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Swiss Watching
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Swiss Watching

Inside the Land of Milk & Money

Diccon Bewes
Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2012

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Overview
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Switzerland is not like other countries. Swiss chocolate is “perfect”; Swiss watches are perfect; Swiss cheese is perfect; and Swiss fondue is perfect. Unfortunately, in 2008, the trains of the Swiss Federal Railways ran on schedule only 95.8% of the time, down from 95.9% in 2007. The Swiss-German newspaper, Der Bund, scolded, “Swiss trains are less punctual!” For the Swiss, the additional 0.1% of late trains proved disturbing news. In Switzerland, if things are not perfect, they should be close. In his entertaining, informative romp through Swiss history, culture and business, travel writer Diccon Bewes reveals Switzerland in all its singularity. The result is a thorough, surprising report on this unique “land of milk and money.” getAbstract recommends Bewes’s fun-to-read – and near perfect – overview of Switzerland.

Take-Aways

  • Switzerland is a “landlocked island” set apart by its geography and unique character.
  • The nation came into being in 1291 when the three cantons – Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden – formed a mutual pact to help and protect each other.
  • Politically, Switzerland is a confederation where the people possess and exercise power.

About the Author

Diccon Bewes, a Swiss resident, is the former manager of the Stauffacher English Bookshop in Bern. He has written for Holiday Which? magazine and Lonely Planet.

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    C. D. 1 decade ago
    Great summary! inorder to get a basic knowledge about Switzerland and its history.