Oval Books

Xenophobe’s Guide to the Americans is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the Americans American. “Special licence plates have car owners vying with each other to see who is the cleverest.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the characteristics of a cou...

Xenophobe’s Guide to the Canadians is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the Canadians Canadian. “Canadians have figured out that anything that can be done on water can also be done on ice.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the characteristics of a c...

Xenophobe’s Guide to the French is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the French French. “In conversation, French hands are never still. They display the state of mind, heart and soul of the parties involved.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the charact...

The Finns, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom and t...

Xenophobe’s Guide to the English is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the English English. “People will leave a step between themselves and the next person on an escalator even when it’s crowded.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the characteristics...

The Swiss, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom and t...

Xenophobe’s Guide to the Welsh is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the Welsh Welsh. “Those who manage to tone it down a bit have gone on to world fame as actors or politicians.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s pe...

The Belgians, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom an...

Xenophobe’s Guide to the Italians is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the Italians Italian. “Punctuality is only relatively important in Italy and the time is often treated as an approximate.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the characteristics of...

The Spanish, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom and...

The Swedes, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom and ...

The Danes, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom and t...

The Dutch, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom and t...

Xenophobe’s Guide to the Kiwis is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the Kiwis Kiwi. “Nothing raises religious fervour in a Kiwi like a closely-fought rugby match.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a serie...

A humorous approach to French that shows that you can speak the lingo simply by using plain English. Invaluable phrases will trip off your tongue, gems like: Is that a baguette in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? , You did not tell me it would be extra , and Are you sure that all these symptoms are caused by a liver attack?

What makes Brazilians BRAZILIAN: A witty guide to the beliefs and behaviour that define the Brazilians.

Xenophobe’s Guide to the Scots is a pocket-size guide that takes a frank and funny look at what makes the Scots Scottish. “Until comparatively recently, Scottish catering was something to be feared.” Xenophobe’s guides attempt to forewarn readers of the main stereotypes and foibles that are associated with individual nationalities. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a ser...

The Chinese, in the Xenophobe guide series; consisting of a range of pocket-sized guides which take a humorous and irreverent approach to a wide range of world cultures. Each guide explores the characteristics of a country’s people in a series of dedicated sections, encompassing nationalism and identity, behaviour, manners, character, obsessions, beliefs and values, leisure and pleasure, culture, custom and...