---
product_id: 8345386
title: "Schottenfreude: German Words for the Human Condition"
brand: "ben schott"
price: "348 kr"
currency: DKK
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 12
url: https://www.desertcart.dk/products/8345386-schottenfreude-german-words-for-the-human-condition
store_origin: DK
region: Denmark
---

# Schottenfreude: German Words for the Human Condition

**Brand:** ben schott
**Price:** 348 kr
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Schottenfreude: German Words for the Human Condition by ben schott
- **How much does it cost?** 348 kr with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.dk](https://www.desertcart.dk/products/8345386-schottenfreude-german-words-for-the-human-condition)

## Best For

- ben schott enthusiasts

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- Trusted ben schott brand quality
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## Description

Schottenfreude: German Words for the Human Condition

## Images

![Schottenfreude: German Words for the Human Condition - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dPQKGez5L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Deutschwörtervergnügen (The Pleasure of German Words)
  

*by T***S on Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2013*

Every book by Ben Schott is a meticulous masterpiece of conception and execution. He's best known for his delightful series of four Miscellanies (Schott's Original Miscellany, Schott's Food & Drink Miscellany, Schott's Sporting, Gaming & Idling Miscellany, and Schott's Quintessential Miscellany) and for his six Almanacs, published annually between 2006 and 2011.Schott's newest book is unlike his previous efforts in that it has an especially specific focus -- invented German words -- but it's very much like the others in that it's so infernally clever, has been so carefully thought out, and possesses a singularly beautiful design. By going to Mr. Schott's website, benschott dot com, and clicking on The New York Times under the Journalism tab, you can link to an excerpt from the book and listen to him talk about it. There you can also read any of the numerous engaging columns he's written for the newspaper."Schottenfreude" is a play on the German word Schadenfreude, which means "shameful joy" or "pleasure derived from the misfortune of others." It's not among the book's 120 indexed entries, but then it's a long-established term that has decisively entered the English language along with such loanwords as Weltanschauung (worldview), Realpolitik (practical politics), Gemütlichkeit (coziness), Wanderlust (desire to travel), Zeitgeist (spirit of the times), Gestalt (whole), and Angst (anxiety). Most of the words in this volume are longer than these examples, some comically so; Kraftfahrzeuginnenaustattungsneugeruchsgenuss, meaning "new car smell," is the longest at 45 letters. They have obviously been contrived by the author, yet they are "real" in the sense that they are perfectly justifiable and creative concatenations of concepts.Such terms result from the nearly unlimited capacity of the German language to form compounds. They are long for good reason: each packs within it a small universe of distinct meanings, encapsulates very particular sets of denotative and connotative senses, and possesses unique emotional and cultural implications. And there is not one in this book that isn't both witty and amusing. A prime example is Gaststattenneueröffnungsuntergangsgewissheit (inn-new-opening-downfall-certitude or "certainty that a newly opened restaurant will fail"), which has 44 letters. On the other hand, several are as short as eight or nine letters, including "Mahlneid" (meal-envy or "coveting thy neighbor's restaurant order"), "Gastdruck" (guest-pressure or "the effort required to be a good houseguest"), and "Betttrug" (bed-deception or "disorientation upon waking in a strange bed").Each entry, printed in a gothic font, provides a guide to pronunciation and a definition. This is followed by an insightful unpacking of the words inside and a detailed annotation, complete with lists, quotations, literary references, and the occasional illustration. The book is an elegant pleasure for book lovers, students of German, and logophiles of all stripes. I highly recommended this glittering intellectual bauble for gift-giving this holiday season, or at any time of the year.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Great Gift or Conversation Starter
  

*by B***N on Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2014*

I purchased one for myself and gave one as a gift to my brother. I put mine on my coffee table and like a magnate everybody that comes over picks it up or asks about it. People love going through it and attempting to pronounce the words. I cannot tell you how many conversations I have had about the book. Topics range from how descriptive the German language is to how terrible we are at learning another language.My brother absolutely loved it. His fraternity brothers and he play around with it all the time and from my understanding it has become a running joke in the frat to through round German words. I think this is the prefect gift to give to any adult. It is fun, interesting, and educational. What's not to love?

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Very entertaining and informative read
  

*by M***L on Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2014*

I bought two of these for gifts for my husband and his friend who enjoy yelling German words. (Strange, I know.) The book is very high quality and has a sturdy feel and looks great sitting on a shelf or table. The contents are very enjoyable to learn and read. My only complaint is the font chose for the presentation of each German word is difficult to read. On the cover, shown in the thumbnails it is fairly easy with the black and silver, but something happens in black on white that hurts my eyes when trying to make out the letters. Fortunately that is such a tiny thing that I will still recommend this book to anyone who has a love of languages and creative use of language. It was also a very fair price!

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*Product available on Desertcart Denmark*
*Store origin: DK*
*Last updated: 2026-03-04*