Culture Shock! Taiwan: A Guide to Customs & Etiquette (Paperback)

~ (Author) "WHEN CHRIS FIRST ARRIVED IN TAIWAN in July 1976 for a year of university, it was a very different place from what it is today..." (more)
Key Phrases: ren ching wei, hung bau, wai sheng ren, United States, Hong Kong, Chiang Kai Shek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Whether you travel for business, pleasure, or a combination of the two, the ever-popular "Culture Shock!" series belongs in your backpack or briefcase. Get the nuts-and-bolts information you need to survive and thrive wherever you go. "Culture Shock!" country guides are easy-to-read, accurate, and entertaining crash courses in local customs and etiquette. "Culture Shock!" practical guides offer the inside information you need whether you're a student, a parent, a globetrotter, or a working traveler. "Culture Shock!" at your Door guides equip you for daily life in some of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. And "Culture Shock!" Success Secrets guides offer relevant, practical information with the real-life insights and cultural know-how that can make the difference between business success and failure.

Each "Culture Shock!" title is written by someone who's lived and worked in the country, and each book is packed with practical, accurate, and enjoyable information to help you find your way and feel at home.

From the Publisher

Newly updated and redesigned in 2005! --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company; Revised edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558686312
• ISBN-13: 978-1558686311
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,553,007 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #35 in

  Books > Travel > Asia > Taiwan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good narrative, not always on the mark, April 15, 2002

By	Norm Zurawski (Millington, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

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

...

In referencing some of the facts, the descriptions proffered seem to be fairly on the mark, but not always. While it is nice to read a book written with conviction, as this book is, you always have to be careful as to what is true and what is a stretch. Also, as a side note for the authors, it would be nice to not have to hear over and over about the husband's martial arts penchant.

I think the authors portray the average Taiwanese person as a bit more anti-Westerner, rude, harsh, and unforgiving than they really are. My experience with many Taiwanese is that they are more than happy to talk to you (if they spesk English) as long as you are willing to smile and open up. This is not a population of money-first, anti-white people. Sometimes I think the text intones this sentiment.

Thus the notion that the average foreigner will not be liked is not true, at least in my opinion. It has been my experience that in Taipei, where you will likely spend some (if not all) of your time, you will not be ogled and thought of as a freak, as plenty of non-Taiwanese exists there. In more rural settings, this may certainly be the case, as it was for me. (As a side note, if you are black you likely WILL be ogled no matter where you go.)

I think the issues discussed with saving face would make the visiting business person very careful in not [messing] up, as it were. While there is the notion of face, certainly, it is not the be all and end all of the Taiwanese lifestyle. If one were to proceed with such caution, the timidness of the traveller would certainly be poicked up and would cause judgement to be made for the worse.

Those are some problems I have with the book. All in all, there's not a ton of material written about Taiwan, so stacked up against its competition it fares rather well. As an absolute comparison, it could be more inclusive.

I did like the book. It does touch on a lot of issues that would be helpful for someone visiting the country. As a learning tool about Taiwan, this is just as good a start as any short of marrying a Taiwanese man or woman and spending time there. Many issues are briefly covered, but not too briefly to get any substance out of them.

All in all, I recommend it.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Taipei different than presented, May 8, 2004

By	"soomski" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

I read this book before setting off for four months in Taipei. This book led me to believe that finding Western items would be much harder than it is. (For example, I have had no trouble finding towels which it said weren't to be found). Also, there's a Costco, Fnac, and several warehouse style shops just outside of the city where you can find just about anything you need. And the streets are littered with Western-style food chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, KFC, a few Chili's, Pizza Huts and TGIFriday's). One thing the book didn't mention is that there is a convenience store on every corner practically, but there are stores called "Wellcome" that have lots more stuff for a half or a third of the price--well worth finding the one near you soon!

Having said that, the cultural explanations have been useful. I could explain to my roommates what the red splotches on the ground were and some of the history of Taiwan.

The Taiwanese people have all been exceptionally friendly and warm. Not at all as standoff-ish as the book led me to believe. Also, I am a fairly tall woman and I haven't been given any stares (except from two very small girls when I stood up). All in all, Taipei is a fantastic city, much more Western than the book presents. The cultural explanations have been helpful, but don't expect as much "hardship" as the book implies.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Insight Guide for Taiwan, July 1, 2000

By A Customer

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

I am living in Taiwan and bought the book to better understand the people here. I really enjoyed Culture Shock Taiwan. It's informative, balanced and funny, and is much better than the Insight guide, which although interesting and beautifully illustrated, but it reads like a travel brochure and takes too reverential a tone with everything connected to Chinese culture.