Botswana - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs & etiquette [Paperback]

Michael Main (Author)

Book Description

Series: Culture Smart! | Publication Date: January 2, 2007

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* dos, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

Editorial Reviews

Review

Culture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers, Sunday Times Travel - ...the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries, Global Travel - ...full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas, Observer - ...as useful as they are entertaining, Easy Jet Magazine - ...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world, New York Times.

About the Author

MIKE MAIN is a businessman and management consultant specializing in leadership, team building, and presentation skills. Born in Devon, England, he has lived in West, East, Central, and Southern Africa for most of his life and is now, after twenty-five years there, a citizen of Botswana. In addition to his professional career, he is known as a photographer and a safari guide. He has also written a number of books on southern Africa and lectured extensively, both regionally and on cruise liners. He is a committee member of Transparency International and The Botswana Society, and Chairman of the Maru-a-Pula School Council and the Gaborone Music Society.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kuperard (January 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857333403
• ISBN-13: 978-1857333404
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #287,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Travel > Africa
  • #22 in Books > Travel > Africa > Botswana
  • #46 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Etiquette > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knowledgeable and Entertaining, September 18, 2007

By 

Lynn M. Brown (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Botswana - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs & etiquette (Paperback)

We have recently returned from Botswana and had the very good fortune of spending three days in the Kalahari with Michael Main. He is extremely knowledgeable, entertaining and most importantly very well informed - just as he is in his book about the culture in Botswana.

For those travelers who are going to Botswana and are interested in more than just seeing the "Big Five" this book is for you. After all, the people are just as much, if not more, a part of the travel experience and Michael Main knows the people of Botswana.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed full of facts, February 27, 2008

By 

Anne Lee "intrepid traveler" (Santa Barbara CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Botswana - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs & etiquette (Paperback)

Mike Main provides a complete snapshot of the people and cultures of Botswana. It is not the usual tourist guidebook of only places to visit. This small book packs a large amount of essential information for a traveler who wishes to understand the people, their history and avoid embarrassing moments. I would highly recommend this book as an essential read before a visit to Botswana. Its small size means that you can also take it with you!

5.0 out of 5 stars incredibly useful - a must (and quick!) read for anyone traveling to Botswana, June 3, 2011

By 

HJC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Botswana - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs & etiquette (Paperback)

This is a quick but incredibly useful read for anyone traveling to Botswana to work or for holiday. Batswana are understandably proud of their nation's impressive history and fortunately for busy travelers, the recent history dates only to 1966 (though of course people have been in Botswana much much longer) so most of the significant events are squeezed into this little tome. Read this and you'll be able to fake that you "know it all," though of course you won't, but knowing something will make it easier for you to learn more while you are there.