Meet Germany, a nation of perfectionists born from a history of chaos: the "unification model."

"Reading the World: Germany" shows how Germany, which endured a modern history of greed and destruction, and even 40 years of national division during the Cold War, was able to rapidly leap forward as the center of the European economy.
The author devotes particular attention to reading the minds of Germans, who are still recovering from the wounds of World War II and the division between East and West, and points out the somewhat discriminatory meaning of "foreigner" in this society.
And it provides practical advice on how to settle into a diverse culture, work, study, and spend a lot of free time there.
We provide real estate agents who can help foreigners find suitable homes, inform them about important health insurance and education systems, and prepare them for the German business environment, where people work some of the shortest hours in the world while managing everything perfectly.
Admire the beautiful castles along the Rhine River, explore cities and towns with a greater sense of pride in their region than in their country, and enjoy a wide variety of sausages and beers.

In fact, it is not easy for a country's history to be directly revealed in people's lives.
But Germany's tragic history affects all of us living in the 21st century, including those who have just arrived in this country.
p.19 First impressions

German history can be likened to a roller coaster ride, with breathtaking rises and falls, wild turns and turns, and frenetic fluctuations.
No nation has ever experienced hopes and fears, dreams, loyalties and extremism, destiny and passion with such intensity as modern Germany.
p.40 The country called Germany

The experience of Nazism had a profound impact on the character of modern Germans.
Today's Germans are less trusting of authority and less respectful of uniforms than their ancestors.
Strong skepticism about the military permeates German society, with a significant number of Germans adopting a pacifist perspective.
p.51 German people

Goethe, the great German poet, declared through his most famous creation, Doctor Faustus, “Two souls beat in my breast.”
The words of the good old doctor can be said to be the lament of many German compatriots.
Germans often feel divided, caught up in a variety of passions, and tenaciously cling to seemingly contradictory viewpoints.
p.65 German people

One of the qualities that Germany's dark history has left to its people is a deep-seated sense of depression.
Germans are very anxious because they know all too well that any situation can turn terribly bad in an instant.
If there were no problems to worry about, why would you worry about something that is not there?
p.66 German people

There's an old joke about hell where the French control the traffic, the British cook, and the Germans tell jokes.
But just as British culinary skills have improved remarkably over the past 30 years, Germans' sense of humor has also developed positively.
p.103 A Look Inside German Society

In Germany, there is a term called polterabend, which means 'noisy evening' in relation to marriage.
(a noisy gathering the night before the wedding)
The couple who are getting married invites a wide range of friends, acquaintances, relatives, and colleagues. The invitees bring old plates, cups, and porcelain, and throw them on the ground, breaking them.
It is the job of the couple to clear away the mountain of debris.
p.118 A Look Inside German Society

'Behorde' and 'amt' are German words that refer to the various government offices and government offices that play a key role in ensuring that the country of Germany runs smoothly.
Like everyone else who comes to Germany, you will soon discover that there are three things you cannot avoid in Germany: death, taxes, and Behörde.
p.123 A Look Inside German Society

In German cuisine, pork is considered sacred.
Not only is it easy to grow, but it also provides both nutrition and calories at the same time.
Interestingly, studies by culinary historians show that even centuries ago, Germans generally considered pork to be the most delicious food.
… … There is also an old saying that German cuisine uses every part of the pig except the squeal.
p.166 German food

Drinking beer in Germany is a pure pleasure in itself.
This is especially true when considering the strict regulations governing beer brewing, the Reinheitsgebot, also known as the German Beer Purity Law.
This is a law first enacted by the Bavarian monarchs in 1516, which states that beer in Germany must be brewed only with hops, barley, yeast, and water.
Thanks to this law, German beer has not only maintained its pure taste, but has also been able to prevent headaches and other side effects that can arise when adding miscellaneous ingredients.
p.185 German food

One of the most impressive and vibrant examples of German street festivals is the massive Christmas market, or Weihnachtsmarkt.
The roots of Christmas markets, also known as 'wine markets', predate street festivals by centuries.
In the past, craftsmen in major cities would set up markets in the city center to sell their wares before Christmas, and this has continued into today's wine markets.

p.210 Play and Art in Germany

Perhaps the oldest stereotype about Germans is that of the "hard-working German."
Outside of Germany, almost everyone is convinced that this is a 'country of workaholics'.
But there is a shocking fact.
Germans, known as the world's most workaholic people, actually work far fewer hours than people in other countries.
p.233 Working in Germany

The term 'task-centered' is synonymous with 'problem-centered society'.
In a business context, it explains the German tendency to wait for problems to surface on their own and then solve them with German perfectionism.
Certainly, Germans are more reactive than preventive.
They are not adventurers or pioneers.
Unlike Asians or North Americans, they do not anticipate problems and find solutions on their own, but only move to solve problems after they have surfaced.
Never take the initiative before a problem arises.
p.242 Working in Germany

__From the text