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

Charlotte J. DeWitt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Culture Smart! | Publication Date: September 5, 2006

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kuperard; Reprinted edition edition (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857333195
• ISBN-13: 978-1857333190
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #378,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Travel > Europe > Sweden
  • #60 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Etiquette > General
  • #63 in Books > History > Europe > Scandinavia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fox News goes to Sweden, August 25, 2008

By 

Lee M (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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

This book is full of subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) digs at the Swedish welfare state and Swedish "liberal" culture. The goal of a travel writer should be to be even-handed in her treatment of other cultures, even if the culture has practices she doesn't agree with. This book is as even-handed as Fox News is "fair and balanced."

It also displays a frustrating lack of nuance. A trait or tendency that is noteworthy or perhaps fairly common becomes a property that is universally exemplified.

It's not without useful information, but I recommend the Culture Shock book on Sweden rather than this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Window into Sweden's culture, January 30, 2010

By 

Kristine R. Kiley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

This is a fascinating book with great insights into Sweden's culture. Our daughter married a young man from Sweden and we wanted to learn as much about the culture of his homeland and this book has been very helpful and an interesting read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise & Helpful, October 13, 2007

By 

HappyHeart (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

This book gives a lot of insight to the intricacies of Swedish culture without going into too much detail. Especially recommended for anyone going on student exchange.