Customer Reviews

CultureShock! Taiwan: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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In referencing some of the facts, the descriptions proffered seem to be fairly on the mark, but not always. While it is nice to read a book written with conviction, as this book is, you always have to be careful as to what is true and what is a stretch. Also, as a side note for the authors, it would be nice to not have to hear over and over about the husband's martial arts penchant.

I think the authors portray the average Taiwanese person as a bit more anti-Westerner, rude, harsh, and unforgiving than they really are. My experience with many Taiwanese is that they are more than happy to talk to you (if they spesk English) as long as you are willing to smile and open up. This is not a population of money-first, anti-white people. Sometimes I think the text intones this sentiment.

Thus the notion that the average foreigner will not be liked is not true, at least in my opinion. It has been my experience that in Taipei, where you will likely spend some (if not all) of your time, you will not be ogled and thought of as a freak, as plenty of non-Taiwanese exists there. In more rural settings, this may certainly be the case, as it was for me. (As a side note, if you are black you likely WILL be ogled no matter where you go.)

I think the issues discussed with saving face would make the visiting business person very careful in not [messing] up, as it were. While there is the notion of face, certainly, it is not the be all and end all of the Taiwanese lifestyle. If one were to proceed with such caution, the timidness of the traveller would certainly be poicked up and would cause judgement to be made for the worse.

Those are some problems I have with the book. All in all, there's not a ton of material written about Taiwan, so stacked up against its competition it fares rather well. As an absolute comparison, it could be more inclusive.

I did like the book. It does touch on a lot of issues that would be helpful for someone visiting the country. As a learning tool about Taiwan, this is just as good a start as any short of marrying a Taiwanese man or woman and spending time there. Many issues are briefly covered, but not too briefly to get any substance out of them.

All in all, I recommend it.

I read this book before setting off for four months in Taipei. This book led me to believe that finding Western items would be much harder than it is. (For example, I have had no trouble finding towels which it said weren't to be found). Also, there's a Costco, Fnac, and several warehouse style shops just outside of the city where you can find just about anything you need. And the streets are littered with Western-style food chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, KFC, a few Chili's, Pizza Huts and TGIFriday's). One thing the book didn't mention is that there is a convenience store on every corner practically, but there are stores called "Wellcome" that have lots more stuff for a half or a third of the price--well worth finding the one near you soon!

Having said that, the cultural explanations have been useful. I could explain to my roommates what the red splotches on the ground were and some of the history of Taiwan.

The Taiwanese people have all been exceptionally friendly and warm. Not at all as standoff-ish as the book led me to believe. Also, I am a fairly tall woman and I haven't been given any stares (except from two very small girls when I stood up). All in all, Taipei is a fantastic city, much more Western than the book presents. The cultural explanations have been helpful, but don't expect as much "hardship" as the book implies.

I am living in Taiwan and bought the book to better understand the people here. I really enjoyed Culture Shock Taiwan. It's informative, balanced and funny, and is much better than the Insight guide, which although interesting and beautifully illustrated, but it reads like a travel brochure and takes too reverential a tone with everything connected to Chinese culture.

Echoing what a number of other reviewers have noted, the reality in Taiwan is substantially different than what is portrayed in this book. It may have been more accurate 30-40 years ago, but Taiwan has changed substantially (politically, economically, and socially) in the interim and either the authors have not bothered to update their experiences or they themselves are stuck in the past. I found little of value in it and my wife, a native of Taiwan, found it cartoonish, laughable and occasionally offensive.

This book provided tons of facts and very useful information about Taiwan and its culture. I spent a few years in Taiwan while I was young but my husband (fiance at the time) had never been to Taiwan or any part of Asia. To prepare him for his first trip to Asia (Taiwan), I got him this book. I of course read / scanned through it before I purchased it and found that this book included the facts that I can vouch for and more. I highly recommend this book and a trip to Taiwan!!

I just want to throw my vote in with several others who have commented on how this book gives an impression that is more harsh than the reality. It tends to give the worst case scenarios regarding how Taiwanese treat foreigners, which I think gives people the wrong impression. In my experience the Taiwanese are mostly curious but friendly, except in Taipei where foreigners aren't a novelty and are pretty much treated like anyone else. Yes, a white person will be stared at quite a bit, and may get some blunt questions that would be considered rude elsewhere, but the types of really blatant disrespect this book describes is pretty unlikely.

Other than that, it is useful and informative as to customs, etc, though I don't think one has to be quite as picky about issues of "face" as the book suggests, especially with the younger generation.

I recently spent Thanksgiving week in Taiwan, visiting relatives, and brought my American fiance along. We both enjoyed this book because of its humor and usefulness.

I liked the fact that it pointed out certain things/practices/habits that are exclusive to the Taiwanese culture. For example, it talked about the traditional "wet market" (a.k.a. farmer's market). So, my fiance asked if we could go to one, which turned out to be very fun. It basically gave me some ideas of places to show him for tourist spots.

This book helped him to be better prepared for adapting the Taiwanese style of living for a week. As for me, it helped me appreciate my own roots more. I truly recommend this book. The usual sight seeing tour guides are dispensable. This one is just the opposite.

An excellent intro to the Taiwanese; much of it also applies to the mainlanders as well. I only gave 4 stars because it's a little out-of-date: the traffic in Taipei has much improved recently (altho it hasn't yet elsewhere). And the book is not perfect: "mandarin" originally meant official.

Compared to the cultural sections in the Lonely Planet for Taiwan, this book was much more up to date (having been revised in 2005 verses LP being revised in 2000). The only drawbacks were the book's heavy focus on Taipei (I moved to southern Taiwan) and the books focuse on MEN in the business world and men's night ctivities like ladies' clubs etc. These sections weren't applicable to women at all. Not being any sort of feminist, I was still rather disappointed that there was not any similar commentary provided specifically for women in business and women's nightime activities!

First to be honest I have not finished the book but as others here have said it sounds a little out of touch. See I live half the year there as a USA and Taiwan citizen and you will not find a more friendly people and they love people from the USA and you are well respected and treated fairly . As far as the martial arts thing if he really was a expert like myself you dont have to talk about it that much . I am one of the real masters and dont need to repeat it. Anyway a great trip for anyone and be sure to check out the tea houses and the Hakka food. Good luck