Customer Reviews

Israel (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

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Culture Shock! Israel is not so much a travel guide to Israel if you're looking for physical landmarks and tourist sites. It's a guide to the soul of Israel--its people, culture, and history. The guide explains everything from serving in the Israeli Defense Forces to immigrant society to casual wear. It explains how Israelis perceive the world and themselves, with much humor as well as interesting facts. At the end, there is a cultural multiple choice quiz in which you, the reader, are given a bunch of scenarios and asked to choose the best answer based on what you've learned in the book. And as a special treat, the book even throws in how to walk and talk like a sabra

This is the coolest travel book I've ever read! After reading it, I wanted to start packing my furniture and things (3 months early). Mr Winter shows you the vast differences between the Israeli and Western way of life, yet in such a manner that you already feel like you belong there.

First off, this book feels like just another churned-out book in a series, and it turns out that's exactly what it is. That wouldn't be so bad, but the Culture Shock! books are intentionally banal so as to stay away from any hint of controversy.

Although 12 years may not seem like a lot of time (published 1992), it is almost 1/4 of modern Israel's history, so almost by definition this book is outdated. Imagine trying to read a book about the USA from the 1940s and having it be relevant today. That's kind of how it feels.

I lived in Israel from 1995-2000 and bought this book just before going over. I thought it might be good to buy the book anyway. Sadly upon getting to Israel in 95 I found much of the information was very out of date and was not much help at all in the "klita" (integration into society) process. There were many things that book left out that would be "olim" should know, but recruiters will not tell you or will whitewash when asked about. As for the great & powerful Israeli army, they may have had a lot of respect at one time, (i.e. the 1950s - 80s)but it seemed popularity was dying (in the years I was there), especially when you think of Israeli politics, religious fanaticism and the territories. Now it has even lost more of it's prestige. There are many other things in this book that could be challenged, but it would take up too much room on this review. I would tell would be buyers not to bother. Standard travel guides, and talking to friends already there helped more than the book did. Many things one will find out on one's one, whether one wants to or not.