Cultureshock! Ecuador (Cultureshock Ecuador: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) [Paperback]

Nicholas Crowder (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cultureshock Ecuador: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette | Publication Date: January 2007

A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette in Ecuador

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marshall Cavendish is a Marshall Cavendish author.

Product Details

• Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corporation (January 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761424954
• ISBN-13: 978-0761424956
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #541,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #75 in Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going to Ecuador, December 19, 2007

By 

D. Schmidt "Alaskan Dan" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cultureshock! Ecuador (Cultureshock Ecuador: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) (Paperback)

If you're planning on going to Ecuador this is the book for you. The author writes in a very lively way to keep you interested all the way to the end. Having lived there for over 20 years he has authoritatve views and accurate histories to really get you prepared to interact with the people of Ecuador. The author also has a helpful list of do's and don'ts to help keep you out of trouble. Check it out.

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just another travel guide book, June 2, 2010

By 

Amy S. Kass (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cultureshock Ecuador (Cultureshock Ecuador: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) (Paperback)

For those of you who have already read travel guide books but want a more in depth account of the culture and customs of Ecuador, then this book is for you. This book is unique because in addition to the typical useful facts about climate, political upheaval, the height of volcanoes, and the possibility of dying from myriad tropical diseases, it explores topics pertaining to social class. The author includes a section on women's issues, (yes, prostitution) machismo, immigration, and how indigenous groups fit into the fabric of society. As a result of reading Crowder's book, I have less of an excuse for making a cultural faux pas when interacting with Ecuadorians. For example, the chapter on etiquette, humor, personal space, bribery, and the importance of diplomacy, provide valuable insight into their culture. And did I say bribery? The detailed description of the Ecuadorian diet is appreciated although I think I will skip the consumption of roasted guinea pig and just witness its use in religious rituals.

Although one can certainly read selected chapters in any desired order, I enjoyed and benefited from reading the book in its entirety. For those readers who are already proficient Spanish speakers, the chapter about language includes some unusual information about regional accents, slang, titles and nicknames, and how one is judged in Ecuadorian society by one's choice of vocabulary. The glossary containing specific colloquialisms is a real gem and is a welcome addition to the usual list of basic Spanish vocabulary found in most books.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all ... and it's good!, November 30, 2009

By 

C. W. Choc (Montana USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cultureshock Ecuador (Cultureshock Ecuador: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) (Paperback)

This is not a tourist guide of hotels and restaurants ... it is a book that carefully outlines and discusses cultural differences and some of the reasons why they exist the way they do. Whether it's historical, religious, political, contemporary, or rooted in their own peculiar geography, one peels away layer after layer of interesting and useful information. This is an excellent book for the traveler, for the new resident of Ecuador, or for tourists who want to do more than listen to English-speaking tourguides.