An interesting view into an interesting  culture
356850
Most of the fiction that deals with the world of work for technical folks has tended to be a bit trite, doing nothing more just playing on the 'Dilbert' stereotype. The `managers are idiots and workers are not much better' premise that appears in both movies and books time and time again.
Robert Grossbach moves beyond these standard clichs and provides a much more interesting and just as importantly entertaining view of the world of the technical professional in his (it is almost totally a male realm) environment.  Between the small writing contest and the `cheat' within the rules, to one characters total lack of any sort of experience even talking to members of the opposite sex.  As well as the management back stabbing and financial tricks provided in a humorous and intelligent way.
Bottom line, read this book.
2078425
I have worked in television news, and my experiences have left me wondering about the parts of our culture that we embraced and that which we ignored.  So, as I began to do some graduate study research, I thought this book would be interesting.  Comparing the U. S. system to a different culture such as India's help us gain insight into what we do and why, so I enjoyed the book, as well as the author's style and insight.
2335371
I came across this narrative from a PUA (Pickup Artist) forum thread dealing with travel.  As a male of African-descent myself and cultural enthusiast, I jumped on this book.  I really enjoyed the book because of the cultural insight it provided into Japanese culture from the foreign perspective of a black Jamaican male.  For me, it was just more appealing to read about Asia through another Black man's eyes as I so often only read about it through White ones.

My thoughts on the author:
It was very interesting reading about Stefhen's very different upbringing and how this affected him in his adult life.  I also found it especially interesting that he is an atheist and a Black man, since Christianity is such an integral part of many Black communities in the Western hemisphere.

On the book:
The writing style was captivating and Stefhen used many rich metaphors and similies throughout the book to illustrate his sexual encounters with Japanese women, his experiences with Japanese culture, and his life in general.  He is masterful in his use of the English language and flows easily from perfect standard language to black American vernacular or Jamaican patois and back; even adding a bit of Japanese into the narrative.

I came expecting to read a sex chronicle but was positively surprised that it was not just that but also a sociological cross-section of Japanese culture itself.  Stefhen has done the research and offers very convincing explanations as to why Japanese and particularly, Japanese women, behave the way they do.  I look at the Japanese quite differently now because of this book.

Nothing negative to say about the book although I wish I could've seen some pictures of the ladies.
2987446
First, a caveat:  I am no history buff.  I tended to avoid history through the years, but have appreciated Standage's approach to themed explorations of culture and civilization.

I don't contribute actively in social media very often (save the occasional book/product review), but do appreciate its power and importance.

Standage provides a nice overview of how these concepts have appeared universally through the ages and bursts the bubble on the idea that this is a "new" thing for us.  It's not exhaustive yet it is inspirational enough to whet one's appetite for more.

If I were to point out any flaws, I'd focus on two key areas:
- bias to Western culture. There's no reference to Asian culture or to African culture.  There's no way that either continent stood silent through the eons.
- I expected to see some discussion of Emojis and how these compare to petroglyphs and hieroglyphics through the ages.

I'd easily recommend this for anyone keen on taking a look back as they consider the potential of emerging technologies.  It's an interesting journey to see how innovation draws from honouring our longstanding traditions.
302694
Intimate view of another time, culture, and experience.
1959605
A wonderfully light read providing often disturbing insight of a country we've all heard of but rarely had any desire to visit. It's history and consequent cultural affectations are mixed with quite detailed accounts of past glories, present day dilapidation and eccentric populations. Beer is given fair treatment as it is Belgium's remarkably fine contribution to the world's menu of liquid refreshment, as are some the country's culinary achievements. Several adding to the readers vocabulary. I'm not sure hat I fully understand why the author, his wife and baby daughter subjected themselves to the experience but I enjoyed reading about it.
715585
A fascinating account of the author's very extended
trip through the south, west and northern edges of
China.  This is where many other ethnic groups, like
the people of Tibet, live who are not Chinese, but
who have been forced into belonging to the Chinese
nation.  The variety of their lives and customs are
very interesting, as are their determinations to remain
themselves and not have their areas diluted by the
Chinese ethnic Han people.

Such a mlange of people living in some of the most
difficult places of the world.  A very worthwhile
armchair cultural encounter.
2013611
A fun read, and a fantastic glimpse into culture shock on many levels. Hanstedt points out the beauty of things which could easily go unnoticed in a foreign land and the irony of cultural differences. His description of the culture comes with the insight of someone who dives in and utilizes all of his senses to experience a country so different from the one from which he came, and yet, the reader walks away with an awareness of how the American and Chinese cultures are more alike than different.

Clearly the author loves his family, and uses witty and insightful quips about his family's experiences abroad to speak about universal truths of great parenting. Great parents struggle with making decisions about the what's in the best interests of their children. Great parents expose their children to experiences which will broaden their world view. Great parents universally struggle with the issues Hanstedt writes about in his book, but few have the courage to actually speak truthfully about their experiences in rearing children, looking at the shortcomings and celebrating the successes of an international living experience the way that Hanstedt does.

While unsure if they're making the best decisions about bringing his kids abroad, Hanstedt and his wife ultimately acted in a way that clearly benefits their children and outweighs any of the difficulty of uprooting one's children for a year to provide them with an amazing experience, and which may lead to more well-rounded world citizens. Certainly, the take-away lesson here is that traveling with kids is not easy, but when done with a sense of humor and a willingness to embrace what may not be immediately comfortable, we teach our kids to become better people, simply by example.

A humorous look at life abroad with kids. Well written. Highly recommended.
2157151
This book provides an interesting perspective on a professional nurse's stint in Saudi Arabia as the Director of Nursing in a Saudi hospital. It's a mix of observations, stories about her personal life, and stories about her professional life. None of these are entirely fleshed out, so the book is definitely a collection of anecdotes rather than of deep explorations of any of the topics. This makes it a quick read, though it still captures the atmosphere for a Western woman in Saudi Arabia, especially of constantly being on alert for the morality police when committing crimes such as being in a car with a man who is not a blood relation, accidentally displaying skin other than face and hands, or doing anything associated with non-Islamic holidays.
2558681
it's good to find perceptive analyses of aspects of culture we otherwise take for granted treated with both the humor and curiosity they deserve. the scope of this book will help dispel  any jaded stare your eyes might have acquired in seeing life grow increasingly routine.  as anthropologists are finding westernization leaving scarcer indigenous pickings, we can be happy cultural studies questioning some of the modes becoming more "common".
2317221
This interesting book about life in France is written by an expat, but it is an observation with a difference - as the author herself notes she was not there to pursue romance or renovate a Tuscan villa - she was a there as journalist living and working, first in Lyon and then in France.

Her journalistic skills give a unique insight into the sorts of things that we don't necesarily think of when we think of France (assuming we all think of good food, good wine and beautiful scenery).  There are discussions of French TV viewing habits, multi-culutralism and the health care system.  All of this sounds potentially dull and boring, or at least dry and academic, but it really is told with a great deal of humour and astute observations, and as such makes for an entertaining read.

A small criticism, we don't really get to know a lot about the author's private life with her Canadian husband, something I am usually curious about when English speakers pack up and live in another country, but her musings on the realities of French life make for very entertaining and interesting reading.
3988868
In this short work, Clausen takes you back 1000+ years to the civilization of the Maya. He takes the culture as a whole and explains how the city-states influenced and depended on each other. Within the common thread among all the Mayans he isolates the El Salvadorian settlements and brings distinction to each. Not an A to Z approach to the history but a mere glimpse of a world that had been. The pictures of sites today show the mass of the cities and the scale of the work involved to unearth the ruins. Photographs of the artifacts are in such detail you can almost pick them up. There is just enough information to infuse an appreciation of the past and arouse the curiosity for more.
- S. Jordan
2227295
This book is an epic family story about the life of one woman the cultures in which she lived. I enjoyed the unique perspective (to this USian) and learning about the culture. I also found myself searching for maps online and reading articles about the places and people mentioned in the book to have a deeper understanding. This is one of my favorite types of books:  a great story told in an accessible style, but also a book that inspired me to want to learn more and have a deeper understanding. Even so, one could read this book simply to be entertained and be quite happy.
4390814
Well written.  Seems to give the reader a really perceptive view of the culture in that part of the world.
4061054
Let me say up front that I can't be entirely objective here because I know Tilak and his wife Inderjeet.  At the same time, knowing them allows me to give you some useful information about this book, which I read while I stayed with them in India.  Tilak is a gentle, well educated, and very caring man, and Inderjeet is full of life and also very well educated.

Technically the book is fiction, but in fact these are by and large the actual
experiences of their lives, which have seen more tragedy and joy than most.  Names have been changed throughout, and I was told that some other details were changed as well, but on those occasions where I asked whether something in the book actually happened, the answer was always yes.  One story in particular I thought was pretty astonishing, but Tilak assured me that the book tells the real story.

The book is written in quite readable English, although (not surprisingly) different from American English and even British English.  There is a certain charm to the way it is written, which I think comes in part from a graciousness that seems almost unreal to jaded Americans like me.  But having spent some time with them, I know that this is to some extent a reflection of Hindu culture and in particular Tilak and Inderjeet's personal culture -- they are hospitable and accepting in the extreme.  As a result they have touched many lives over the years.

The book does not read as a biography -- it is a first-person story.  But nor does it read as a novel, with elaborate character development and long descriptions to set the scene.  It moves pretty quickly, tying together many events over the course of their lives without dwelling for too long on any of them.  Tilak manages this pace without making the book seem choppy.

So why might you want to read this book?  Well, beyond being an interesting read about their colorful lives, it gives insight into Indian culture, a tumultuous period in the history of India and Pakistan, and what the U.S. means to India.  Of course, this insight is not delivered as an abstract analysis, but rather through the stories he tells of their lives and their interactions with others.

I personally think the price the publisher put on the book is a little high for the size of the book (for that reason I should perhaps give the book four stars, but I hate to ding Tilak for that -- he actually agrees).  Apart from that the bottom line is that if you are interested in India, you might find this an enjoyable way of getting to know the country and its people a little better.
4433915
For someone who likes Japanese culture this offers a fascinating insight into a little know area for Westerners.
3657045
This is an extraordinary, insightful look at the way in which cultures have evolved over time - from the great migrations of people to environmental and sociological influences.  It is a rich and meaningful look at why different countries have different cultures and helps us all to understand, negotiate and compromise with those different than we are.  It is a thoughtful and thought provoking look at countries and cultures that should not be missed.