India-Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture

by Nicki Grihault

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents

* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken

"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

Genres: India, Travel, Nonfiction, Cultural, History, Asia

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically this is a travel guide with a bit more more focus on the customs and culture end of things. There's also a nice, condensed history of India included. Many tips for women living and traveling safely in India, as well.

[Christine Ricci]

Not an expert on Indian customs and culture myself, I feel it would be unfair to rank this book until I actually go there and see how accurate and helpful the book truly is. From my Indian friends, however, they feel it is highly inaccurate and outdated, saying many of the customs described are not done anymore. While I understand India presently is a rapidly changing culture, I also know sometimes it's difficult to see the forest when you're standing under a tree, so again, I feel I need some first hand experience to truly assess this book's worth. I believe this to be especially true because I have found one trait in particular, saving face, that seems to be alive and well in Indian culture. So perhaps this is more akin to when a TV show or a movie shows one character's perspective, then another character's perspective, and finally shows what really happened, which contains elements of both but is not entirely one side or the other.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for the first time traveler to India.

It helps you navigate the intricate, unspoken rules that populate India (want kind of clothes you should wear, why you shouldn't use your left hand for eating) and also gives helpful tips (check water bottles, don't drink anything with ice).

Concise and to the point.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, flight has almost been delayed two hours now, so I actually finished before we left. A nice little guide to Indian culture, though perhaps a bit too focused on business travelers for my needs. Still, a good overview that helped me feel more prepared for my trip! I love that it's concise and just provides a brief overview of a lot of subjects.

[Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book told me a lot about the Indian culture like the cultures between Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and various tribal populations in India. and this book told me facts about how many people live there and what they eat and so on. I recommend this book to whoever wants to live there or even just wants to learn about India.

[Jade Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about India’s history and her present status. I’ve never been to India so as an outsider I feel this book gave a great overview of various topics with detailed explanations of the most important aspects. I would definitely read again if I was heading to India any time soon.

[Brian Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trip preparation

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview withour resorting to judgement; practical and easy to read.

[Vincent V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really useful book series. Will read all of these.

[Nicole Edbrooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Questionable

[Morgan Barba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Culture Smart is the best! The only way to prep for a trip to a foreign country, it covers everything you want to know about social taboos, the government, religion, etc.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of info about India and the people.
Informative and condensed.

[Sonia Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by India and Indian culture. This book gives a great insight into the intricacies and complexities of this vast nation. I found it very useful and in a practical sense, I would feel confident whilst being there and interacting with the locals. It's a guidebook to the people, the heart and soul of India, not a sightseeing/tourist guide book which means that when I do eventually make it to the country, I will be well equipped to be a mindful, conscientious guest and willing participant in how things work in India.

If you are interested in people, other countries and what makes the local tick - I highly recommend reading this book!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Falling in love with India is much like developing a taste for spicy food. You look at the chilies and don't know how you'll cope. But the aroma is enticing, so you dive in. If you don't give up, one day you'll discover that you've developed a craving for it."

This quote from this book perfectly encapsulates my experience with India over the last 5 years. India is a land of juxtaposition in almost every aspect, and it's fascinating.

This book is an outstanding primer on India for anyone traveling there for work or pleasure. Covering a huge range of topics from land and people, values and attitudes, and customs and traditions to friend and family relationships, travel and health issues, and the business world, this book gives a great big picture of this amazing country. The level of detail is ideal for giving a big picture of how India is in most of these areas but also covering enough specifics to help you know how to deal with certain situations and what to expect. While I already knew a lot about the people/relationship/business aspects of the country due to my many travels here for work, I learned a lot about the history of India and the various traditions of its people. Also, the train system descriptions were thorough and interesting.

Highly highly recommended. I've already referred back to it a few times just in the couple of days since i finished the book.

[Camille Dent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little introduction to Indian culture and life! When I stared it, I was worried it would focus on tourist hotspots and the history around them (which is fascinating too, but I was more interested in finding a book that discussed the everyday life culture). I found exactly what I was looking for in this book! Occasionally the author uses the dangerous words "all" and "none," which made me very skeptical at first, but then at the end, there is a disclaimer that all of India is so diverse that no introduction book could prepare anyone for the exact experiences they will have (which, of course, is true for all countries). Again, I was worried that this book would be aimed towards tourists and focus on glorifying the history and architecture, but I was very relieved to find that it makes sure the reader is prepared for the bad parts of India too.

If you are planning to travel to or are interested in India for any reason, I strongly suggest this as a starting guide to get a good feel of the country. However, if you are already familiar with basic Indian culture, traditions, and way of life, you may not learn anything new from this.

[Zack Migioia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a helpful overview of the culture of India. I felt like the author did a good job of giving an introduction to the land, people, religions, and daily life for the various different people groups found there. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn more about India or for anyone who is planning on traveling there soon.

I enjoyed reading this book and saw this as a wonderful introduction to the culture of India. I look forward to reading more about India and trust that this book has prepared me to understand the basics of India's culture.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this. I didn't know what book I wanted to get at the bookstore. However Im obsessed with the country India so I got this in the travel section of the bookstore.

It gave me a brief history on the country also a lot to do with the Muslim and Hindu religens.

What I REALLY liked about this was how to be precieved when visiting India. The hospitality section and the language. How to protect yourself and how to bargain with merchects.

I can't wait to use the info I read to good use when I visit this country in the future!!

[James Harmeling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short volume is part of a series of introductory books for foreign cultures. This one was written by an American who lived in India for five years and married someone from that country. She writes from an American perspective and this helps the book significantly so that a person can get a good quick introduction on a place as diverse as India. Her chapters include everything from food to customs to history. Its size makes it a good reference work that fits neatly into coat pockets or small but accessible spots in computer bags or luggage.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for anyone traveling to India. Great insights into what it is actually like. I got so much more out of this than I would have any typical travel book. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because it didn't describe enough the differences between the North and the South. I spent time in both, and some things definitely did not apply to certain areas. But overall, fantastic prep for going into an unknown culture!

[Coach Noreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at a great price right before heading to Hyderabad and points south. Liked how the writing was short, concise and to the point. Covered information such as history culture and food. Did reference while travelling and was quite helpful. If headed to India, add this to your 'to read' pile.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because Indian culture is so different from the U.S., I highly recommend doing some reading on history, culture, and etiquette before going. That said -- this book was not exhaustive. Best to combine with a travel guide, to understand the nuts and bolts of travel in India.

[Tim Juchter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Handy little volume that condenses the practical advice you might normally find scattered in huts and pieces through a normal guide book. I got it from the library, but might buy a copy to study before heading off to India.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent brief introduction to India, including especially helpful sections on the customs and cultures of the continent. The 10-page chapter on "Making Friends" is worth the price of the book.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handy and straightforward travel guide that's a quick read. The book is geared to Westerners traveling in India. I found it insightful and accurate and an easy way to quickly get up to speed on the country and its culture.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was a helpful broad overview on a variety of topics. Hints of subjectivity from time to time but overall helpful outlook covering common themes as well as the vast diversity found throughout the country.

[Dan Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

India was my third Culture Smart! guide and did not disappoint. It's just the best way to get under the surface for any culture or country you are interested in. Love these guides and love the new design.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book for getting an overview of Indian culture and history. I didn't have to buy the big tour guide books because other friends living in India already had them.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly stuff I already knew, but not bad.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I breezed through this book mostly in one setting. I probably should've read it before moving to New Delhi. Oh, well...

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the usefulness of this book is yet to be determined, it was an interesting and entertaining read.