Xenophobe's Guide to the Aussies

The Xenophobe's Guide

by Ken Hunt, Mike Taylor

A guide to understanding the Aussies which takes an insightful, laconic look at their character and attitudes.

Appearances are deceptive
Never make the error of underestimating the Aussies. They love to portray a casual disregard for everything around them, but no-one accidentally achieves a lifestyle as relaxed as theirs.

Logic down under
Aussies will twist any statistics to their own ends. One statistic doing the rounds was that 40% of drivers in accidents had been drinking. Since this left 60% of drivers who hadn't had a drop, but who still had accidents, it must obviously be safer to drink and drive.

Let's talk 'strine'
The Aussies are not subtle and neither is their language. They will say what they mean. The problem is that the words they use don't always mean what they say. For example: bluey - someone who has red hair; you're orright - you are absolutely super; itsa bit warm - it is probably 120¼F in the water bag (water bags are always hung in the shade); that'd be right - I don't believe it either.

Out in the outback
Nature is the biggest single influence on the Aussie attitude. And a very harsh and unforgiving influence it is. Reality, totally uncontrollable, is never far outside the suburban limits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Australia, Humor, Travel

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Christian Jespersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book from the Xenophobe's series I have read, and I was amused but not amazed.
The first one I read, was the the Danish version. Being a Dane that was a no brainer. And I guess it was because I could relate to the most of the things in the DK version that I enjoyed that book so much more.

I found the language easy and funny to read in the Aussie version, and it covered a lot of ground and gave a clever and entertained insight about "Oz".

The main reason I read it, was because I have an Australian girlfriend, and I knowing how much I enjoyed the DK version, I thought this book would give me a shortcut to understand some of the Australian culture.

I think these books are primarily meant to be read by people who know the culture and country the book is about, rather than an introduction to a culture. Maybe that is obvious and well-known to others, that's perfectly fair. I didn't think of it. But I will enjoy it more next year, when I have been exposed to more of the Australian culture.

For an Australian, the book is prohbably hillarious.

[Ape · Rating 3 out of 5]

2010 bookcrossing review:

These books are entertaining little reads. This one was quite fun. It really felt as though an Aussie was writing it, in quite a tongue in cheek style. Seems like their lives are dominated by flies - sounds wonderful!, not putting on airs and graces, and generally being a bit rough and ready. Having never been to Australia, it's hard to know whether he is just playing up to the stereotypes, or if it all really is like that. There's a bit about the off licence and Aussie chivalry: "Afterall, in this age of family sensitivity , no self-respecting Aussie male could pick up thirty dollars worth of booze for himself without a soft drink for the kids and a bar of chocolate for the wife." This book feels like it's being told by this drawled Australian voice, and you can't quite figure out if its taking the mick or not.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summary of Aussies, and how to understand your interactions with us... (I really should get my wife and mother-in-law to read this)

"All Aussies possess the mental dexterity to write fluently in one language (basically English with a few Americanisms thrown in) and yet speak an entirely different language.... The Aussies are not subtle and neither is their language. They will say what they mean. The problem is that the words they use don't always mean what they say:
Not too bad = things are excellent!
Could be better = I'm going through the worst time in my life"

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, great overview of the current Aussie culture and customs. Enough to give you a base of information without bogging you down in such detail that would just confuse or bore, just enough amusing and witty anecdotes that perfectly illustrate the point. Will definitely look for Xenophobe guides again for my next adventure.

[Elke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, just awesome! :-)

[Cleide · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a fun reading, although it is not my type of book.

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny and so true

[Wilmington · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very entertaining, but as someone who has lived in Australia, I found that the image it gave fits only the original 19th century settlers of British and Irish descent and disregards modern Australia's sheer ethnic diversity. At present, one fourth of Aussies were born outside Australia and over a third have no British/Irish ancestry at all. I think they would have deserved some place in a guide to Australian culture.

[Lavinia Darlea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly funny and I suspect partly true. Probably interesting to read before going there for holidays or other reasons. But not more than what it pretends to be: a small booklet to keep you busy for a couple of hours of flight.

[TRUDY HARDCASTLE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Lilly Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being an Aussie for the last 47 years I’m pretty confident in saying this is 50% fact and 50% outsider misperception. Still a good laugh.

[Michael G · Rating 1 out of 5]

So cringe it is unreadable. Did not finish. Waste of £1.

[Samantha Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the similarly titled guide to the British that I read last year, but unfortunately, wasn’t such a fan of this Aussie version. There were some funny moments and some other moments that rang true, but for the most part, I felt the “guide” didn’t do Aussies justice—that, or I just have a very different idea of what constituents Australians (very likely, since I’ve been an expat for several years). Still, apart from the few laughs it offers, I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone without prior knowledge of the Australian culture and people.

[Bontaş Mihai Alexandru · Rating 2 out of 5]

O cărticică simpatică scrisă cu mult umor şi blândă ironie despre obiceiurile, mentalităţile şi moravurile australienilor.
Dacă aceşti insulari neastâmpăraţi sunt fie şi pe jumătate precum îi descriu cei doi autori, atunci cu siguranţă merită cunoscuţi.

Traducerea este neaşteptat de bună. Volumul probabil a apărut înainte ca editura să hotărască alungarea cu furci şi pietre a tuturor traducătorilor capabili şi înlocuirea lor cu debutanţi.