A Handbook of Ferns for Australia and New Zealand (Lothian Gardening Guide)

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A WELL INSIDE VISION OF STATES

Embarrassingly bad

Why is this book written by an American?

Not a good guide

Could be helpful, although much is out of date

Culture Shock! USA (Culture Shock! Guides)
Esther Wanning
Manufacturer: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Culture Shock! | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Regions | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

101 American Customs : Understanding Language and Culture Through Common Practices

American Ways: A Guide for Foreigners in the United States

Culture Shock! China: A Guide to Customs & Etiquette

Culture Shock!: Germany (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

American Ways: An Introduction to American Culture (3rd Edition)

ASIN: 1558687599

Book Description

You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices and making friends. There are tips on political traditions, building business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or office. Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture.

Customer Reviews:

A WELL INSIDE VISION OF STATES.......2006-09-02

i read till now five titles in culture shock series: Germany Israel, Austria, Brazil and USA. Each book was very worth of reading. culture shock USA is a great book.On my first sight of the book i thought that it was not fair to take an USA-born writer in this interprise because in the series foreigners were asked to write about the country where they are living now.but the author cares about this and takes opinions of immigrants. even harsh remarks are in the book(even too much ones).that is a good ,realistic and inspiring intoducion to USA for us foreigners.but the shadowy side is present too. the author advises that is not correct to say chairman because could be a woman this person ,but she calls USA America despite that could be Canada ,Argentina,Haiti or my country Brazil among others.One more point.CAVEAT EMPTOR:in culture shock Brazil i asked the quiz in final chapter and i answered correctilly just one question in five.don't trust too much inflexible statements because in real life they may not be true.

Embarrassingly bad.......2006-05-10

Some of the other Culture Shock! books are quite good, offering helpful information and amusing insights.

This one is sadly disappointing, for the obvious reason that it's written by an American who clearly has no idea what it is like to experience life in the USA as a foreigner.

The phenomenon of culture shock describes the feelings - which can range ranging from mild irritation to paralyzing depression - arising from being in a new culture where customs, behaviour and social cues all differ from those you are used to in your home culture. Sometimes you do not even realise the effect the differences are having on you until the cumulative experience overwhelms you. For example, in a culture where concepts of personal space are different, you may find something uncomfortable about your interactions with other people, without even consciously realising that they are always standing closer or further from you than you are accustomed to, until you find yourself shockingly saying that you just can't stand the people here because they are so unfriendly/pushy/distant.

Any decent book on culture shock would identify, and discuss ways of dealing with, the differences that exist in the particular culture.

Here are some things that it's hard to cope with as a foreigner in the USA:
* tipping - Americans have internalised a complex list of social rules about where, how, and how much to tip; and if you haven't learnt how to do it, every meal, drink, hotel stay, or shopping trip becomes stressful until you do.
* people in restaurants, supermarket checkout lines or other public places who feel free to comment on the behaviour of your children and the defects in your abilities as a parent.
* high levels of personal violence - for example, how to handle being threatened by a stranger in a bar or in the street.

Tipping is dealt with only as a list of amounts payable, but no details about how and when to make payment, or what to do in case of bad service. The other issues mentioned above aren't covered at all.

Ultimately the book comes across as as a rose-tinted advertisement for the benefits of migration to the USA, but contains little of use or even interest.

Skip this one, and read the others in the series.

Why is this book written by an American?.......2006-01-03

Hi,
I bought the book several years ago with the expectation of being better prepared for whatever culture shock may hit me - we were preparing ourselves to immigrate to the States.
But how can a native possibly understand a culture shock in his own culture???
I am German and I read the book Culture Shock Germany, because my husband is from Brazil and I wanted to understand what he was going through. The German culture shock book was written by an Irish, who actually had lived in Germany for 15 years or so and had a good overview after having gone through his own culture shock. My husband had a great time with that book!

Well - so I was very disappointed with Culture Shock USA because of course I know things like I cannot burp sitting at the table - that's absolutely clear for everyone who traveled doing business before. I also did not read a whole lot about etiquette etc like the title was promising - plainly I didn't learn anything I didn't know yet.
I did not meet what I was looking for in this book and think it should not have been written by an American because she just doesn't understand WHY foreigners do have a culture shock in the US. Hope there will be a new edition of Culture Shock USA and I am sure I will buy it if someone writes it that actually had some confrontations with the particularities of the American cultre.

Not a good guide.......2003-03-03

I have read six other Culture Shock books. Those are interesting and well researched. However, Culture Shock USA is the opposite. It deals far more with everyday life, than with the USA, with knowing little about what aspects of American life would be a problem or a surprise to a foreigner (apparently most Americans wouldn't know). I have read a few other interesting and well researched books about the USA, e.g. Coping with America by Peter Trudgill, which I would recommend instead.

Could be helpful, although much is out of date.......2002-02-28

An expatriate American, I bought CULTURE SHOCK: USA for my Ukrainian girlfriend who wanted to better understand American culture. Before giving the book to her, I read it to see if it would be an enlightening introduction to the culture of the United States.

CULTURE SHOCK: USA is a decent overview of American culture, and its sections on body language and conversation can be of immense help to Europeans. I found the book's section on American education to be honest and straightforward. Regional differences were clearly explained, and the book acknowledged that American is a vast and diverse nation.

However, the book does leave out a few aspects of American culture that foreign visitors should be aware of. The book is correct in saying that Americans are generally friendly to foreigners, but the book does not mention the deep xenophobia and jingoism that are common to Americans, especially those from rural regions. I would have liked a better overview of America's religious diversity. The book emphasizes that most Americans identify themselves as Christian, but the book could have discussed the various denominations and the difference between, for example, Catholicism and Fundamentalism.

Another weak point of the book is that it is somewhat out of date. One amusing photograph shows a teenager mowing the lawn and the caption says that teenagers do chores to have money for such things are musical tapes. Tapes? It's all CDs or MP3 players now. And do teenagers even mow the lawn anymore? When I was in high school several years ago, everyone I knew just hired a lawn service. The book was supposedly revised in 1997 and 1999, but the revision didn't go too deep.

While it does have its faults, CULTURE SHOCK: USA is really the only book of its kind in English and can benefit those wishing to understand American culture. However, it's always good to have another source besides this one.

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If moving, You NEED this book!

The perfect gift for the carpetbagger in your life.

Nails Southern culture wonderfully!

Extremely outdated information

nice effort, but missed a lot of chances to be informative

Culture Shock!: Usa-The South (Culture Shock)
Jane Kohen Winter
Manufacturer: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
Culture Shock! | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | South | Regions | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
South Atlantic | South | Regions | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Culture Shock: USA (Culture Shock! USA, 1st ed)

USA - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!)

Culture Shock! China: A Guide to Customs & Etiquette

American Ways: A Guide for Foreigners in the United States

ASIN: 1558682465

Customer Reviews:

If moving, You NEED this book!.......2005-06-22

Regardless of what you read below (from southerners), even the larger cities such as Atlanta are very Southern in overall character (e.g., few mixed race relationships as compared to major non-Southern cities, etc.). I am now in my third year there. Some people talk about the "New South," etc. Forget it,....unless Miami counts! I'm a WASP and still feel like I've abandoned the 21st-century by living in Atlanta. To some of you, it will literally feel like a third-world country. (You'll DEFINITELY need cultural preparation if coming from the West Coast or Northeast). But, don't take my word for it. The culture shock series prints this volume separately since the American South needs special attention above and beyond the U.S.A. volume. And remember, the South includes Texas and Oklahoma. So, do yourself a real favor and get this book as well as related publications.

The perfect gift for the carpetbagger in your life........2004-10-01

I've lived in the grographic South for my entire life; however, because the city I live in is Atlanta, there is a degree of homogenization in the ATL thanks in large part to the number of people who've moved here from other cities that it really has lost its identity as a Southern city.

When a friend of mine from New York (Lon Gisland, actually) asked me what being raised in the South was like, I found that I really couldn't tell him based on my own experience. Then one day I found this book. I read it out of interest in what I had been missing. It's true, this book more accurately depicts life in more traditional Southern cities or towns...in Georgia that would be larger sities like Augusta or Savannah...as opposed to truly international cities like Atlanta or Charlotte. But it still serves as a terrific primer on both the heritage and the core values that still resonate with most of us today. I bought the book for my Lon Gislander friend and the first thing he said the day after he finished it was "'Mornin', y'all!"

See? There IS hope. Great book, anecdotal and referential, and written with a healthy sense of humor (terrific example, paraphrasing: "The reason so much of the food in the South is fried is because Southerners know it tastes better that way"). If you're curious about the region, about stereotypes, about realities, about the nature of a warm and beautiful group of peaople, this is the book that will answer a great deal of questions while providing some entertaining reading as well.

Nails Southern culture wonderfully!.......2003-08-02

I'm a born and raised Southerner who married a man from Boston and has moved all over the country with him. I never realized the little quirks that helped make me "Southern" untill then, and this book is dead on in pointing them out. Little things such as children wearing smocked dresses for play,and dressing up to run errands, up to the biggies such as the importance of manners, and the role of religion in our society.

Sure not everything may apply to the Southerner you know, because I'll admit the book deals primarily with the upper-middle class South of genteelness. But like it or not, it's the South I live in and that has molded me. If only I could convince all my Boston in-laws and California friends to read this book! Then we could all dress up and go watch the game together, stay out late at our alumni frat party, eat an early grits breakfast, go to Sunday worship and then write thank you notes to everyone!

Extremely outdated information.......2002-09-20

Very misleading. The information provided is from a South that existed 50+ years ago. Some of the material was silly. Don't waste your time/money.

nice effort, but missed a lot of chances to be informative.......2000-09-29

The _Culture Shock_ series of books are some of my favourites. While this one has a fair amount to like, and some pleasant surprises, there's also a lot it misses out on, which is kind of too bad.

Winter does correctly communicate what I believe to be the single most important thing anyone can take South with them: the knowledge that the South is a very diverse region, generally misunderstood and accustomed to being misunderstood, and is more complex and changing than is typically realized outside the Southern states. Winter makes clear that if you go without a bunch of assumptions, and give people a fair shake while having the courtesy to let them be themselves, you'll maximize your odds of a good experience. Those are good procedures anywhere you go.

The markdown is for two reasons. First of all, the quiz at the end of the book really takes the cake for silliness; it insults the reader's intelligence and adds no value. It's the worst I've seen so far in six _Culture Shock_ books. The other weak spot is the coverage of regional cultural and accent differences. The mountain South and Texas are given fairly short shrift; the focus seems mostly on the Deep South and Piedmont. We are told that there are half a dozen distinct Southern accents, for example: great, how about teaching us learn to tell them apart? We get a big section on the role of Christianity in Southern life; ok, fine--but what does that mean for the non-Christian...is the popular image perhaps a media exaggeration with little relation to reality, and does it vary by region? We hear about Atlanta's cosmopolitanism, great; my impression of Austin is that it does pretty well also, but I don't think it's even mentioned in the book. And so on.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Essential for any woman traveling to Egypt.......2001-08-08

As an American woman who had already been to Egypt and experienced many different things with regard to cultural differences, I decided to purchase this book before returning again . It was a relief to get some insight on certain situations to avoid (as a woman) and how to enjoy this wonderful country while maintaining a deep respect for it's people's beliefs and customs.

A Good Read.......2001-03-20

There are two types of travel books: Those we skim through and those we read. As a book to skim, it's ok. It does not have much to reference quickly, if at all. However, as a book to read and to contemplate, it is very good. If you buy this book, take the time to read it carefully from cover to cover. Unlike a lot of commentaries on foreign culture, which tend to be trite, this author is very respectful of Egyptian culture without being ingratiating.

superb resource for the traveler.......2000-07-25

Wilson's book provided me with the "cultural common sense" that made for a successful stay in Egypt in June 2000. Her chatty tone invited me, as a reader, into her own experiences living in Egypt and set a context for me to be open to the warmth of the Egyptians as well as to be prepared for the very real challenges of travel here. While other books provided guidance to the sights, Wilson's provided guidance to the people and customs. I'll be returning to Egypt for future work and will rely on her book as a continuing resource.

Must Buy for anyone moving or travelling to Egypt.......2000-06-22

Thank God for this book! I recently have been accepted for a job in Egypt and boy did this book help me prepare. Without it I don't think I would have made it through. It's content is rich and full of great tips on local custom and it is truly in depth about the "do's & don'ts" when you get there. Highly recommended.

Essential reading!.......1999-12-20

Before heading off for Egypt, make sure that you read this book. It is invaluable!

Chicago at Your Door (Culture Shock! At Your Door: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

Average customer rating:

Better for those who have never lived in the U.S., but...
Informative and interesting
"Chicago for U.S. newcomers" would be helpfully descriptive
Very helpful book for those new to Chicago

Chicago at Your Door (Culture Shock! At Your Door: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)
Orin Hargraves , and Crin Hargraves
Manufacturer: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Reference | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1558684247

Book Description

Whether you travel for business, pleasure, or a combination of the two, the ever-popular "Culture Shock!" series belongs in your backpack or briefcase. Get the nuts-and-bolts information you need to survive and thrive wherever you go. "Culture Shock!" country guides are easy-to-read, accurate, and entertaining crash courses in local customs and etiquette. "Culture Shock!" practical guides offer the inside information you need whether you're a student, a parent, a globetrotter, or a working traveler. "Culture Shock!" at your Door guides equip you for daily life in some of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. And "Culture Shock!" Success Secrets guides offer relevant, practical information with the real-life insights and cultural know-how that can make the difference between business success and failure.

Each "Culture Shock!" title is written by someone who's lived and worked in the country, and each book is packed with practical, accurate, and enjoyable information to help you find your way and feel at home.

Customer Reviews:

Better for those who have never lived in the U.S., but..........2005-04-25

Well worth the cost. If you are planning to move to Chicago, or have never lived in the United States, this work could be invaluable.

Informative and interesting.......2003-08-23

Well done to the author of this book. The book is very hard to put down once you start reading it. The author has a complete understanding of what life is like in Chicago, the book makes enjoyable reading, and the author covers all aspects of working life in Chicago. The book is complemented by including pictures in and around Chicago, and gives helpful advice on working life in the city.
Well done for producing such an accurate description of Chicago!

"Chicago for U.S. newcomers" would be helpfully descriptive.......2000-10-27

My rating - take it for what's it's worth - is based on the book's use to me, as a U.S. born Chicago newcomer. There are portions of this book, devoted to entertainment, dining, weather, and neighborhoods, that I found useful. Even the sociological aspects of America, as discussed in this book, were a bit of an eyeopener (seeing ourselves as others see us). Still, this is less of a Chicago guide and more "Welcome to America". For those of us who are already familiar with the logistics of opening a checking account, or the difference between a condo and an apartment, the definative published guide to Chicago culture remains to be found.

Very helpful book for those new to Chicago.......1999-11-24

I've just relocated here from abroad and I can't praise this book enough for helping me to find my bearings and get on my feet in Chicago. The author knows and loves the city, and as a bonus, he has also provided many fascinating insights into urban Americans and how they interact with each other and with foreigners. I would recommend this book to anyone unreservedly who intends to make Chicago their home, whether for a month or for years.

Culture Shock and Japanese-american Relations: Historical Essays

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Culture Shock and Japanese-american Relations: Historical Essays
Sadao Asada
Manufacturer: University of Missouri Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0826217451
Release Date: 2007-06-15

Product Description

Ever since Commodore Perry sailed into Uraga Channel, relations between the United States and Japan have been characterized by culture shock. Now a distinguished Japanese historian critically analyzes contemporary thought, public opinion, and behavior in the two countries over the course of the twentieth century, offering a binational perspective on culture shock as it has affected their relations. In these essays, Sadao Asada examines the historical interaction between these two countries from 1890 to 2006, focusing on naval strategy, transpacific racism, and the atomic bomb controversy. For each topic, he offers a rigorous analysis of both American and Japanese perceptions, showing how cultural relations and the interchange of ideas have been complex and occasionally destructive.

Average customer rating:

A relatively good book

The last frontiers on earth: Strange places where you can live free
Jon Fisher
Manufacturer: Loompanics Unlimited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006XSD8W

Customer Reviews:

A relatively good book.......1997-05-08

This is a relatively good book dealing with alternative ways of life. It includes, among other things, chapters on living in Antarctica, on living in a boat, on living as a nomad, on living in a ghost town--etc. Although it's rather brief in its treatment of each subject, it does include a short bibliography at the end of each chapter for those who would like to look into each option further, and it provides a pretty good overview of the subject.

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Polar Regions (Earth's Final Frontiers)
James Kerr
Manufacturer: Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1432901176

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Polar Regions (Earth's Final Frontiers)

Manufacturer: Heinemann Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Geography | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0431907447

The polar regions;: Earth's frontiers (World neighbors)

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The polar regions;: Earth's frontiers (World neighbors)
Lyn Harrington
Manufacturer: T. Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Exploration & Discovery | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0840763387

Book Description

This is a unique collection of articles that offers a handpicked selection of the main outstanding 'classic' works in franchising knowledge. Researchers, students, professional advisors and anyone with a serious interest in the development of this extremely topical subject, can now have--at their fingertips--the key articles and papers that have contributed to the philosophy of cloning business success. Many researches in the field have only heard of the names, 'Brickley and Dark', 'Rubin', 'Hunt' or 'Oxenfeldt and Kelly', but may never have seen their original seminal works through the difficulty in locating the material. Their original articles are reproduced in full here, complete with supporting notes.

Franchise Appreciation Day: shaping legislators' perspectives.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS) : An article from: Franchising World

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Franchise Appreciation Day: shaping legislators' perspectives.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS) : An article from: Franchising World

Manufacturer: International Franchise Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Franchising World, published by International Franchise Association on June 1, 2005. The length of the article is 719 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Franchise Appreciation Day: shaping legislators' perspectives.(FW FOCUS: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS)
Publication: Franchising World (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2005
Publisher: International Franchise Association
Volume: 37 Issue: 6 Page: 49(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Leadership perspectives to share.(INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CONVENTION PREVIEW): An article from: Franchising World

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Leadership perspectives to share.(INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CONVENTION PREVIEW): An article from: Franchising World

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Franchising World, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2006. The length of the article is 1551 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Leadership perspectives to share.(INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CONVENTION PREVIEW)
Publication: Franchising World (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Page: 34(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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