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The Yankee Chick's Survival Guide to Texas
In Texas "Yankee" is a loose term covering a lot of ground. If you're not a Texan or a southerner, you're a Yankee and therefore, to many Texans, suspect.
There are many rites of passage to being a Yankee in the first time you spot a pickup with a gun rack; the first time you realize that a week is a long time to go without Mexican food; the first time you recognize a change in seasons; your first thunderstorm; your first honky-tonk.
Culture Shock in Texas can be intense and is exacerbate by local rules of propriety that tell us to keep out mouths shut. But here in this book we are going to talk all about it with good old Yankee outspokenness. We'll clear the air, share experiences, orient newcomers, and have some good laughs.
There are many rites of passage to being a Yankee in the first time you spot a pickup with a gun rack; the first time you realize that a week is a long time to go without Mexican food; the first time you recognize a change in seasons; your first thunderstorm; your first honky-tonk.
Culture Shock in Texas can be intense and is exacerbate by local rules of propriety that tell us to keep out mouths shut. But here in this book we are going to talk all about it with good old Yankee outspokenness. We'll clear the air, share experiences, orient newcomers, and have some good laughs.
- GenresNonfictionTravel
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 10, 2013
This had a lot of good info in it, but it's so outdated compared to what I have seen since moving here that I wish there was a more current version (this was written in 2002). That said, she's dead-on balls correct about the driving. It's like NYC driving but with trucks. Luckily my car is small and has great pick-up, because merging is advisory.
I have only been in Dallas for a week now and I have definitely noticed they use a lot less profanity than I'm used to up North. At least I had a heads up on that! All in all, a fun read with some good tips in it.
I have only been in Dallas for a week now and I have definitely noticed they use a lot less profanity than I'm used to up North. At least I had a heads up on that! All in all, a fun read with some good tips in it.
August 13, 2017
I've had this book on my list for some time because I had the good fortune to meet Sophia Dembling when I was at the Morning News. Though I no longer consider myself a Yankee (I was born in Texas but spent from age 1 to 8 in New Jersey and very reluctantly moved to Texas when my parents divorced. I refused to call myself a Texas probably until college.) Anyway, this book is so right on I laughed out loud more times than I care to admit. She pretty much nails every Texan and Yankee stereotype into the cold, limestone ground. This is a must read for Yankee Chicks and Texas Chicks alike - you'll be glad you did.
February 7, 2019
Very cute and good insights, however it seems outdated and would be great to read an updated version!
October 23, 2020
A quick read, very tongue-in-cheek but punting out viable points of Texan culture.
March 20, 2012
As a fifth-generation Texan married to a Yankee boy from Pennsylvania, my eyes have long been open to the ways of life we Texans take for granted but that constitute major culture shock for a Yankee. For example, I'll never forget the time my then-boyfriend-now-hubby yelled, "Stop the truck!" while we were barreling down the highway. Terrified that something was wrong, I hit the brakes and gasped, "What?" Hubby waved a wild arm. "There's a guy out there on a horse, and he's ROPING A COW!" was his explanation. My sisters and I stared at him, then contemplated throwing him out of the truck, madder than heck that he'd almost put us all through the windshield because he had sighted something that we'd seen a million times.
Anyway, after 30 years of life with my Yankee, I thought I knew all there was to know about Culture Shock For Yankees in Texas. But Ms. Dembling showed me the other side of the story. The female side.
I found this book an informative and entertaining read. For the most part, Ms. Demming has all her facts pretty straight, although her Yankee-ness did show through in a few parts where the vision she showed of Texas was slightly skewed. For example, she mentions that one old-timer told her about being placed on quilts under a dancehall table to fall asleep while his parents danced; she made it sound as if this was an exception, while actually it's pretty much the rule. Bless your heart, Sophia Dembling, mentioning that one Texan you met slept as a child under dancehall tables is like saying that one Texan told you he sometimes wears a hat and boots. MOST real Texans have childhood memories of late evenings spent on a quilt at a dancehall while their parents danced.
But to be fair, these slips were fairly far and few between, and I was impressed with all the knowledge of our state the writer has racked up during her years here. I'd recommend this book to any Yankee planning to move to or visit Texas. (And remember, to Texans, you're a Yankee even if you come from the West Coast, which Ms. Dembling acknowledges.) You'll be enteretained as you learn what you're getting into. An added bonus are some easy-peasy recipes for Tex-Mex food and margaritas. How can you lose?
One word of warning. Don't rely exclusively on Ms. Dembling's cowgirl fashion tips. While she was pretty much dead on at the time she wrote this, fashion has changed--even for Texas cowgirls. Rocky Mountain jeans are dead, for example, and the round-toed roper boots that everyone once favored are now way out of style. So before you invest, go to a couple of honky tonks first to see what's out there.
Anyway, after 30 years of life with my Yankee, I thought I knew all there was to know about Culture Shock For Yankees in Texas. But Ms. Dembling showed me the other side of the story. The female side.
I found this book an informative and entertaining read. For the most part, Ms. Demming has all her facts pretty straight, although her Yankee-ness did show through in a few parts where the vision she showed of Texas was slightly skewed. For example, she mentions that one old-timer told her about being placed on quilts under a dancehall table to fall asleep while his parents danced; she made it sound as if this was an exception, while actually it's pretty much the rule. Bless your heart, Sophia Dembling, mentioning that one Texan you met slept as a child under dancehall tables is like saying that one Texan told you he sometimes wears a hat and boots. MOST real Texans have childhood memories of late evenings spent on a quilt at a dancehall while their parents danced.
But to be fair, these slips were fairly far and few between, and I was impressed with all the knowledge of our state the writer has racked up during her years here. I'd recommend this book to any Yankee planning to move to or visit Texas. (And remember, to Texans, you're a Yankee even if you come from the West Coast, which Ms. Dembling acknowledges.) You'll be enteretained as you learn what you're getting into. An added bonus are some easy-peasy recipes for Tex-Mex food and margaritas. How can you lose?
One word of warning. Don't rely exclusively on Ms. Dembling's cowgirl fashion tips. While she was pretty much dead on at the time she wrote this, fashion has changed--even for Texas cowgirls. Rocky Mountain jeans are dead, for example, and the round-toed roper boots that everyone once favored are now way out of style. So before you invest, go to a couple of honky tonks first to see what's out there.
January 9, 2011
I just moved to Texas (DFW area), so I can't comment on how true all the Texas stereotypes are, but I sure got a kick out of reading this book. I giggled out loud more than once, though. I will try to update this review after I've been living in TX for a while!
Just wanted to add: Keep in mind that this book was written by and for a pretty specific audience. By this I don't mean "Women from the Northeast moving to Texas," instead I mean "middle to upper middle class white women." There wasn't much mention of different ethnic groups or races and/or how we might adjust to life in Texas, where to find great ethnic food, differences in attitudes regarding race/racism here in Texas, etc.
Just wanted to add: Keep in mind that this book was written by and for a pretty specific audience. By this I don't mean "Women from the Northeast moving to Texas," instead I mean "middle to upper middle class white women." There wasn't much mention of different ethnic groups or races and/or how we might adjust to life in Texas, where to find great ethnic food, differences in attitudes regarding race/racism here in Texas, etc.
January 26, 2020
The chapters on fashion were a bit dated and uninteresting to me, but overall, this was a fun read. I definitely have the undying, fierce, and sometimes oddly extreme love of Texas that was discussed so thoroughly in this book. I see what's wrong with this state and I love it despite itself. Dembling provides an entertaining exploration of Texas from a subjective standpoint, and I laughed aloud many times as she pointed out the good, the bad, and the ridiculously strange.
March 28, 2013
Amusing book full of stereotypical Texas behavior (many of which I found to be accurate from what I've observed in my short time in the state). Worth the read for a little chuckle and for a brief education on the state. Also of note, contrary to a popular Texan myth, it is not illegal to pick bluebonnets, the state flower (something I was recently told by a Texan).
April 21, 2014
I'm a Native Texan and found this book to be thoroughly delightful and pretty spot on. It's evident that much thought and research were put in. I'd not only recommend this book for newcomers to Texas, but also for Native Texans as well. Very accurate and entertaining!!
February 19, 2015
I've lived in Texas almost my entire life but this book about Texans from a New Yorker's view was hilarious. Quick read that you can finish in a few days. From the same author as the Introvert's Way. But is much biased with a suburban Dallas POV vs inner city Austin.
March 13, 2008
Very helpful with a move to Texas.
May 25, 2009
I enjoyed this book immensely...thanks so much Rose for getting this for me! Very funny, great tips, a good book to keep on my library shelves. :)
April 10, 2012
Excellent guide by a yankee chick to the oddities and fun of Texas society.
March 27, 2015
Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews