Customer Reviews

Costa Rica - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As another reviewer said, any information of real value found here, is also posted on the web for free. But what bothered me even more, was that the exact same descriptions of how Ticos are laid-back, how mutually positive social relations trump most everything else, and how their sense of time or urgency is also very casual... is repeated nearly verbatim in every chapter, and in practically every paragraph of every chapter.

I really felt like even the Kindle price was a rip-off, there's a surprising lack of real substance here. The book could have been cut down to 1/2 to 1/4 it's length, and still lost nothing. It's basically an essay, fluffed-out into a "book." Very disappointing, though a few tidbits were interesting. I kept thinking I had somehow accidentally gone backward while reading, because I kept reading the same things over and over, and over again.

The first sections on the history of the country aren't original information either - just summaries of existing history books, covered in a simple time line.

I finished the entire "book" in two subway rides. And, it isn't any kind of reference guide I'd refer to again. The latest version is revised but it wasn't obvious to me (unless I overlooked it) what exactly has been updated. One or more chapters provided a list of web links, but in many places throughout the book, the year 2004 or 2005 was referenced.

So, I think even the revision was superficial and weak, yet again making me feel like I'd been had. Don't know if I can get a refund, but will be trying.

This book is exactly what I was looking for. It provided all the cultural, political, historical, and tourist information I needed. I would recommend it for anyone planning on visiting Costa Rica.

Little useful information ... just a cute little book with information you can get from any number of free Internet sources. Invest in a real guide!

This is a nice review about Costaricans (Ticos), we are a kind of peace-and-love people, very Glad to be born in the happiest nation of the world, willing to share our happiness with everybody: gringos, nicas, europeans, panas, etc. We expect foreigners to become costaricans . . . yes after 2 months to stay with us we will tell you ohh now you are a Tico. For sure you have to take a nature "Pura Vida" trip to our Tropical Paradise.
Yes it is true that we have a "mañana sindrome" and let the future to God. But trust me we are not a macho society, we are a mathriarchal society, the wives keep their maiden names, the children belongs to their mothers as in the nature (that is why some american mothers take their children here escaping from USA-macho-laws) and actually our women use to take the iniciative to get their men. We know that our best value is ourselves, we love each other tico. Just be glad, nice and "Pura Vida" . . . ohh and please do not rush.

Great overview of Costa Rican history and culture. My husband and I both read this book in preparation for our upcoming trip to C.R. and felt it gave us a well rounded overview of the country and it's people.

I'm glad that I read this book. My family and I are considering living in Costa Rica.

This book will help us understand Costa Rican culture so we can have a positive experience in Costa Rica.