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Culture Smart / Cultuur Bewust
Turkey - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
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 include
* 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
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 include
* 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
- GenresTravelNonfictionCultural
168 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2005
22 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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November 19, 2010What can I say? Iread it through a few times...writing it! Hope it is helpful and make your trip more memorable. Today's Zaman Regular Columnist
September 23, 2016
This pocket size guide to the essential customs and culture of Turkey is a must read whether you’re coming to Turkey for the first time or plan to live here for a while. Unlike the usual guide book or personal travel narrative, Turkey Culture Smart contains a carefully thought out wealth of information about the cultural differences and complexities that make up Turkish life today.
The author Charlotte McPherson has been a resident of Turkey for more than 30 years. She knows what it’s like to be unfamiliar with the country and has useful tips and hints for settling in. From making new friends and socialising the Turkish way to navigating tricky cultural issues such as how to approach expressing differences of opinion and problem solving, she has it covered.
Well-known customs such as taking your shoes off inside homes and mosques are mentioned, but more importantly Turkey Culture Smart provides the reader with valuable insights into the nuances of Turkish culture and society. Having lived here for a long time and being trained in anthropology, McPherson is attuned to the less obvious markers of ‘Turkishness’, such as being aware that a Turk would rather lose a friendship than discuss a problem directly. This knowledge is shared in well-written and easily digestible sections on Turkish values and attitudes, the meaning of private life in Turkey and the role of the family.
In addition to practical chapters on travel, safety and money and so on, Turkey Culture Smartincludes a short guide to doing business in Turkey. As anyone who’s tried to conduct business in a foreign country will know, it’s essential to be aware of what is and isn’t acceptable, whether it relates to body language or gender roles.
It would take years to acquire the cultural knowledge available in this conveniently sized gem of a book. Charlotte McPherson has done the work for you, explaining all the idiosyncrasies and intricacies a foreigner is likely to encounter when they go to Turkey
The author Charlotte McPherson has been a resident of Turkey for more than 30 years. She knows what it’s like to be unfamiliar with the country and has useful tips and hints for settling in. From making new friends and socialising the Turkish way to navigating tricky cultural issues such as how to approach expressing differences of opinion and problem solving, she has it covered.
Well-known customs such as taking your shoes off inside homes and mosques are mentioned, but more importantly Turkey Culture Smart provides the reader with valuable insights into the nuances of Turkish culture and society. Having lived here for a long time and being trained in anthropology, McPherson is attuned to the less obvious markers of ‘Turkishness’, such as being aware that a Turk would rather lose a friendship than discuss a problem directly. This knowledge is shared in well-written and easily digestible sections on Turkish values and attitudes, the meaning of private life in Turkey and the role of the family.
In addition to practical chapters on travel, safety and money and so on, Turkey Culture Smartincludes a short guide to doing business in Turkey. As anyone who’s tried to conduct business in a foreign country will know, it’s essential to be aware of what is and isn’t acceptable, whether it relates to body language or gender roles.
It would take years to acquire the cultural knowledge available in this conveniently sized gem of a book. Charlotte McPherson has done the work for you, explaining all the idiosyncrasies and intricacies a foreigner is likely to encounter when they go to Turkey
July 12, 2023
A helpful book if you decide to visit Turkiye, a country rich in history, culture, and hospitable people.
I had been to Turkiye the prior year, and read this book before my second trip there. I found it accurate based on my first trip, and a great reminder of the cultural differences and how to be a respectful traveler.
I wish I had read this before my first trip so I would be more mindful to be formal in how I reference others, (saying “Mr.” in front of a first name), not to extend my hand to shake someone’s hand but let them off first, and why personal and national pride is a core value.
I had been to Turkiye the prior year, and read this book before my second trip there. I found it accurate based on my first trip, and a great reminder of the cultural differences and how to be a respectful traveler.
I wish I had read this before my first trip so I would be more mindful to be formal in how I reference others, (saying “Mr.” in front of a first name), not to extend my hand to shake someone’s hand but let them off first, and why personal and national pride is a core value.
October 1, 2018
This book is a quick overview of Turkish history and a guide to customs and practices. The author discusses Turkey as far back as Biblical times (the mountain where Noah parked the ark is in Turkey) and up to how to address a letter to post.
This book is so helpful to know what to expect and how to process and engage the world around us. There have been a few things mentioned in the book that Turkish friends have said are different that what it written, but it's this book is a good place to start.
This book is so helpful to know what to expect and how to process and engage the world around us. There have been a few things mentioned in the book that Turkish friends have said are different that what it written, but it's this book is a good place to start.
January 30, 2019
A fine introduction to Turkish customs and culture, which I read in preparation for my first visit to Turkey. My visit to Turkey was restricted to Istanbul and Izmir. I think I could have navigated the cultural waters without having read this book, but it was still helpful as background...and had I ventured outside of larger urban areas I'm guessing that the guide to customs and culture would have proved even more essential.
September 1, 2021
As usual with this series, there are lots of factual errors. It seems clear that Kuperard doesn't do much, if any, fact-checking on these books before publishing them, nor do they seem to do much vetting of the authors beforehand.
Unfortunately this series is all that's available for cultural dossiers on individual countries.
Unfortunately this series is all that's available for cultural dossiers on individual countries.
May 11, 2017
What an incredible introduction to the Turkish lifestyle, history, politics, celebrations, home life, and most importantly avoiding serious faux pas! How does one manage a new culture without these little Culture Smart gems!
November 3, 2018
This is a pocket guide for travelers to Turkey. In it, the culture and customs of the people are briefly covered. This work is a reality fair cursory to the country. There are no language components such as appear in other works from Culture Smart.
September 20, 2018
A decent introduction to Turkey and the customs of it's people. Nothing above-and-beyond about anything presented in here, but if you're also planning a trip to Turkey, it it a good place to start.
September 9, 2024
Good supplement to a traditional travel guide.
September 21, 2024
Very informative
May 22, 2025
Not a travel book, but a small book that explains "Turks", their customs and culture. Good to read before we go there.
May 23, 2025
Book 15
Author is American who has lived in Turkey since 1979. She specialized in this region’s history and anthropology.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the father of modern Turkey. He abolished the sultanate and created a secular, modern country. In 1923 he embarked on a sweeping program of westernization and economic development. In 1930 he gave women the right to vote - earlier than many European countries. He died in Dolmabaçe palace in 1938
Turkish law is not based on Islamic, or sharia, law, but on the Swiss code, which means that an act is illegal until specifically enabled by a body of law
They believe the social unit with the strongest demands on a person’s loyalty is the family - the fundamental structure of life
Mashallah is used to ward off the evil eye and said after giving praise
Inshallah (god willing) is used to avoid tempting fate
Concept of kismet has a major role in people’s lives. It’s a belief in fate and in the predetermination of events - sometimes causing Turks to act passively.
Though individualism is becoming more prevalent, Turkey is still very much a consensus- and group-based society
Author is American who has lived in Turkey since 1979. She specialized in this region’s history and anthropology.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the father of modern Turkey. He abolished the sultanate and created a secular, modern country. In 1923 he embarked on a sweeping program of westernization and economic development. In 1930 he gave women the right to vote - earlier than many European countries. He died in Dolmabaçe palace in 1938
Turkish law is not based on Islamic, or sharia, law, but on the Swiss code, which means that an act is illegal until specifically enabled by a body of law
They believe the social unit with the strongest demands on a person’s loyalty is the family - the fundamental structure of life
Mashallah is used to ward off the evil eye and said after giving praise
Inshallah (god willing) is used to avoid tempting fate
Concept of kismet has a major role in people’s lives. It’s a belief in fate and in the predetermination of events - sometimes causing Turks to act passively.
Though individualism is becoming more prevalent, Turkey is still very much a consensus- and group-based society
September 22, 2010
I found this a much better book than Malaysia - Culture Smart! (though it may just be that the library's edition of the Turkey book is more recent than the Malaysia book). It offers a very quick overview of Turkish history and goes on to covers such topics as religion, eating and food, being a guest in someone's home, relations between the sexes, business dealings, etc. I am going to Turkey as a tourist and assume everyone I will come in contact with is very familiar with Westerners and it would be hard to shock or offend, but I am glad to have a little background. For instance, apparently I ought to give a dead fish handshake (women don't shake hands with men much, and if they do physical contact is minimized).
August 5, 2007
I commit that Charlotte is so expert about Turkey, I enjoy read this book.
June 12, 2014
Very helpful in understanding our lovely hosts during our 3 weeks in Turkey.
January 28, 2016
Standard culture guide. Nothing unusual, and can't vouch for accuracy (yet).
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March 4, 2025Well presented .
Useful information.
The food section is good - now I think I will know what I am going to eat/yase if and when I get to Turkey
Useful information.
The food section is good - now I think I will know what I am going to eat/yase if and when I get to Turkey
April 10, 2009
Primarily of interest if one is planning a trip to Turkey, which I am. Otherwise...Hummm
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews