Nine books that make perfect gifts for Swissmas

December 13, 2021, No comments

There’s no better Christmas present than a book. And if you love Switzerland, then there are no better books than the ones from Bergli. Their specialty is books about Switzerland in English, which is why they are my Swiss publisher.

In time for Swissmas shopping, I’ve chosen my favourite nine Bergli titles, including a few of mine (of course!), all of which can be ordered direct from the publisher. Shipping in Switzerland is free for orders over 30 francs, and only 10 francs extra worldwide.

Let’s start with my two new titles, both published this autumn. Cartographica Helvetica is an atlas of Switzerland for kids of all ages. It’s packed with informative maps, colourful infographics and loads of cool facts about this country. ORDER HERE

Swiss52 is the perfect gift for visitors or anyone who lives here and still hasn’t seen everything. It features 52 must-see places, each with a stunning photo and inspiring text. From the Matterhorn to Mogno, there are places you’ll know and ones that surprise you. ORDER HERE

Order Cartographica Helvetica now and you’ll get a copy of Swiss52 free (applies to the English editions only). Click HERE to get this offer.

Another fab new title is from my friend Andie Pilot, who’s written the ultimate book about Swiss Cookies. All my favourites are in there, including the best Christmas cookies, Basler Brunsli. Andie and I made (and ate) them together in the video below. ORDER HERE

One book you might’ve missed thanks to Covid is The Expert Guide to Your Life in Switzerland. It’s the new bible for anyone living in or moving to Switzerland, with chapters written by 15 experts covering everything from arrival to survival. You can read more about it or ORDER IT.

If you need some comic relief or a stocking filler, then How to be Swiss fits the bill. I wrote the book and Michael Meister drew the wonderful cartoons that are guaranteed to make you smile. More info here (or ORDER DIRECT) or just laugh at the best Swiss joke:

Michael also drew the illustrations for Swisstory by Laurie Theurer. This is the untold, bloody, and absolutely real history of Switzerland, and clever kids will love it. Forget those fake histories of Heidi and Willam Tell: read this instead! ORDER HERE

Some of us are already dreaming of summer and swimming again. I grew up near the sea but have come to love jumping into lakes and rivers around Switzerland, and Wild Swim by Steffan Daniel has guided me to some top places. ORDER HERE

Then comes the book I wish I’d written: The Naked Swiss. Instead it’s from Clare O’Dea, a journalist who deftly investigates the myths of modern Switzerland, from the Swiss being rich and boring to them being crooked and sexist. ORDER HERE

Last but not least, Around Switzerland in 80 Maps. Of all my books, this one took the longest to create and gets the most love from readers. I still discover new things in the maps every time I look through it. If you don’t know it yet, read more or watch the video. Then ORDER HERE

That’s it. Nine great gift ideas for anyone in love with Switzerland. All of them are available direct from Bergli, which is an imprint of Helvetiq, or in your local bookshop.