just for foreigners. --Berner Zeitung
He is one of those Anglo-Saxon authors who describe foreign countries with a mix of loving irony and a well trained eye for eccentricity. --Die Zeit
With 'Swiss Watching' Diccon Bewes has achieved a book that holds surprising insights about the Swiss, and not just for foreigners. --Berner Zeitung
About the Author
Diccon Bewes is an experienced travel writer who has lived in Switzerland for four years. An 18-month world trip set him up for a career in travel writing, via the scenic route of bookselling. After ten years at Lonely Planet and Holiday Which? magazine, he decamped to Switzerland, where he is currently manager of the Stauffacher English Bookshop in Bern. As well as grappling with German, re-learning to cross the road properly, and overcoming his innate desire to form an orderly queue, he has spent the last four years exploring the bits of the country he'd never heard of before and eating lots of chocolate. See his website at www.dicconbewes.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As someone who has lived in Switzerland quite recently I would recommend `Swisswatching' highly to anyone moving there or simply visiting the country. Bewes' book gets under the skin of the experience of being a foreigner in Switzerland and does it with a great sense of fun. It also gives an excellent and informed view of the Swiss as a nation and proves beyond doubt that, despite having four cultural and language groups within its borders, there is such a thing as Swissness. Most importantly, the book takes a superb look at the regions of Switzerland, some of which may be well known but most of which will be new to all but the most experienced traveller. It looks at the products we all recognise as Swiss and the figures we may currently be unaware of and tells the story of a country through their histories. Above all this is a thoroughly enjoyable, amusing and entertaining read for anyone with even a passing interest in travel.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By K. M. Faiers
Format:Paperback
Swiss Watching proves that there's more to Switzerland than Banks, Watches, Skis, Heidi and Holey Cheese.
This is a brilliant picture of the real Switzerland, one that most of us don't get to see or hear about. The book is full of witty and touching antidotes from all over the country. Highly recommended to those that love armchair travel, I loved it and can't wait to visit Europe's landlocked island.
This is a brilliant picture of the real Switzerland, one that most of us don't get to see or hear about. The book is full of witty and touching antidotes from all over the country. Highly recommended to those that love armchair travel, I loved it and can't wait to visit Europe's landlocked island.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By SJAB
Format:Paperback
This is such a great read, whether or not you are planning to visit Switzerland. If you are, then take this with you because, even though it's not a guide book, you'll end up wanting to visit all the places he mentions! If you're not going there, you'll soon want to once you've read it!! Swisswatching is informative, interesting, honest and funny. Diccon Bewes has researched it well and added in his excellent observations from living as an expat in Switzerland. If you like Bill Bryson you'll love this! I couldn't put it down and can't wait for his next book! The great thing is that you can also make comments and ask him questions via his blog and he actually answers!! Plus each new blog entry adds more funny observations about the country that aren't in his book. What more could you want?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful although limited review about current Switzerland
Diccon Bewes has attempted what is indeed a very difficult task: trying to find out how Swiss people really tick and that as somebody who has not grown up in Switzerland and does... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Phippu
4.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely fascinating
I've visited Switzerland regularly over forty years but I learnt so much from this book! My only niggles are the awful maps (drawn by the author) and the occasional facile quips... Read more
Published 14 months ago by A. C. Bedford
5.0 out of 5 stars
an excellent book
I enjoyed reading every sentence of this book. It is well written - informative, entertaining, and amusing. Read more
Published 15 months ago by samson
4.0 out of 5 stars
An informative and highly readable guide to Switzerland and the Swiss
I bought this book because we visit Switzerland at least twice a year since our son moved to Bern. It is a really good read, answering lots of questions about Swiss culture,... Read more
Published 16 months ago by weedoval
5.0 out of 5 stars
learning about switzerland is just a bonus
this fantastically well-written book is a joy to read. most people reading it will have a predilection towards switzerland and will be keen to learn more about the country... Read more
Published 19 months ago by dan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth Reading
I enjoyed this book, and read it in a couple of days. It's light-hearted, really funny in places and quite informative too. Read more
Published 20 months ago by John D. Andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful insight into the Swiss nation
Outstanding. Not just a travel guide but an intriguing and entertaining description into what makes Swiss people tick.Now I understand.
Published 21 months ago by chappy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting
I myself am Swiss and have lived in Switzerland for more than 50 years, but nevertheless I have learnt a lot about the history of Switzerland by reading this book. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Stalder Verena
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have
This book tells you all you need to know about the swiss and switzerland and much more. It is written in a witty and yet accurate way. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ronan Lynch
5.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting and amusing read
I read this book before moving out to Switzerland and now that I'm here I will read it again. It is an amusing and engaging read and contains lots of useful practical and... Read more
Published 23 months ago by The Reader
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