The Naked Swiss
The Nation Behind 10 Myths
2nd Edition
Published on 11. April 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-3-03869-039-9 (ISBN)
Description
The Naked Swiss: A Nation Behind 10 Myths
Clare O'Dea promises to change the way the world thinks about modern Switzerland - and give Swiss readers much to think about too. In ten chapters O'Dea dismantles the most positive myths of modern Switzerland (The Swiss are Rich/Brilliant/Have the Perfect Democracy) with the same sharp journalistic eye she assesses the negative one (The Swiss are Crooked Bankers/Xenophobic/Helped the Nazis).
Already excerpted in Switzerland's weekly Die Weltwoche and garnering lavish praise (see below), O'Dea - ten year veteran at Swissinfo, and now Swiss herself - introduces readers to a cast of real Swiss, painting a lively country through many anecdotes. It is a Switzerland of the twenty-first century - a Switzerland of working mothers, banks gone bankrupt, multicultural football teams. It is a book that isn't afraid to address past shame, present national crises and even the Swiss sex life.
In fact-based chapters O'Dea presents a Switzerland that will surprise even many Swiss readers. O'Dea speaks five languages, has visited all 26 cantons, and is the mother of three Swiss children, and her deep knowledge of the country is on display page after page. It promises to be the most important book about Switzerland for international readers for the next several years to come.
Clare O'Dea promises to change the way the world thinks about modern Switzerland - and give Swiss readers much to think about too. In ten chapters O'Dea dismantles the most positive myths of modern Switzerland (The Swiss are Rich/Brilliant/Have the Perfect Democracy) with the same sharp journalistic eye she assesses the negative one (The Swiss are Crooked Bankers/Xenophobic/Helped the Nazis).
Already excerpted in Switzerland's weekly Die Weltwoche and garnering lavish praise (see below), O'Dea - ten year veteran at Swissinfo, and now Swiss herself - introduces readers to a cast of real Swiss, painting a lively country through many anecdotes. It is a Switzerland of the twenty-first century - a Switzerland of working mothers, banks gone bankrupt, multicultural football teams. It is a book that isn't afraid to address past shame, present national crises and even the Swiss sex life.
In fact-based chapters O'Dea presents a Switzerland that will surprise even many Swiss readers. O'Dea speaks five languages, has visited all 26 cantons, and is the mother of three Swiss children, and her deep knowledge of the country is on display page after page. It promises to be the most important book about Switzerland for international readers for the next several years to come.
Reviews / Votes
In this new, updated edition of her bestselling book, cross-cultural journalist Clare O'Dea goes in search of the truth behind the clichés that clothe modern Switzerland. Her examination of the unique nation she calls home reveals a complex and dynamic land, whose citizens are often poorly served by the assumptions we make about them. She also turns up facts many Swiss would prefer to hide. Eleven chapters examine the eleven most prevalent cliches about the Swiss:The Swiss Are Swiss
The Swiss Are Neutral
The Swiss Are Rich
The Swiss Are Xenophobic
The Swiss Are Crooked Bankers
The Swiss Are Boring
The Swiss Are Sexist
The Swiss Helped the Nazis
The Swiss Have the Perfect Democracy
The Swiss Are Brilliant
More details
Person
Author
Clare's career as a journalist spans two decades and three countries. Most recently, she worked at the international news service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation in Bern, where she covered Swiss politics, culture and business news for nine years. Clare speaks five languages, is the mother of three Swiss children, and became Swiss herself in 2015.