Xenophobe's Guide to the Irish

The author's subtle and droll sense of humor makes for a fun read. The four stars are for superficiality, e.g., Irish food covers only breakfast.

Entertaining read and great summary and explanations of the Irish mentality and the reasons why ways of thinking and acting came into being. I read it before heading to Ireland and so much of what I had read was observable and confirmed. It was a great insight into the Irish and made me much more aware of who these people are and where they come from in historical/political terms. Good read.

It's funny and somewhat informative in the beginning but by the end it gets bogged down in the politics of Ireland and how the different houses are populated by this or that party depending on this and that......blah, blah, blah. When you read about the author you will know why it comes to focus on the minutiae of the political scene. In a nutshell: Fun for about half the book then it becomes downright boring.

This is the third and last I'll buy in this series. The Dutch book was hysterical and good prep for going there. This book and the one on England were disappointing. Too many chapters with little or no info. The writer seems to assume the readers have more knowledge of Ireland and it's history than most tourist do.

I bought this as a gift for a friend, so I haven't read it. But I do have several other books from the Xenophobe series, and they are all very good, so I assume this one is, too.

This is not the best in the series. Other books in the series are funnier and more interesting. Not a bad book but just o.k.

Really great! The Xenophobe's guides are all funny and I always buy one if I'm going to visit the country as it helps to understand the differences in the culture.

Awesome

My deep fondness for the Irish goes back to a long lasting friendship begun when I was 7. However in common with most of my peers Irish history, beyond St Patrick and his famous snake trick, remained a void till thrust upon us by the IRA in the 70s. This rude awakening certainly led to some desultory glances in the direction of Irish history rapidly abandoned as too confusing and not chiming at all with what I knew you of my friend and her family.You will not find an in depth analysis of the troubles and the good Friday agreement here. Rather a fond and forgiving collation.This little book manages a good balance between the three Es above maintaining a light tone throughout and skating dextrously over potential flash points.

As a born and bred proud paddy I found this book very funny and true taking a tongue in cheek view of the Ireland giving our good and bad points hypocrisy and all the little traits that the Irish have that are frankly a bit mad a good read both for the Irish and anyone who wishes to visit ireland or simply find out more about Ireland

As with all the xenophobe guides I've tried, this was fun to read and perhaps edifying. However, I don't have enough experience to judge whether it is fair the Irish.

Very funny and, in a way, quite tragic. I think Spike Milligan would have approved. Now I know why the Irish are the only people who can make 'Good morning' sound like a declaration of war.

This all seems to be a truthful account of the Irish people although I expect some is not true. It fits my Irish son-in-law though.