Consider the Xenophobe By KAREN SCHERER Everyone knows that it’s a good idea to research a place before traveling there – especially foreign countries. That’s why we have books: guide books, phrase books, history books, tour books. Most of these will provide tourists with the information needed to get around, find a good hotel and see all the top attractions – but they don’t necessarily inform travelers about the culture they are about to immerse in. Enter the Xenophobe’s Guides. According to the series’ website, xenophobes.com, Xenophobia is “an irrational fear of foreigners, probably justified, always understandable.” To combat this, the London-based Oval Books publishes the Xenophobe’s Guides, which are described as “an irreverent look at the beliefs and foibles of nations, almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.” With a funny, lighthearted style, the Xenophobe’s Guides look very directly at a broad array of subject matter. Topics span from Nationalism and Identity to Obsessions to Conversation and Gestures to Language – and everything in between. Yet, amazingly, the books are short – about 60 pages. They are jam-packed with pointed observations and thoroughly entertaining. There are currently 25 books in the Xenophobe’s series, covering people such as the Dutch, French, Hungarians, Kiwis, Icelanders, Russians and the ever-neutral Swiss. Some might think the authors of these books are full of crap, with a strong tendency toward exaggeration, but natives of any of the Xenophobe’s countries who are able to take an honest look at their culture can see the truth behind every word of it. Consider the following excerpt from the Xenophobe’s Guide to the Americans, by Stephanie Faul: “American speech is remarkably straightforward. They tell it as it is, even when it's not a particularly good idea to do so. Linguistic subtlety, innuendo, and irony that other nations find delightful puzzle the Americans, who take all statements at face value, weigh them for accuracy, and reject anything they don't understand.” Faul makes a broad generalization, and, I feel, hits the nail on the head. Despite being written by a multitude of different authors, all books in the Xenophobe’s series have the same, quick-witted style as Faul, and are just as brutally honest. The books are clever, concise, and, at a mere $7, a hell of a bargain.