The Misery of Being Greek, by Nikos Dimou ("Η δυστυχία του να είσαι Έλληνας", Νίκος Δήμου)

"The Misery (or Misfortune) of Being Greek".

"Η δυστυχία του να είσαι Έλληνας", Νίκος Δήμου
This is a book that might help the Troika auditors understand the Greeks.

First published in 1975 and  written in the last years of the Military Dictatorship, these 193 humorous and often affectionately satirical thoughts by a noted Greek writer are still relevant. Some accused him of being an "anti-Hellene" at the time.

The Greek title is "I dystihia tou na eisai ellinas"

Two of Dimou's observations, which I came across last night (my translation):

"The Greek lives in a continuous, permanent cycle of elation and depression. One consequence: absolute weakness concerning self-criticism and self-knowledge" (No. 25).

"Basically, the Greek ignores Reality. He (she) lives two times above his economic means. He promises three times more than he can deliver..." (No. 32)

New Greek edition (update March 2014)

cf Nick Malkoutzis, Blood, sweat and tears (36 years later). Kathimerini.

October 3 update: Eurointelligence reports that of the 30,000 public sector workers about to be put on short-time prior to dismissal in 2012, nearly all of them are due to retire within this period anyway...

Keep Talking Greece offers further insights

Spiegel Online-another month-no problem

Other bilateral issues