Egypt - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture [Paperback]

Jailan Zayan (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
* do's, 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

JAILAN ZAYAN is a British national of Libyan—Egyptian origin. After graduating in law from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, she took up a career in journalism, working for several news organizations. She moved to Egypt in 2000, where she reported and contributed articles to international and Middle Eastern publications about the Arab world, specifically Egypt. She is currently a Cairo-based reporter for Agence France-Presse.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kuperard; Reprinted edition edition (January 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185733342X
• ISBN-13: 978-1857333428
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Middle East > Egypt
  • #15 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Etiquette > General
  • #21 in Books > Travel > Africa > Egypt

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem, March 15, 2008

By 

MMR "Mary" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Egypt - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

The little book presents an excellent overview of a country with a complicated history. It covers succinctly the highlights of Egyptian history from the earliest time through to the present in so few pages that you end up with a real understanding of the progression of time. It then covers current social, economic, and political life. It gives excellent advice on what every tourist should know but even if you aren't going to Egypt this would be an interesting read. I can't imagine not reading this before going. It is not a guide book and is not advertised as such.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb introduction to egypt and its people, March 17, 2008

By 

HE (Sudbury, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Egypt - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

This is not a guide book - it's not about places, good restaurants and value hotels.

This is about the people of Egypt, their history, their culture and how they think.

As such, it is a much more interesting read than any guide book.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The stuff the guide books don't say, December 27, 2008

By 

Tracy L. Benton "tlbenton" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Egypt - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

This was a wonderful book to read in preparation for our trip to Egypt. I highly recommend it if you are not familiar with the culture of Egypt and/or how it is different from other Arabic nations.