Watching the Thais by Tom Tuohy

by Tom Tuohy

If you are one of the fifteen million or so expected visitors to Thailand this coming year, or an expat interested in moving to the country, this book is a must for you. The book is divided into ten chapters, each one detailing some of the virtues as well as common misconceptions about living and working in Thailand. Common questions asked by visitors are also dealt with: why do Thais walk so slowly? Why do they like spicy food? Why are they always smiling? Why does nothing seem to upset them? Towards the end of the book, a series of blogs discuss deeper aspects of living and working in Thailand e.g. the state of Thai education, cross-cultural communication, the Thai floods, marriage to a Thai, and the way the Thai riots in 2010 were presented by the foreign media. If you are planning to spend any length of time in the country and really want to understand the Thai modus operandi, this book will give you a great insight into the uniquely Thai way of thinking and being.

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2012

About the author

Tom Tuohy is an attorney and the founder and president of the international youth organization Dreams for Kids and author of the book,Dreams for Kids.

Tom is an attorney and an accomplished children’s advocate.Dreams for Kids empowers at-risk youth and those with disabilities and inspires them to realize their full potential and to serve as active members of their communities and citizens of the world.

Tom attended DePaul University and graduated with honors with a Bachelors of Science degree. While attending DePaul Law School, Tom studied International Law at Cambridge University in England and returned to DePaul to receive his Juris Doctorate. He is a Kellogg School of Northwestern University Executive Scholar and a Stanford University Fellow for Social Innovation.

Tom has been recognized by several organizations for his work on behalf of children and sits on several non profit boards. He speaks extensively to business organizations, labor unions, student groups and educators on the topics of social entrepreneurship
and social enterprise, volunteerism and social activism, estate and legacy planning, nonprofit management, and youth empowerment

Reviews

[Thomas Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terriffic effort from a creative writer! Tom Touhy has provided a must read travel guide to the Land of Smiles. If you live in the Kingdom as I do you'll be nodding your head in agreement as Tom brings to life small vignettes of daily Thai life. If you are planning on visiting this sometimes perplexing paradise Watching The Thais can prove to be an invaluable guide.

Thanks Tom for this witty and insightful gem!!

T.Hunt Locke

[Jennie · Rating 1 out of 5]

อุ้ย

[James Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why does a Thai smile at you after crashing into the back of your car?

Why do Thais deplore walking?

The heat, the heat. What about the weather?

Why is everything done as a pack?

What is all this face stuff about?

Lies?

Confrontation?

Sleeping and shopping?

Just what is it with the Thais?

What’s it all about?

Author and academic Tom Tuohy answers all these questions and much more in his new book about the Thais and all their quirks. The book is available in print soon. I was given the opportunity to review the book before release and I’m glad that I had a chance to take a look at it. I was surprised at how accurate and informative this book was for an old hand like myself.

I found myself compelled to read the book in a day. I’m a fast reader, but usually I take a little longer with non-fiction titles. Watching the Thais is as entertaining as it is informative. At times this book is laugh-aloud funny. Your humble reviewer permitted himself the odd chuckle. It doesn’t happen often. I’m a misanthropist at the best of times. This one got me. The chapter on public transport: ‘The (bus) driver will invariably drive as if he has a prior appointment (which he’s only just remembered about), with some mysterious benefactor who is going to alter his and his family’s life radically.’

-This right here sums up the Thai mentality. An over-inflated ego, group mentality, compassion and willingness to please himself in any circumstance. This book told me what I knew but didn’t want to admit that I knew. The author has spent many years in the kingdom and has relayed his knowledge in this gem of a book about Thailand and Thai people. I wish I had read this book before I learned the hard way. Watching the Thais is a great resource for anyone with an interest in the magnificent kingdom of Thailand.

The references and notes are precise and exhaustive. The author has researched the volume well. The latter part of the book examines social issues in Thailand and compares the incidents of Thailand to the West. Yet, we all understand that Thailand is a unique place and comparisons with other places spell discordance with the strange land that many of us expats call home.

I recommend this book to anyone wishing to understand Thailand and her peoples in more depth than the surface understanding of her culture that many of us seem to get by with.

A great read - informative and entertaining.

[Martin English · Rating 1 out of 5]

They say "Don't judge a book by its cover," for a reason. I bought this shrink-wrapped book (as in, I couldn't preview any of it before buying) because I liked the cartoon on the front. Big mistake. Worse than that dreck Steven Leather puts out on Thailand. I want my 480 Baht back!