I've just been lent a book to read... "Swiss watching - Inside Europe's landlocked island" by Diccon Bewes.

I'm only up to chapter 4, but it's a good read. A mix of Swiss history, culture and some amusing observations of the Swiss and their ways. I'm now educating my Swiss Fiance on his own country

I think the author is/was an EF member.

I seem to recall them talking about it while they were publishing it. Unless I dreamt it.

....https://www.facebook.com/SwissWatching?ref=ts&fref=ts

You're a bit late mate!

New book "Swiss Watching" by Diccon Bewes

You can meet the author in Bern, he hosts a readers' group.

It must be a cyclical thing....someone new discovers the book every January and starts a thread about it.

Must be the cold weather, and spending more time inside reading.

Nah, it's post Christmas blues. The chocs and booze are gone, together with the bonus, now they are reading Aunt Jean's book she found on the bus.

Here you go! Wednesday 6th February,

Bern - English Bookshop Reading Circle/Book Club

Sorry! I should've checked previous threads!
Just wanted to share it with anyone who may want to read it. I'd never heard of it.

I read it it this January too. It's great. Plus my Swiss friends learned loads of new things. Only problem was lots of the language stuff is Germanic not just Swiss.
Really want to go to Bern Oberland to find cheese now though.

Thanks for posting, Sbrinz. March's date and book are up as well. There didn't seem to be much interest, so I haven't posted April.

By the way for those who don't know, I am not Diccon I just like the book and have been to the reading circle.

I read the book and thought it was really good. Could be really dry information, but it's presented in an interesting way... I was forty minutes into it and realized I was reading about politics and was enjoying it. That's a first!

I thought Diccon Bewes was a Scottish pop group from the 80's?

And this is related to the thread in what way?

I agree - the author has a style that is simple to engage with and the book is interesting especially if you are new to Switzerland.

Or maybe the books is given as a Christmas gift--got it last year from my Swiss brother in-law, in't dat sweet?

I read it after my HR contact in Baden recommended to me (she is swiss). She was trying to explain someone else in the program that the Swiss thought and did things differently to the rest of the world, and she recommended the book so we'd understand them better.

It was a good recommendation and I finished reading it in a couple of days .

There is also a book called Watching the English which is funny and pretty accurate

Just read Swiss Watching - I'd say it its a must read for people that are moving here. Fun to read and very descriptive of the subtleties that make the Swiss so peculiar. He's got a web site: http://www.dicconbewes.com/

Ha! I just picked this up yesterday from my husband's work "library". I'd never heard of it before, but it does indeed seem to be a good informative read.

The third Swiss Watching book is out in October, according to The Facebook page.....