Customer Reviews

Behind the Smile: Voices of Thailand

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I bought this book on my last day of a short trip through north central Thailand. I had been a tourist, and craved some in-depth information about the culture and people of Thailand. This book did not disappoint. Through interviews with people in rural areas where few tourists travel, the reporter-author tells the stories of remarkable Thai citizens quietly doing what they believe must be done to improve the lives of those around them. Readers of this book meet a wide array of fascinating people doing remarkable things about which most tourists never learn. My favorite interview is with a monk who set aside forest land for meditation. Doing that also created a sanctuary for plants and animals, and protected the land from destruction from the nearby villagers. The monk also helped the villagers create a sustainable agricultural income. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to get a glimpse of Thailand's people off the beaten path.

Diane Sontag, author of Ten Days in the Land of Smile: A Thailand Travelogue