The Xenophobe's Guide

Series · 18

books · 1993-2002

By Nick Yapp, Christine Cole Catley, Peter Berlin, and more

Books in series

Xenophobe's Guide to the Americans

1994

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

Xenophobe's Guide to the Belgians

1994

"Belgians like above all to be practical, solid. They stand square and conduct conversation from the base of the neck. Courteous behaviour is it is the natural product of right-mindedness. It is also that is how you get on in the world." "Belgians would be very happy indeed if all the world knew them to be good-natured, tolerant, individualistic, self-assertive, modest, moderate, and the embodiment of European ideals. This is a long-term project. Meanwhile being placed somewhere on the map of Europe will do."

Xenophobe's Guide to Canadians

2002

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#11

Xenophobe's Guide to the Danes

1998

Everything in moderation Denmark is a land of modesty and moderation. This is largely a consequence of the Danes' sense of social responsibility. The touchstone of any activity or point of view is whether it is samfundsrelevant, that is, socially useful. That's not funny Danish humor suffers from the handicap of the Danes' literal-mindedness (“Can you play the violin?” “I don't know, I've never tried.”), and for their need to conform. In a country where all right-thinking people think the right things, no-one is sufficiently different to laugh at. Combined forces Danes cooperate. Lego comes from the Danish words leg godt, which means “play well,” and this is just what the Danes are good at. They get along well with other people. In any brochure translated for the world market, the word cooperation will appear at least three times per page along with a generous sprinkling of “joint ventures.” Frankly speaking They say what they think about sex, politics, religion, everything. Small talk can assume monstrous proportions. They will tell you frankly how much their mortgage is, how much they earn per hour, and whether or not they shave their armpits.

#13

The Xenophobe's Guide to the English

1993

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#16

The Xenophobe's Guide to the French

1995

An irrational fear of foreigners. Xenophobe's Small books that show the more you know the less you fear. Xenophobe's Forewarned is forearmed.

#18

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans

1994

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#20

Xenophobe's Guide to Hungarians

1999

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia. > «Typical Hungarians don't recognize limits in anything they do. The best kind of Hungarian likes to demonstrate that, whatever happens, he will keep his word, provide you with what he has promised, or finish the job he was trusted with, even if he becomes half crippled in the process. > His aim, however, is not necessarily to come up with a result, but to show in the most dramatic manner that he made the effort.»

#23

Xenophobe's Guide to Israelis

2001

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#24

Xenophobe's Guide to Italians

1995

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#25

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Japanese

1993

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#26

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Kiwis

1996

An irrational fear of foreigners. Xenophobe's Small books that show the more you know the less you fear. Xenophobe's Forewarned is forearmed.

#28

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Poles

1994

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#30

Xenophobe's Guide to Russians

1995

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#32

Xenophobe's Guide to Spanish

1995

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#33

Xenophobe's Guide to Swedes

1994

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

#34

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Swiss

1996

A guide to understanding the Swiss that reveals a nation of people who are anything but the cuckoo clock-making, yodelling stereotypes generally portrayed.

#35

Xenophobe's Guide to Welsh

1993

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny—almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

Authors

Nick Yapp

Author · 22 books

Nicholas Yapp 1938-

Christine Cole Catley

John Winterson Richards

Author · 3 books

John Winterson Richards is a Welsh entrepreneur, writer, and former local councillor. He held his first company directorship at 19, and at 22 founded a consultancy specialising in small business. He is the author of the Bluffer’s Guide to Small Business and the Xenophobe’s Guide to the Welsh, published by Oval Books. These two books have between them been reprinted twenty times in English and have been translated into eight other languages. More recently, he has been a regular contributor to the Mind Your Own Business podcasts and main contributor to that website’s blog. In 1986, aged 22, he won a by-election for the seat of Lisvane and Old St Mellons on Cardiff City Council, becoming the youngest member of that Council. Six months later he was promoted to Shadow Chairman of the City’s Economic Development Committee, then under the Chairmanship of Alun Michael, MP. He eventually rose to become, at the age of 31, the last Leader of the Opposition on the City Council before Local Government Reorganisation. He played an important role in lobbying for that Reorganisation, which established unitary authorities throughout Wales. He was the only Conservative elected to the new Cardiff County Council in 1995. He also stood as a Conservative and Unionist in the Rhondda, the safest Labour seat in the country, in the 1992 General Election. He was not elected but retained his deposit. In 1999 he decided to let his membership of the Conservative Party lapse and not to stand for the Council again. In 2004, he co-founded Cardiff Independent Citizens as a vehicle for those wishing to stand for the Council as Independents.

He has written several books on Victorian songs and society. Now he works as a public relations consultant. Resides in Wandsworth.

Drew Launay was born of French parents in England. Lives in Nerja, Southern Spain. After early years in the family meat business he escaped to the Windmill Theatre in London's West End to write the screen play for 'Yes we have no Pajamas'. Over 50 books have since been published under pseudonyms André Launay (General Fiction), Andrew Laurance (Psychic Thrillers) and some of the popular Xenophobe and Bluffer's Guides.

He was born in Sussex in 1954. A former teacher, fireman and postman, he is now a full-time writer, researcher and editor. He has published four novels and a number of other books, the latest being The Cassell Dictionary of Regrettable Quotations. Resides in Dorset.