Book excerpt: A guide to understanding the Greeks which takes an insightful, irreverent look at their character and attitudes"Xenophobia: an irrational fear of foreigners, probably justified, always understandable." "Xenophobe's Guides: an irreverent look at the beliefs and foibles of nations, almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia." Individuality is the chief feature that characterizes the Greeks, which precludes any attempt to box and label them as a people. After that comes their temperament which flourishes uninhibited throughout their waking hours. This is probably why the ancient sages saw fit to carve their maxims "Nothing in excess" and "Know thyself" on the portals of the Delphic Oracle in an attempt to persuade their fellow Greeks to curb their emotionsthey were not heeded then any more than they are now."