South Africa - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Culture Smart / Cultuur Bewust

by David Holt-Biddle, Isabella Morris

South Africa has been described as "A World in One Country" and a "Rainbow Nation." Its landscape ranges from miles of glorious beaches to the inland desert of the Karoo, the sweeping grasslands of the Highveld plateau, and the subtropical bush of the Lowveld. Its ethnic makeup is equally varied. There are eleven official languages, nine major black African tribes, two major white tribes, as well as a representation of all the world's major religions. It has a free market economy while communists share in government; one of the world's most liberal constitutions and a deeply patriarchal society; and very rich and very poor people coexisting. South Africa has come through fire, and although there is still considerable heat, it is doing pretty well. This insiders' guide will introduce you to the universal warmth and cultural diversity of its people, explain the backdrop of their troubled past, and familiarize you with their everyday life so that you'll feel comfortable whether you're invited to a shack in the townships, a mansion in the suburbs, or a braai on the beach. You'll learn how to stay safe in potentially dangerous areas, and you'll know where to go if you want to feel like the only person on the planet.

Genres: Travel, Africa, South Africa, Nonfiction, History

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2006

Reviews

[Eme Se · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about South Africa and found it informative and mostly accurate. However, I've been spending a considerable amount of time in SA for the past 20 years or so and I don't agree with everyhing. Also, the overall narrative was sometimes pc to the extent that it ended up distoring reality. So much so that some parts of the book are simply biased and factually incorrect. With that being said, it still provides an entertaining and informative insight into the culture and everyday life of this extremely unique country.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had a few helpful nuggets. Sadly, I feel like most of the book was outdated from it's 2005 publishing date. I would have like it to cover more protocol and etiquette than it did. Most of it was dedicated to South Africa's history which is better covered in other books.

[Carolyn Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book has interesting information about South Africa, it is not particularly well-written and is riddled with typos. If I weren’t planning a visit to S Africa soon, I don’t think I would have finished it.

[A. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually really enjoy these Culture Smart! books, but I couldn't (and didn't want to) finish this one. The racial bias throughout the whole first half that I read was extremely off-putting. Very disappointing.

[Sara Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful book about South Africa.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

More potted history than contemporary culture.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtfully written and more readable than most guidebooks, I found this quite helpful during a first-time visit to South Africa.