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Culture Shock!
CultureShock! India
Whether you're conducting business, traveling for pleasure, or even relocating abroad, one mistake with customs or etiquette can leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. International travelers, now more than ever, are not just individuals from the United States, but ambassadors and impression makers for the country as a whole. Newly updated, redesigned, and resized for maximum shelf appeal for travelers of all ages, Culture Shock! country and city guides make up the most complete reference series for customs and etiquette you can find. These are not just travel guides; these are guides for a way of life.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1993
12 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 11, 2025
Comedic and very accurate
April 30, 2017
I read this book because I'm fascinated by India and my son-in-law is from India.
The book is heavily geared to nonIndians moving to India and working there. I found it was a very superficial look at India and I didn't learn anything I didn't already know that was of relevance to me. (Not interested in knowing best English language school in Delhi). The book heavily focuses on Delhi and to a lesser degree on Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad with Kolkata briefly mentioned. Occasionally other parts of India are mentioned but in a very cursory manner. I suppose it might be helpful for someone who knew nothing about India but overall, it was a disappointment to me.
The book is heavily geared to nonIndians moving to India and working there. I found it was a very superficial look at India and I didn't learn anything I didn't already know that was of relevance to me. (Not interested in knowing best English language school in Delhi). The book heavily focuses on Delhi and to a lesser degree on Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad with Kolkata briefly mentioned. Occasionally other parts of India are mentioned but in a very cursory manner. I suppose it might be helpful for someone who knew nothing about India but overall, it was a disappointment to me.
May 6, 2008
Now, not having been to India, it's difficult to really review a travel guide...especially with recent stories about travel guide writers inventing "facts" about their destinations, getting details from questionable sources, etc. If I ever go, I'll come back and give a more informed review. First thing. Honest.
July 12, 2009
read it first, then fly to india soon..
July 5, 2018
Summer Reading Challenge 2018
India
I love this Culture Shock series. I love books about social customs and etiquette! How cool to explore another culture from this angle. What would it really be like to live there? Having said that, these books contain a LOT of detail. Sections that you enjoy turn the pages themselves, but sections on customs that you find distasteful feel like a root canal with their agonizing detail.
The first 55 pages of this book passed SO SLOWLY for me. They contained forced-fed theology lessons on Hinduism as well as India's history from an anti-British colonial stance. These pages created a painfully rough start for me. I wish I had known to just skip them! Fortunately, once the book left the realm of Hindu theology, it got a lot more interesting and enjoyable to read. Here were some notable sections for me:
Parenting/Family Structures
Caste System
Women in India, bride-burnings and the treatment of women within families - What?! As a woman, some information in this book caused me considerable alarm. Not okay.
Superstitions - Some of these made me laugh out loud! I started reading things to my husband at this point.
The Master-Servant Relationship - This section really wierded me out. To think seriously about having servants in this modern age was unsettling... I kept talking to my husband about it and staying "staff" because I couldn't face the reality of actually being another human beings master. As much as I might fantasize about having "servants" to do my work, facing the actual reality of servants is unsettling.
Food - Unappealing to me in multiple ways. This section was another slow, excruciating read.
This book felt LONG and was weighed down by a lot of specific detail. After finally finishing it, I felt like I had actually been to India.
India
I love this Culture Shock series. I love books about social customs and etiquette! How cool to explore another culture from this angle. What would it really be like to live there? Having said that, these books contain a LOT of detail. Sections that you enjoy turn the pages themselves, but sections on customs that you find distasteful feel like a root canal with their agonizing detail.
The first 55 pages of this book passed SO SLOWLY for me. They contained forced-fed theology lessons on Hinduism as well as India's history from an anti-British colonial stance. These pages created a painfully rough start for me. I wish I had known to just skip them! Fortunately, once the book left the realm of Hindu theology, it got a lot more interesting and enjoyable to read. Here were some notable sections for me:
Parenting/Family Structures
Caste System
Women in India, bride-burnings and the treatment of women within families - What?! As a woman, some information in this book caused me considerable alarm. Not okay.
Superstitions - Some of these made me laugh out loud! I started reading things to my husband at this point.
The Master-Servant Relationship - This section really wierded me out. To think seriously about having servants in this modern age was unsettling... I kept talking to my husband about it and staying "staff" because I couldn't face the reality of actually being another human beings master. As much as I might fantasize about having "servants" to do my work, facing the actual reality of servants is unsettling.
Food - Unappealing to me in multiple ways. This section was another slow, excruciating read.
This book felt LONG and was weighed down by a lot of specific detail. After finally finishing it, I felt like I had actually been to India.
June 21, 2017
Before I came to live and work in Bangalore, I thought that this book would be a great primer to read before coming.
One thing to keep in mind is this that India has greatly changed in the approx. 10 years that the book was published until now. Also, India is an extremely large place with over 1 billion people. To categorize all that diversity is a near impossible task. Of course there will be a lot of diversity in what you can find inside. The book goes into great detail about all the things you can find inside. Yet, the India I experienced was much different than the one this book portrays. India, even though it still hasn't caught up yet, is learning to quickly modernize.
One thing that I thought the book got right was the great details about the different foods one could find here. I have yet to be disappointed with the book's list.
As a fun exercise, I showed this book to a few of my coworkers (who all come from all over India) so we could compare what the book got right and wrong. Unsurprisingly, the book definitely missed the mark by a long shot. Their opinion was that the book was too blunt and too skeptical.
My belief is that the best way to experience a country is to go there yourself. If you are a first time traveler, I would definitely recommend a more recently published book.
One thing to keep in mind is this that India has greatly changed in the approx. 10 years that the book was published until now. Also, India is an extremely large place with over 1 billion people. To categorize all that diversity is a near impossible task. Of course there will be a lot of diversity in what you can find inside. The book goes into great detail about all the things you can find inside. Yet, the India I experienced was much different than the one this book portrays. India, even though it still hasn't caught up yet, is learning to quickly modernize.
One thing that I thought the book got right was the great details about the different foods one could find here. I have yet to be disappointed with the book's list.
As a fun exercise, I showed this book to a few of my coworkers (who all come from all over India) so we could compare what the book got right and wrong. Unsurprisingly, the book definitely missed the mark by a long shot. Their opinion was that the book was too blunt and too skeptical.
My belief is that the best way to experience a country is to go there yourself. If you are a first time traveler, I would definitely recommend a more recently published book.
February 5, 2020
Very beneficial for anyone wishing to travel to India. My Indian friend suggests everyone should visit 1-2 times just to absorb the culture BEFORE conduting any business, mission or humanitarian interactions. This book is for those of us who might only be able to afford one trip. it assists in reading body language, and understanding customs in various states of the country.
July 15, 2024
Thirty years after publication this book might probably not help any traveler that much anymore, but it still give good insight into the Indian mind and way of doing things. I love India and hope to one day visit, I would especially love to attend the Kumbh Mela festival which is the largest religious holy day in the world
December 26, 2018
This particular travelog is full of details and information but the introduction truly sums up a lot about India that had been simmering in my brain.
January 27, 2008
Obviously, I am interested in Indian culture, and this book offers a great view of what life is really like in "Mother India." I don't read a lot of travel books, but I borrowed this one from a friend, who got it from a fellow yoga teacher. Since I'll eventually have to study there for a month or more, I thought it would be good to go ahead and get acquainted!
Kolanad is a witty writer, and she makes descriptions of mundane activities (going to the bathroom there, for example) funny and interesting. She also sheds light on some of the social situations that might be challenging to a foreigner, and she offers great advice for how to handle them with grace. She also does a lovely job of explaining how to navigate the cities and markets with or without children in tow. I laughed out loud numerous times while reading, and I gained a much greater understanding of why I feel such a communication gap sometimes at the Hindu Temple here. I've learned some of the mistakes I've made!
My only disappointment was that she doesn't even mention Pune in her book. Since each city has its own culture and celebrates unique festivals (which I learned are VERY important to attend), I wish I'd gotten a peek into that society. However, I still think it's an invaluable resource for those that plan to visit this country b/c it's such an approachable guide. Her explanations are thorough and precise.
Have fun with this one!
Kolanad is a witty writer, and she makes descriptions of mundane activities (going to the bathroom there, for example) funny and interesting. She also sheds light on some of the social situations that might be challenging to a foreigner, and she offers great advice for how to handle them with grace. She also does a lovely job of explaining how to navigate the cities and markets with or without children in tow. I laughed out loud numerous times while reading, and I gained a much greater understanding of why I feel such a communication gap sometimes at the Hindu Temple here. I've learned some of the mistakes I've made!
My only disappointment was that she doesn't even mention Pune in her book. Since each city has its own culture and celebrates unique festivals (which I learned are VERY important to attend), I wish I'd gotten a peek into that society. However, I still think it's an invaluable resource for those that plan to visit this country b/c it's such an approachable guide. Her explanations are thorough and precise.
Have fun with this one!
April 23, 2008
This book was written for people who are planning on living in India for an extended period of time. It covers everything from history and religion, to what to expect from Indian Bollywood cinema and the local cuisine. (Did you know that curry is unheard of in India and it is only served in restaurants catering to foreingers?)
Lots of very useful and practical information. Check out this series for any country you might be travelling to (they have one on Germany).
Lots of very useful and practical information. Check out this series for any country you might be travelling to (they have one on Germany).
July 18, 2012
Very informative. I can't say it was the most entertaining read. It felt more like reading a textbook, but it served its purpose. The reading was light and I go what I needed out of it. Granted, some chapters were not applicable to my case (starting a business, buying a house) but what was written was interesting. Hopefully, this will be a helpful source, since I am less than a day away from a 3-week vacation there.
December 10, 2008
I bought this to help me with the book I'm writing (which has characters of Indian origin), but it has proven fairly inadequate. I'd hate to have to visit India in order to write about it, but that is looking increasingly likely. Maybe I can just start watching Indian films--there are supposed to be thousands of them :)
August 28, 2007
This book has some very interesting tid-bits of information that anyone traveling to India can benefit from knowing. However, a lot of the tips are pertinent only for people moving to India permanently (i.e. tips on where to send your kids to school.)
July 18, 2009
A sort of Cliff Notes to India, an interesting outline to a place I knew almost nothing about and know a little more now. I think this would be extremely helpful for anyone traveling or working in India.
February 14, 2011
This book is helpful for warning ahead of time of possible "shocks" to the traveler who is unaccustomed to very different cultures. I read a similar book before going to Morocco and was able to confront various difficulties with more understanding than if I had not read the book.
February 1, 2014
Very useful introduction to Indian culture and society. It's geared toward those who plan to live in the country, but was also helpful to someone who just engages with those of Indian culture and heritage for work or socially.
May 5, 2007
This book helped prepare my mind for my move to India.
November 24, 2010
This is a travel book geared to those preparing for ex-pat life rather than short visits. It was well written, humorous, and very informative.
December 24, 2015
Lots of information here... Not sure I agree with the chosen focus all the time, but I did learn a lot.
May 25, 2013
Helpful for those who are interested in culture of different countries, in this case India. Simple and easy to understand for everyone.
September 13, 2013
Was essential for my times in India
July 26, 2015
Excellent, the author is both informative and snarky making it an educational and entertaining read.
Read
October 20, 2015Very dated and geared toward expat residents, but still interesting.
January 5, 2017
I thought this was a very nice overview of the customs and culture of India -- impressively well done for such a relatively short book and such a complex country!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews