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Slovenologija : življenje v najboljši deželi na svetu in popotovanje po njej
Slovenologija prinaša 38 bistroumnih in humornih zapisov izpod peresa Američana Noaha Charneyja, ki že vrsto let živi v Kamniku in od blizu opazuje lepote in bizarnosti dežele, v katero, kot pravi, je zaljubljen. S pronicljivostjo znanstvenika in poetičnostjo umetnika avtor izrisuje koordinate kulturnega, družbenega in političnega življenja v podalpski deželi z živim občutkom za drobne detajle vsakdanjika. Tako med drugim beremo o lokalnih kulinaričnih dobrotah in nenavadnih vaških običajih, o pasivnem junaku slovenskega filma in živih legendah športa in poezije, pa tudi o arhitekturnih ikonah in zenu gobarjenja. Knjiga združuje spominsko esejistiko z uporabnostjo vodiča, zato je bodo veseli tako obiskovalci, ki se bodo v naše kraje podali kot turisti, kot tudi domačini, ki bodo svoje navade in posebnosti uzrli skozi povsem drugačne oči. Slovenologija bo skupaj z vodičem po deželi na voljo v izvirni angleščini, v nekoliko prilagojeni različici pa tudi v slovenskem prevodu. ...
- GenresTravelNonfiction
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
65 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Noah Charney
89 books183 followersNoah Charney holds degrees in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art and Cambridge University. He is the founding director of the Association for Research into Crimes against Art (ARCA), the first international think tank on art crime. He divides his time between New Haven, Connecticut; Cambridge, England; and Rome, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 13, 2020
While there were some interesting tidbits about Slovenia, I couldn't get past the author's grating and self-interested voice. I thought this was a book about Slovenia? I mean, the subtitle even says "Living and Traveling in the World's Best Country". Instead, the book was a repetitive, disorganized mess that really highlighted the author's ego more than anything. You could tell he LOVED talking about himself. I didn't sign up to read his life story talking about his privilege, which he attempts, and fails, to disguise with humility. I should have abandoned the book after reading the first chapter since it was a preview of what was to come. I walked away with some interesting facts about Slovenia, but really felt like this was more of a comparison of America vs. Slovenia. But even then, he treated his experience of America, even though he admits to not really having lived there much, as a universal experience. It was over-generalized and annoying at best.
April 9, 2018
Ocena: 3, 5
Zabavno in simpatično branje izpod peresa poslovenjenega Američana, ki nam predstavi svoj pogled na Slovenijo in zakaj je v njej živeti dobro. Knjiga ni presežek, pomeni pa branje za sprostitev, obenem pa izvemo, kako nas vidijo drugi.
Zabavno in simpatično branje izpod peresa poslovenjenega Američana, ki nam predstavi svoj pogled na Slovenijo in zakaj je v njej živeti dobro. Knjiga ni presežek, pomeni pa branje za sprostitev, obenem pa izvemo, kako nas vidijo drugi.
December 18, 2017
An autobiographical impression of Slovenia, the adoptive country of the writer. A light read with occasionally amusing content.
Unfortunately at moments repetitive and lacking in perspective; coming both from a narrow view and lack of oversight.
There are parts that can be enjoyed for both people who know Slovenia or don’t.
Unfortunately at moments repetitive and lacking in perspective; coming both from a narrow view and lack of oversight.
There are parts that can be enjoyed for both people who know Slovenia or don’t.
May 26, 2023
Was hoping for something in between The Social Guide to Norway and A Year in Provence. This is not it.
Too much about the author; too little about Slovenia. Whole section on how his preschool in America gave him "self-confidence" through praise, apparently not judging this to be unearned false confidence. I think that an anecdote like this does not really belong in the book.
On the other hand, he jumps around little observations from his own expatriate life, like how small the turkeys are in Slovenia , but doesn’t follow through with deeper exploration of why that is, and what that says about food, health, government, business, agriculture and such in the US vs Slovenia.
Another whole section is about how Anglophones think and write like Cicero, but Europeans don’t. This is absurd on the face of it.
Too much about the author; too little about Slovenia. Whole section on how his preschool in America gave him "self-confidence" through praise, apparently not judging this to be unearned false confidence. I think that an anecdote like this does not really belong in the book.
On the other hand, he jumps around little observations from his own expatriate life, like how small the turkeys are in Slovenia , but doesn’t follow through with deeper exploration of why that is, and what that says about food, health, government, business, agriculture and such in the US vs Slovenia.
Another whole section is about how Anglophones think and write like Cicero, but Europeans don’t. This is absurd on the face of it.
December 6, 2021
I didn’t go to Slovenia with the intention of buying a book, but I don’t think anyone is surprised that I have! Especially since books are a huge deal in Slovenia – one thing I remember from the free walking tour is that the figure in the square is not a general but a poet (Preseren), showing the importance of literature to the Slovenes.
Slovenology describes itself as “part memoir, part essay collection, part travel writing, and part guidebook”, which is a lot of things for one book to cover. Personally, I found it more to be of a personal essay collection, as Charney tells us about his wedding, mushrooming with his mother-in-law, the guy who makes amazing sausage, and all sorts of interesting facts about the history and culture of Slovenia.
This was a fascinating collection of essays and I learnt quite a bit about Slovenia! I really liked reading about specific parts of their culture, like their film industry (apparently, no one expects films to breakeven because of the small market), skiing, and the Kranjska sausage (now a Protection Region Indicator product). Some essays, like his experience with Kopi Luwak, aren’t related to Slovenia, but they are fun to read.
For me, the guidebook part was really at the end. The last section of the book contains a recommended itinerary for a three, five, and seven day trip to Slovenia. I also thought the second last section, which was on food, would be useful to someone visiting Slovenia and wants to try the local specialities – although I have to say I was surprised that Donat water, which Nastia talked about a bit, did not appear cause it is so ubiquitous!
Overall, this was a really fun and light read that helped me to understand Slovenia a bit better. I can definitely see myself reading this again for fun or to prepare for another trip to Slovenia!
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
Slovenology describes itself as “part memoir, part essay collection, part travel writing, and part guidebook”, which is a lot of things for one book to cover. Personally, I found it more to be of a personal essay collection, as Charney tells us about his wedding, mushrooming with his mother-in-law, the guy who makes amazing sausage, and all sorts of interesting facts about the history and culture of Slovenia.
This was a fascinating collection of essays and I learnt quite a bit about Slovenia! I really liked reading about specific parts of their culture, like their film industry (apparently, no one expects films to breakeven because of the small market), skiing, and the Kranjska sausage (now a Protection Region Indicator product). Some essays, like his experience with Kopi Luwak, aren’t related to Slovenia, but they are fun to read.
For me, the guidebook part was really at the end. The last section of the book contains a recommended itinerary for a three, five, and seven day trip to Slovenia. I also thought the second last section, which was on food, would be useful to someone visiting Slovenia and wants to try the local specialities – although I have to say I was surprised that Donat water, which Nastia talked about a bit, did not appear cause it is so ubiquitous!
Overall, this was a really fun and light read that helped me to understand Slovenia a bit better. I can definitely see myself reading this again for fun or to prepare for another trip to Slovenia!
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
September 13, 2020
I'm surprised to see many bad reviews, although I do understand where they are coming from. There are 3 major flaws in this book. The first is that the author should have tried to better make a coherent narrative that glued the book together. A lot of the content was essays Charney had already written, and it shows. The second is that it is often very repetitive. At first, I thought it was just bad editing. But some of the things were repeated so much that I found it hard to believe it was a mistake. I guess that it was intended that the reader picks whatever section of the book they find the most interesting, and thus it is assumed that the reader may have missed some information from previous chapters. But for someone that reads the book in its entirety, it's very annoying to read the same fact 4 or 5 times through the book. Lastly, I think the book falls flat for anyone that hasn't visited Slovenia. I think a lot of what is presented is interesting, but not interesting enough to justify the writing. It is interesting when it is personal, but shallow by itself.
Despite that, I still really enjoyed it. I've been living in Slovenia for over a year, and I wanted to know about the country and the culture. I particularly liked the style of the book, and how it is intertwined with the author's experience. The first part was perhaps what I liked the most, which tells the story of how he came to Slovenia, and how it fits within both his American and European background. The rest of the book was cultural facts and stories. Some were super interesting and fun to read. Especially when they were completely new to me. For example the popularity of Tina Maze as an athlete, and more broadly the sport of skiing, or the emergent culture of craft beers in Slovenia. My favorite was schnapps, which I was not aware of it. He said that it's so popular to make it at home, that if you're in Slovenia you very likely know someone who makes them. I mentioned this to my girlfriend, who is Slovenian, and she said that her grandpa makes it, who lives on the floor below us.
There were parts that weren't as interesting, but they were never too tedious that I felt like skipping it. It's an odd book, and it's hard to categorize it. It's not a typical guide, although he does give plenty of recommendations, especially in the last chapter, regarding what to see and what to eat. But what makes this an enjoyable read is the passionate telling of what makes Slovenian great. Not through some travel top10 list you can find on Google, but from his own lived experience of living in the country for a long time. And I think the fact that he isn't Slovenian only makes it better, as is better able to appreciate the contrasts that many natives are completely blind to, as for them it is completely normal.
I think this is a great book for a very specific person: a foreigner that is interested in Slovenia (and luckily that's me). If you live in Slovenia, I think the book won't be that great unless you're very patriotic and somehow not that knowledgable about some of the topics it covers. But likewise, if have never visited Slovenia, I think you won't get as much out of it. I would encourage you to read some articles from the author about the country. If you like the style and his approach, then get the book.
Despite that, I still really enjoyed it. I've been living in Slovenia for over a year, and I wanted to know about the country and the culture. I particularly liked the style of the book, and how it is intertwined with the author's experience. The first part was perhaps what I liked the most, which tells the story of how he came to Slovenia, and how it fits within both his American and European background. The rest of the book was cultural facts and stories. Some were super interesting and fun to read. Especially when they were completely new to me. For example the popularity of Tina Maze as an athlete, and more broadly the sport of skiing, or the emergent culture of craft beers in Slovenia. My favorite was schnapps, which I was not aware of it. He said that it's so popular to make it at home, that if you're in Slovenia you very likely know someone who makes them. I mentioned this to my girlfriend, who is Slovenian, and she said that her grandpa makes it, who lives on the floor below us.
There were parts that weren't as interesting, but they were never too tedious that I felt like skipping it. It's an odd book, and it's hard to categorize it. It's not a typical guide, although he does give plenty of recommendations, especially in the last chapter, regarding what to see and what to eat. But what makes this an enjoyable read is the passionate telling of what makes Slovenian great. Not through some travel top10 list you can find on Google, but from his own lived experience of living in the country for a long time. And I think the fact that he isn't Slovenian only makes it better, as is better able to appreciate the contrasts that many natives are completely blind to, as for them it is completely normal.
I think this is a great book for a very specific person: a foreigner that is interested in Slovenia (and luckily that's me). If you live in Slovenia, I think the book won't be that great unless you're very patriotic and somehow not that knowledgable about some of the topics it covers. But likewise, if have never visited Slovenia, I think you won't get as much out of it. I would encourage you to read some articles from the author about the country. If you like the style and his approach, then get the book.
February 13, 2022
This was quite a disappointment, I’m afraid. There are some interesting and even funny parts, but overall it was very difficult to read, especially when the authour writes about himself (for example, I really do not care about his writing process; this chapter should not have been included in the book). It feels forced, like a collection of essays that were written on several topics and then put together.
I wanted to give this book to some friends who are from abroad but love Slovenia a lot, but obviously I have changed my mind.
I wanted to give this book to some friends who are from abroad but love Slovenia a lot, but obviously I have changed my mind.
March 23, 2023
Alright - kind of difficult task wo write about this book! Sitting right now at "Cacao" in Ljubljana and enjoying a wonderful week with a "Slovenian Goddess".
This is a very personal book by the author, about his life todays and prior life. He gives quite a nice introduction into Slovenia and from my last weeks in and out of "one of the most complete" countries I have visited i confirm many of his experiences.
Will keep exploring this country hopefully deeper and for a longer period of time!
This is a very personal book by the author, about his life todays and prior life. He gives quite a nice introduction into Slovenia and from my last weeks in and out of "one of the most complete" countries I have visited i confirm many of his experiences.
Will keep exploring this country hopefully deeper and for a longer period of time!
December 28, 2017
Now this is a great book. Reading about your country from a foreigner's perspective is always interesting but this book truly nails it. It gets you thinking about your customs and habits that you're not even aware of and it's hilarious. The writing is genious and I'd recommend this to anyone. A great book, full of funny stories and interesting adventures.
May 8, 2023
Good introduction to Slovenia. It is a very personal book. It works much better as a companion piece than travel guides like those from Lonely Planet's, which are glorified checklists. There's a short historical summary and lot about the Slovenian people and their culture.
The americentrism of the author can be tiring sometimes, though. What was up with the chapter about children's schools?
Overall, I can recommend it if you're planning or already visiting.
The americentrism of the author can be tiring sometimes, though. What was up with the chapter about children's schools?
Overall, I can recommend it if you're planning or already visiting.
May 15, 2024
Having just spent two weeks in Slovenia, I enjoyed this book, though I do wish I had read it prior to the trip.
I did find the author to be a bit repetitive several times.
I enjoyed the “guide” portion towards the end with recommendations and itineraries. I do wish he covered more towns in depth.
I did find the author to be a bit repetitive several times.
I enjoyed the “guide” portion towards the end with recommendations and itineraries. I do wish he covered more towns in depth.
December 18, 2019
Excellent guide and a lot of useful information about Slovenija and it's history, food and drink, locals, music... Interesting even for Slovenes.
June 20, 2024
As a Slovenian, I decided to read this for two reasons. First, to try to understand what foreigners think of us, and second, to have a better idea of how to introduce my country and culture to people abroad. While I think I satisfied both of those at least partially, the writing was subpar, repetitive and therefore boring at times, not to mention often comparative to life in the US (and, spoiler alert, the world does not revolve around America). Many reviews already mentioned the author spoke with a note of self-centrism and subjectivity, which I believe he acknowledges on several occasions, but it isn't any less bothersome because of that.
In 2024, a mere 7 years after publication, a lot of the book's content is already outdated information. Some of it, plain wrong, even. Take the example of Slovenian schools supposedly discouraging students' questions: in personal experience, teachers have always told us to not be afraid to ask when we didn't understand, so I'm highly suspicious Charney bases this statement on the education of his in-laws, rather than that of his daughters. And to name a few additional wrongs, I'd like to formally proclaim that we do, in fact, have more than one national sports icon, that music and film popularity has somewhat shifted from what Charney's generation might believe, and no one between the ages of zero to 60 thinks Na Klancu (Cankar, 1902) is the best Slovenian novel (the most important one maybe, but certainly not best).
That said, I want to clarify not all negative things are untrue. You're free and welcome to believe three key things mentioned towards the beginning: our job market and its 'brain drain' situation, the "non-malevolent ignorance" sometimes perceived as racism, and our belief that what the neighbours think is important. My favourite part about Charney's view on Slovenia is one I see as quite a win though: there is no Eiffel Tower, no Big Ben or Brandenburg Gate here. It's a country you need to feel, not see; to experience its nature, not its cities.
Finally, I would take the entire book with a grain of salt. Even the author himself mentions its limitations. If you ARE visiting, or simply learning more about this charming little country, here are some things I'd recommend looking into that the book doesn't mention: the abundance of choirs and folkloric dancing, spa centres and thermal springs, recreational activities (particularly the accessibility of winter sports, but also anything else to do in nature), day trips into bordering countries, and the quality of our education system (while the book describes socio-economic accessibility to education, I'd like to point out we're also encouraged to take on many extra-curricular activities, something the US may not be so familiar with). Half-jokingly and half-not, I'll gatekeep this country for as long as I can, but I also can't refrain from agreeing with the book that it's worth visiting.
In 2024, a mere 7 years after publication, a lot of the book's content is already outdated information. Some of it, plain wrong, even. Take the example of Slovenian schools supposedly discouraging students' questions: in personal experience, teachers have always told us to not be afraid to ask when we didn't understand, so I'm highly suspicious Charney bases this statement on the education of his in-laws, rather than that of his daughters. And to name a few additional wrongs, I'd like to formally proclaim that we do, in fact, have more than one national sports icon, that music and film popularity has somewhat shifted from what Charney's generation might believe, and no one between the ages of zero to 60 thinks Na Klancu (Cankar, 1902) is the best Slovenian novel (the most important one maybe, but certainly not best).
That said, I want to clarify not all negative things are untrue. You're free and welcome to believe three key things mentioned towards the beginning: our job market and its 'brain drain' situation, the "non-malevolent ignorance" sometimes perceived as racism, and our belief that what the neighbours think is important. My favourite part about Charney's view on Slovenia is one I see as quite a win though: there is no Eiffel Tower, no Big Ben or Brandenburg Gate here. It's a country you need to feel, not see; to experience its nature, not its cities.
Finally, I would take the entire book with a grain of salt. Even the author himself mentions its limitations. If you ARE visiting, or simply learning more about this charming little country, here are some things I'd recommend looking into that the book doesn't mention: the abundance of choirs and folkloric dancing, spa centres and thermal springs, recreational activities (particularly the accessibility of winter sports, but also anything else to do in nature), day trips into bordering countries, and the quality of our education system (while the book describes socio-economic accessibility to education, I'd like to point out we're also encouraged to take on many extra-curricular activities, something the US may not be so familiar with). Half-jokingly and half-not, I'll gatekeep this country for as long as I can, but I also can't refrain from agreeing with the book that it's worth visiting.
January 22, 2018
My rating are 5 stars becasue I'm grateful that the autor wrote such a great marketing docment. It's nice to read it from a perspective of somebody who decided to live in Slovenia. Truth to be told the perspective of somebody born in a cetrain country will allways differ from the one who willingly decided to live in a certain place.
The book is very funny and lovely, its traditions, lifestlye and mentality are very nicely described and it's just amazing how an American sees the life hurdles with an optimistic mind. However, Slovenia is not a land of milk and honey, even though that we like bees and cows and maybe a dose of Mr Charney optimism wouldn't hurt sometimes.
The book is written also in English.
Well done and Thank you!
Write some more!
The book is very funny and lovely, its traditions, lifestlye and mentality are very nicely described and it's just amazing how an American sees the life hurdles with an optimistic mind. However, Slovenia is not a land of milk and honey, even though that we like bees and cows and maybe a dose of Mr Charney optimism wouldn't hurt sometimes.
The book is written also in English.
Well done and Thank you!
Write some more!
July 19, 2023
As a person living in Slovenia, I found some of the things in this book quite interesting, such as our coffee drinking habits and out food preferences. It's true that we aren't aware of how beautiful and special our countrly truly is. But honestly, I found this book extremely boring and I barely managed to finish it. I mean, the entire chapter dedicated to šnops?! It's definitely worth a mention, but after a few pages of detailed description of šnops, I got tired of it. Same goes for the essay writing - interesting, but way too long.
December 9, 2017
a delightful collection of essays by someone who has lived in Slovenia and loves his adopted country. The book is an unusual and totally successful mix of personal memoir, cultural explanation, and touring guidebook. Definitely worth reading before you visit Slovenia. And if you read it, you will want to book your tickets there right away.
January 6, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. I am Slovene, living in London, so it was great to see my country through the eyes of someone who grew up in a different culture setting. Some great advice on how to raise more self confident children. Can feel the writer's passion for Slovenia and it is contagious! As per other comments some topics, sentences are repeating so I gave it a 4 star.
October 29, 2021
Engaging read with lots of interesting Slovene cultural insights. The book itself is really beautiful. Could have used a little more attention in the editing as parts of it are repetitive due to the repurposed nature of some of the content. Would still recommend to anyone interested in learning more about Slovenia.
June 16, 2024
I was expecting to get to know more interesting facts Slovenia, but instead i feel like reading not very well structured flow of random authors thoughts- goes from raising children to architecture and mushrooms picking. I have to say I am a bit disappointed I was expecting more.
April 28, 2020
"A short pronunciation guide:
Just remember "cheese sheep rouge tzatziki yum Harvard enema ululation", then clear your throat, and you'll be all set."
Just remember "cheese sheep rouge tzatziki yum Harvard enema ululation", then clear your throat, and you'll be all set."
November 14, 2024
I lived in Slovenia for three years total. So I’m pretty familiar with the history, the customs, and the language. I actually learned a ton from this book. As an expatriate married to a Slovenian, he has some unique insights. Also, as a writer, and an expert of the humanities, generally, he is well equipped as a critic.
I have too many criticisms. First, so many of these essays are a little bit too self-referential, and that is offputting. There are some strains of self deprecating, humor, but again, the author is a little bit too large in the text in my opinion. Secondly, this could’ve used an editor’s hand. The essays are so disjointed that it’s really hard to follow. Also, the quality of the essays varies. It feels like a bunch of essays written for different magazines and projects kind of thrown together into a book.
I really wish he would do a book that’s a mixture between travel log and history in the vein of Robert Kaplan.
I have too many criticisms. First, so many of these essays are a little bit too self-referential, and that is offputting. There are some strains of self deprecating, humor, but again, the author is a little bit too large in the text in my opinion. Secondly, this could’ve used an editor’s hand. The essays are so disjointed that it’s really hard to follow. Also, the quality of the essays varies. It feels like a bunch of essays written for different magazines and projects kind of thrown together into a book.
I really wish he would do a book that’s a mixture between travel log and history in the vein of Robert Kaplan.
July 28, 2025
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. I took it up because I am currently in Slovenia, and it was supposed to be an anthology of different types of essays and articles about this country. But the author has just randomly put some previously published articles of his, without even editing them for this book? The number of repetitions and just poor writing was astounding. The author is an art historian, so I would expect a lot more, but the style is just that of some random 15-year-old boy who has a writing assignment to be handed over after the weekend. Additionally, the author is so naive, uncultured, and prejudiced toward Europe, but he states that he is a Slovenophile and Europophile? He puts himself on a pedestal because he has been to Europe numerous times, and now "kiss his feet" that he lives here. Get down from your high horse, mister.
The book could only be enjoyed by some adolescent Americans who have never been to Europe before.
The book could only be enjoyed by some adolescent Americans who have never been to Europe before.
December 23, 2025
3 stars for content, 1 star for writing and editing. I spent two weeks in Slovenia a few months ago and loved the country and the culture, so I bought this book on my trip. While I enjoyed some of it, it desperately needed a better editor to even out the author’s more irritating tics, eliminate the repetition, and correct the errors (Americans definitely use gift bags, and many of us take off our shoes in the house!).
December 19, 2018
I lived in Slovenia for 3 years and still spend a lot of time there. Agree with the author on tons of things and very thankful for a lot of cool observations. 3 instead of 4 are more to an editor - some examples do repeate. Plus to me it was more like a fun travel blog of a foreigner in this country vs. Slovenology - recognized a ton, but didn't learn new things, except for some great details.
January 27, 2023
This book is much more a memory book of the author, who tell tou how he got married with a Sloven woman. All his experience with his extended family is explain and a littel bit you find information about Slovenia as a country. I don't recomend it!
August 16, 2023
It had some interesting views comming from a foreigner getting to live in a european country, but some parts, even if entertaining, i felt did not realy fit into the book. A she said himself it isn't really a travel guide, but it felt at times that it also went a bit off course
October 10, 2023
Now THIS is a holiday read ; )
Enjoyed this a lot. Don't agree with the author about the anglophone/non-anglophone essay technique but the other chapters were educational and entertaining so I'll let it slide.
Also I want to go back to Slovenia like yesterday prosim in hvala.
Enjoyed this a lot. Don't agree with the author about the anglophone/non-anglophone essay technique but the other chapters were educational and entertaining so I'll let it slide.
Also I want to go back to Slovenia like yesterday prosim in hvala.
August 22, 2025
A compilation of reused material from phd, articles, guides for invitees at author's wedding, which did not come together in an informative way, or a style more original than travel blogs; 24 Eur for this is an exaggeration, where do I return it as it did not meet any expectations? not a keeper
August 20, 2020
Niche book. Not my style of writing, but some funny parts and interesting tidbits.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews