Culture Shock! Malaysia (Paperback)

by Heidi Munan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices and making friends. There are tips on political traditions, building business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or office. Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture.

From the Publisher
Newly updated and redesigned in 2005! --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (September 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558680705
• ISBN-13: 978-1558680708
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,561,583 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dreadfully useless, July 14, 2006

By	Tomlinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Culture Shock! Malaysia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) (Paperback)

I bought this book shortly before moving to Malaysia for a year. Reading it filled me with absolute terror. It made the country sound uncompromisingly alien and rather unpleasant. Thankfully I ignored the book and discovered Malaysia to be a very pleasant and incredibly inviting place.

The problem with the book (apart from the writer's continually negative attitudes to everything) is her very narrow perspective. Before coming to Malaysia, she admits, she spent her whole life in a small Swiss town. Thus, she finds everything that is slightly different from her upbringing horrifying and worth commenting on. The fact that not everyone in Malaysia is European and that they don't eat European food is considered worth several awe-inspired mentions . For anyone who has ever travelled, or who has a more cosmipolitan background, most of these comments are useless and are in fact rather nauseating.

Even worse, however, is the fact that she is only writing for those likely to live in her very specific situation - namely as the wife of a rich ex-pat. She spends a whole chapter lamenting the difficulty of choosing a good maid. She also points out the importance of finding things to do when you are at home and your husband is at work.

For me, as someone working in Malaysia full-time for a relatively modest salary, all this was completely useless. In fact, I'd imagine that for the bulk of people coming to Malaysia, much of this information will be either off-putting or superfluous.

Thus, I'd recommend avoiding this book - otherwise you might decide not to come at all.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!! Highly reccomended, March 30, 1998

By	Bill Evans "thumbtack" (Roanoke, VA) - See all my reviews

This book an invaluable resource for anyone traveling to Malaysia. Did you know it's highly offensive to hand someone an object with your left hand? This book explains the local customs and cultures, so you will be a welcome guest, not one who is just tolerated.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, February 29, 2000

By	taiki (bangkok, thailand) - See all my reviews

this book was an excellent guide to malaysia, it not only helped my camping trip there, it was enjoyable as a book as well