Bavarian Recipes

Scheisse!: The Real German You Were Never Taught in School

Description

Another entry in the bestselling, Merda! series, this humorous book helps readers navigate the world of real Low German. Scheisse! introduces readers to the fine art of cursing and basic slang to spice up their German speech. On-air radio giveaways.

Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-02-15
Summary: "Very fun and educational"

I found this book ages ago in a book shop and sadly, didn't buy it then. I was very excited to get it at Amazon, and it was as funny as I remembered it. It is a great gift for anyone who has learned or is learning German and can be enjoyed at any level of German comprehension. The descriptions and vocabulary give you a sense of the culture, and the book is written with humor. Very fun book.

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Rating: 3 / 5
Date: 2009-06-18
Summary: "Semi-Profound Profanity"

Thanks to the Army I can swear in a number of languages but SCHEISSE by Gertrude Besserwisser helped raise my level of profane prowess and stupidity. Think of the book as a profane primer for the non-native speaker and you won't be disappointed. It's the surly supplement to your language education that is often left out in school and offers up a few choice phrases that even my old Drill Instructor might have chuckled over.
Most cultures and societies often shine their ethno-centric light on their wonders and achievements while shoving their historical profane to the side. But you know what? It's still there and always will be because we're all too human.
In fact, there's the correct version of what a French General said at Waterloo when asked to surrender that is flowery and heroic. However, historians know is that the General actually gave the one word response: 'Merde.' Appropriate for the occasion, I suspect.
In short, will this book help you get your Nobel Prize...eh, no. Nor will it endear you to any snotty waiter you might run into who ignors you because you're a confused tourist but it can fill in a few blanks in your vocabulary and make you chuckle too, even if you don't say the words out loud.
I like Germany. I like it's people, culture, and its impressive scenery and I like the fact that they occasionally swear too.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-02-16
Summary: "Funny as all get out!"

I am studying German and using a proper textbook to do so as well as the Pimsleur CDs. Of course sometimes this can get a little tedious and dry. So to have this book brings humor and levity to learning the German language. It is quite funny and entertaining. I would refrain from actually using some of the words when in Germany though.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2008-04-21
Summary: "Finally my wife is learning REAL German"

This book is great. It teaches how we really talk in Germany. My wife's German teacher hates "Umgangsprache" and I believe that she should be learning how we talk and not how to sound grammatically correct.

There is only a few words that I did not know, because I grew up in a different area and I was only 9 years when the book was published, but overall a great way to learn to blend in when visiting Germany.

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Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2008-04-17
Summary: "Nice fun gift"

This was a hit as a gift for a family member, who still uses the book off and on. The translations in this book are ok. There are quite a few words in German that nobody actually uses anymore, but the book overall is fun and you can actually learn a couple things. I advise people who are not used to swearing, cursing or using graphic language to look for a different book - off course the title itself tells you that already.