Germany: Unraveling an Enigma

“The Germans are an enigma not only to the rest of the world but also to themselves." So Greg Nees begins this comprehensive analysis of German culture as Americans encounter it. It is a culture Americans tend to see as similar to their own until they experience it in some depth in Germany or in the company of Germans elsewhere.

As it turns out, Germans spend great amounts of time discussing their puzzling heritage and culture; in fact, discussing and debating almost anything is one of their favorite pastimes. Nees offers an insider's perspective on what it means to be a German in this thoughtful examination of German culture, and he does so as would a German—methodically, thoroughly, and with an eye to historical underpinnings.

Nees is, in fact, as much German as American, growing up in a German family in eastern Pennsylvania and spending thirteen years as a young adult in Germany. He starts out with a review of modern German history. Nees then turns his attention to the major German cultural themes: order, insider/outsider perception, clarity of thought and expression, private versus public spheres, friends and acquaintances, rationality, and the German sense of duty and obligation. Through it all runs a historically based theme of insecurity and uncertain national identity, feelings that the atrocities of the Third Reich only served to reinforce.

The author illustrates how these cultural characteristics structure German communication patterns. He notes particularly subtle but significant differences between German and American communication styles and outlines ways to avoid misunderstandings.

Germany's social market economy is the subject of the fifth chapter. Cultural and historical forces are at work here also. The Germans' need for order, their desire for security and their sense of responsibility are directly reflected in German economic behavior and shape relationships in the workplace. In chapter six, Nees offers insights into how Americans can be more effective in a German work environment by understanding German patterns of time use and punctuality, entertaining, formality, problem solving, negotiating, and attitudes toward work.

Germany: Unraveling an Enigma will be welcomed by anyone interested in Germany or German culture. It will be especially valuable for students, managers, and others living in Germany, along with anyone else wishing to understand the dynamics of cross-cultural interaction between Germans and Americans.

About the Author

Dr. Greg Nees is a consultant, trainer and facilitator in the field of intercultural communication. His company, The German Connection, is a network of intercultural experts helping major organizations adapt effectively to a globalizing world. He has a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Colorado and an M.A. in applied linguistics from Johannes Gutenberg Universität.