The Third Culture Kid Experience: Growing Up Among Worlds [Paperback]

David C. Pollock (Author), Ruth E. Van Reken (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1877864722 | ISBN-13: 978-1877864728 | Publication Date: June 1999

In this comprehensive work, David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken explore the experiences of those who have become known as "third culture kids" (TCKs) - children who grow up or spend a significant part of their childhood living abroad. Rich with real-life anecdotes, the book fully examines the nature of the TCK experience and its effect on maturing, developing a sense of identity, and adjusting to one's "passport country" upon return. The authors give readers an understanding of the challenges and benefits of the TCK life and provide practical suggestions and advice on maximizing those benefits.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Growing up as a TCK has been a gift and has significantly shaped my life and work. As I interact with world leaders one day and with those living in refugee camps the next, I continually draw upon my experience of living among different cultures. I am delighted to see the lessons learned from the traditional TCK experience live on in this new edition of 'Third Culture Kids'. (Scott Gration, Maj. Gen. USAF (RET), President Obama's Special Envoy to Sudan ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Advance praise for Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, rev. ed.:

"As an adult TCK, I have long wrestled with how I fit into this world. This book is the 'bible' for anyone who wants to understand the blessings and the curses of growing up multiculturally."
-Wm Paul Young, author of the #1 NYT bestseller The Shack

"Growing up as a TCK has been a gift and has significantly shaped my life and work. As I interact with world leaders one day and with those living in refugee camps the next, I continually draw upon my experience of living among different cultures. I am delighted to see the lessons learned from the traditional TCK experience live on in this new edition of Third Culture Kids."
-Scott Gration, Maj Gen, USAF (Ret), President Obama's Special Envoy to Sudan --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: Intercultural Pr (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877864722
• ISBN-13: 978-1877864728
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,025,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST for all who live or have lived overseas., May 31, 1999

By 

C. R. Bates (Beijing China) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Third Culture Kid Experience: Growing Up Among Worlds (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. It should be read by everyone who is living and working overseas, away from their home environment, especially those who have their children with them. Succinctly, with erudition, and with an easy-to-read style it examines and explains the problems experienced by a person who spends, or has spent, a significant part of his or her development years outside their parents' home culture. It contains much practical advice on how to deal with these problems. The term third culture was coined in the 1950s by Drs John and Ruth Useem, when they made a study of Americans who lived in India as foreign service officers, missionaries, technical aid workers, and business representatives. It was realised that there were expatriates from other countries who were undergoing similar experiences even though from different origins, styles and social stratification systems. There was a shared common lifestyle that was different from either their own or their host culture. The book is a result of much research that the authors have undertaken since that time into the effects of this third culture on the children of overseas serving ex-pats. However, the experiences so neatly described pertain not only to what they call third culture kids (TCKs) but also to adult TCKs. Furthermore, the wisdom and advice displayed in this delightfully readable book is also fully appropriate for those working and living overseas without children. It makes it clear why so many people who do a spell overseas get "bitten by the bug," and are drawn back to the place where they did their tour, often permanently. An overseas duty can be an emotionally exciting experience, but it can also be and emotionally disturbing one. This book explains why this is so, as well as explaining how the disturbances can be dealt with.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for parents and teachers living abroad!, January 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Third Culture Kid Experience: Growing Up Among Worlds (Paperback)

My husband and I have been international educators since 1988 and both of our daughters were born overseas. As parents who intend to remain abroad throughout our children's educational career we have found this book to offer valuable advice as well as points to ponder. However, the authors do us a favor in not romanticizing the prospect of raising children abroad. Indeed, perhaps the most beneficial information can be found by paying heed to the potential pitfalls outlined that may impact the uninformed.

Additionally, through reading this book our professional observations gained while teaching in four countries on three different continents have been taken on greater significance. The insight the authors share regarding issues hitherto acknowledged have contributed to a better understanding of the challenges that our students face as second- and third-generation Third Culture Kids (TCKs).

I highly recommend this book for all parents and teachers living abroad as well as TCKs who are wondering if their capacities as `cultural chameleons' means that there is something wrong with them.

41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could help others too, September 11, 2000

By 

Ronald Mayo "Fishguy" (Lopez Island, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Third Culture Kid Experience: Growing Up Among Worlds (Paperback)

I was a Third Culture Kid and I found this book helpfull in understanding who I am 40 years later. (I found the TCK phrase awkward but could think of none better.)

I also think this would be of use to people whose childhood was similar to the TCK's. Especially children who had little stability while growing up. Divorce, parential deaths, and especially children shunted off to boarding schools.

Many boarding schools provide a fairly good life and a substitute family, but when it's over, it's over. and then who am I?