Product Description
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
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Customer Reviews (5)

the same broad, shallow advice repeated chapter after chapter
As another reviewer said, any information of real value found here, is also posted on the web for free. But what bothered me even more, was that the exact same descriptions of how Ticos are laid-back, how mutually positive social relations trump most everything else, and how their sense of time or urgency is also very casual... is repeated nearly verbatim in every chapter, and in practically every paragraph of every chapter.

I really felt like even the Kindle price was a rip-off, there's a surprising lack of real substance here.The book could have been cut down to 1/2 to 1/4 it's length, and still lost nothing. It's basically an essay, fluffed-out into a "book." Very disappointing, though a few tidbits were interesting.I kept thinking I had somehow accidentally gone backward while reading, because I kept reading the same things over and over, and over again.

The first sections on the history of the country aren't original information either - just summaries of existing history books, covered in a simple time line.

I finished the entire "book" in two subway rides. And, it isn't any kind of reference guide I'd refer to again. The latest version is revised but it wasn't obvious to me (unless I overlooked it) what exactly has been updated.One or more chapters provided a list of web links, but in many places throughout the book, the year 2004 or 2005 was referenced.

So, I think even the revision was superficial and weak, yet again making me feel like I'd been had.Don't know if I can get a refund, but will be trying.

Cute, but useless
Little useful information ... just a cute little book with information you can get from any number of free Internet sources.Invest in a real guide!

Interesting, comprehensive and easy to read.
Great overview of Costa Rican history and culture. My husband and I both read this book in preparation for our upcoming trip to C.R. and felt it gave us a well rounded overview of the country and it's people.

Happiest people of the world
This is a nice review about Costaricans (Ticos), we are a kind of peace-and-love people, very Glad to be born in the happiest nation of the world, willing to share our happiness with everybody: gringos, nicas, europeans, panas, etc. We expect foreigners to become costaricans . . . yes after 2 months to stay with us we will tell you ohh now you are a Tico. For sure you have to take a nature "Pura Vida" trip to our Tropical Paradise.
Yes it is true that we have a "mañana sindrome" and let the future to God. But trust me we are not a macho society, we are a mathriarchal society, the wives keep their maiden names, the children belongs to their mothers as in the nature (that is why some american mothers take their children here escaping from USA-macho-laws) and actually our women use to take the iniciative to get their men. We know that our best value is ourselves, we love each other tico. Just be glad, nice and "Pura Vida" . . .ohh and please do not rush.

No Matter Why You Go To Costa Rica...You MustRead This Book
I'm glad that I read this book.My family and I are considering living in Costa Rica.

This book will help us understand Costa Rican culture so we can have a positive experience in Costa Rica.

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Product Description

Costa Rica, the spectacularly beautiful Latin American nation, stands out from its neighbors in its political climate, economic stability, and social progressiveness. Culture and Customs of Costa Rica is a superlative introduction to the modern Costa Rica, which Costa Ricans compare in many ways to the United States. Helmuth, who spent her formative years in Costa Rica, provides an outstanding overview of this unusual and dynamic nation's place in Latin America. Written with the highest scholarly standards, but easily accessible to students and general readers, this well-written source goes far beyond the travel guide fare in providing in-depth information on this fascinating country.

Culture and Customs of Costa Rica begins with a discussion of how the country is unique in Latin America, including its incredible biodiversity, ethnic makeup, history, education policies, and women's roles. A chapter on religion covers indigenous faiths and focuses on the predominant Catholicism. Costa Rican social customs such as national traits, cuisine, family roles, and sports are presented engagingly. Chapters on media, literature, and the arts bring to light Costa Rican institutions and cultural figures. Informative appendices and a glossary round out the text. Featured topics include Costa Rica's, legacy of social reform, religion, social customs, media, and literature, and art and the performing arts.

Product Description
CULTURE SMART! is the series of travel guides written for the smart traveler on the go. Each volume is a quick, accurate guide to customs and etiquette. What you'll find in CULTURE SMART!:--All the essential cultural and etiquette points covered, making you confident in a variety of situations.--You'll know what to expect in each particular culture.--You'll know how to behave in specific social and business situations.--Essential attitudes and values are clearly explained.--You'll find the concise writing style makes each topic a quick, easy read.--Each has the same look, page count, and organization for reference use.--Small and light, it tucks into your pocket or purse for on-the-go use.--Culture Smart! books are written by a staff of experts who consult on world travel as a profession. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An easy overview of attitudes, values, and social arts from body language to taboos and habits
CULTURE SMART! COSTA RICA isn't your usual travel guide: its focus is on Costa Rican culture and standards of etiquette, and it tells how to avoid culture shock by providing an easy overview of attitudes, values, and social arts from body language to taboos and habits. Many similar books are geared to businessmen: not so CULTURE SHOCK! COSTA RICA, which covers some business concerns but many tourist concerns too. It's packaged in a pocket tote format, which makes it the perfect take-along reference.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
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Customer Reviews (2)

Seller never got order from Amazon
After waiting nearly a month for this book to arrive the seller notified me that Amazon never sent them the order and they do not have thi book in stock (used)My first bad experience ordering from Amazon.

very accurate!
great book! easy to read and definitely prepared me to study abroad in costa rica.When there, i felt like i was better prepared for the situations that came up because i'd learned about them from this book.Such as, carry your own toilet paper and how to work the showers! it was great knowing so much about the culture before i lived there! ... Read more

Product Description
Surveys the geography, history, government, and culture of the oldest democracy in Latin America.. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dated
I expected a book appropriate for children in about 2-5 grade. It is basically a dry text book for about 6th graders. The information is very dated. Costa Rica has changed alot since this printing. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Chapters: Anansi, Culture of Costa Rica, Costa Rican Cuisine, the Julia and David White Artists' Colony, Tico, Languages of Costa Rica, Manuel González Zeledón, Academia Costarricense de La Lengua. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 37. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: (pronounciation Ah-nahn-see) Anansi the trickster is one of the most important characters of West African and Caribbean folklore. He is also known as Ananse, Kwaku Ananse, and Anancy; and in the Southern United States he has evolved into Aunt Nancy. He is a spider, but often acts and appears as a man. The story of Anansi is akin to the Coyote or Raven trickster found in many Native American cultures. The Anansi tales are believed to have originated in the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. (The word Anansi is Akan and means, simply, spider.) They later spread to other Akan groups and then to the West Indies, Suriname, and the Netherlands Antilles. On Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire he is known as Nanzi, and his wife as Shi Maria. Anansi tales are some of the best-known in West Africa The stories made up an exclusively oral tradition, and indeed Anansi himself was synonymous with skill and wisdom in speech. It was as remembered and told tales that they crossed to the Caribbean and other parts of the New World with captives via the Atlantic slave trade. One of his stories is called "Anansi and The Turtle", the moral to this story is if you try to outsmart somebody that person might outsmart you. Stories of Anansi became such a prominent and familiar part of Ashanti oral culture that the word Anansesem - "spider tales" -came to embrace all kinds of fables. Peggy Appiah, who collected Anansi tales in Ghana and published many books of his stories wrote: "So well known is he that he has given his name to the whole rich tradition of tales on which...http://booksllc.net/?id=99498 ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture, Museums of Costa Rica, Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, Edificio Correos, Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Museo del Jade Marco Fidel Tristán Castro, Museo de Formas Espacios y Sonidos, Monteverde Nature Center, Museo de los Niños, Museo de Sabanero, Iglesia de la Agonía, Museo de Cultura Popular, Museo Filatélico de Costa Rica,. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 42. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt:Centro Costarricense de la Ciencia y la Cultura (Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture) is a science and culture museum complex in Costa Rica. Located in a fortress-like building that once served as the central penitentiary between 1910 and 1979, the center was inaugurated in 1994. It contains a number of important institutions including the National Auditorium, the Museo de los Niños, the National Gallery and a number of others. The Center was established in the building that housed the old Central Penitentiary, which itself was founded in 1909 and was open for 70 years. This penitentiary was closed in 1979 by Rodrigo Carazo's administration leaving the building empty and abandoned for several years. In 1991, the then First Lady Gloria Bejarano Almada, wife of President Rafael Ángel Calderón, created Fundación Ayudanos para Ayudar ("Help Us to Help Foundation" in English), to promote the Center's creation, which was inaugurated on April 27, 1994. Some sections of the building such as the facade and the walls of the west wing were proclaimed historical and architectural heritage of Costa Rica in 1988. The Center's stated mission is to strengthen education and promote the national scientific and technological development. Museo de los Niños (literally "Children's...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=20698513 ... Read more

Product Description
25 page staple-bound booklet. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume traces the development of Costa Rica's culture and institutions. The authors describe how Costa Rica's economy, government, educational and health-care systems, family structures, religion, and other institutions have evolved, and how this has affected the people's lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The Ticos: Culture and Social Change in Costa Rica
After spending a month in Costa Rica, traveling with Ticos from farm to farm. I read this book when I came back to the states, it filled in so many gaps in my experience as well explained local customs in a more formal sense. Its great introduction to Costa Rican history, government, local mores and customs.

The Ticos
My wife was all set to retire to Costa Rica before she read "The Ticos".
Now however she is more hesitant. From that I conclude that maybe the
book is too honest and tells too much. (Warts and all).
Anyway, we were going to go and see for ourselves what we find. Thanks for making us aware of the possible pitfalls.
This is a very detailed book and I enjoy it very much.

No Page Turner but full of information
Other reviews suggested this for anyone moving to Costa Rica and I totally agree. I stuggled through it but it took me back to my days in college and some of dryer courses engineers had to take as compulsorary's to broaden our character and view of the world. :)
Just going as a tourist, I amsure I will appreciate a lot of this information once I get to Costa Rica. But I was looking for more of a Michner novel where I could learn about the country and its history through a story line. (Still looking if anyone has any ideas.)

A bit of light reading...
Do not expect an "in-depth" book about Costa Rican politics and sociology, but a light reading compendium for those who want to learn a bit about the political and social background of this wonderful country...

Dry but Informative and Readable
This book was a little dry and psuedo-academic at times, considering the informal methods used by the authors.Chapters on history and economy read a little like high school history lessons but are informative none the less.The rest of the book moves more quickly and the subjects of culture, class and society are interesting.The major strength of this book is that it burts the mythical bubble of Costa Rica as a perfectly tolerant utopian paradise where all problems have been solved by universal health care and the welfare state.It instead paints a more humane, down to earth picture of contrasts and presents a view of the dynamic social and cultural forces at work in Costa Rica.Aside from the occasionally overly-academic tone, the only other drawback is the composite picture/ broad brush approach the authors use.Many generalizations are made relative to each of the subjects covered by the book, but arguably no book that sums up an entire culture could avoid doing this--so its moot compared to the eye opening revelations presented by the authors.Lots of "guide books" are written like second rate book reports by people with no familiarity with the culture or country.This book is tryly authentic.It is not marketed as a guide book, and that makes it an even better guide! ... Read more

Product Description
Attempts to construct resilient democracies have been as pervasive as reversals have been cruel in Latin America. Based on a wealth of original historical documents and contemporary interviews, this volume analyzes five centuries of political history through paradigmatic examples of outstanding democratic success and abysmal failure. It demonstrates that while factors highlighted by standard explanations matter, it is political culture that configures economic development, institutional choices and political pacts in ways that directly affect democracy's chances and quality. ... Read more

Product Description
Long characterized as an exceptional country within Latin America, Costa Rica has been hailed as a democratic oasis in a continent scorched by dictatorship and revolution; the ecological mecca of a biosphere laid waste by deforestation and urban blight; and an egalitarian, middle-class society blissfully immune to the violent class and racial conflicts that have haunted the region. Arguing that conceptions of Costa Rica as a happy anomaly downplay its rich heritage and diverse population, The Costa Rica Reader brings together texts and artwork that reveal the complexity of the country’s past and present. It characterizes Costa Rica as a site of alternatives and possibilities that undermine stereotypes about the region’s history and challenge the idea that current dilemmas facing Latin America are inevitable or insoluble.

This essential introduction to Costa Rica includes more than fifty texts related to the country’s history, culture, politics, and natural environment. Most of these newspaper accounts, histories, petitions, memoirs, poems, and essays are written by Costa Ricans. Many appear here in English for the first time. The authors are men and women, young and old, scholars, farmers, workers, and activists. The Costa Rica Reader presents a panoply of voices: eloquent working-class raconteurs from San José’s poorest barrios, English-speaking Afro-Antilleans of the Limón province, Nicaraguan immigrants, factory workers, dissident members of the intelligentsia, and indigenous people struggling to preserve their culture. With more than forty images, the collection showcases sculptures, photographs, maps, cartoons, and fliers. From the time before the arrival of the Spanish, through the rise of the coffee plantations and the Civil War of 1948, up to participation in today’s globalized world, Costa Rica’s remarkable history comes alive. The Costa Rica Reader is a necessary resource for scholars, students, and travelers alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

tiquicia and how it got that way
Rarely does an anthology of original documents of historical value mingled with insightful interpretative essays come together as a coherent work. Steven Palmer and Iván Molina, against those odds, have put the ball in the back of the net with just such a book.

THE COSTA RICA READER'S three-part subtitle (`History, Culture, Politics') is honored along the way with an even touch. Everyone with an interest in Costa Rica as more than a tourist destination with great beaches will find between the covers of this recent collection the stuff that builds insight and understanding. This reviewer lived for sixteen years in 'tiquicia', together with its four million 'ticos', 'nicas', and assorted hangers-on. The West Virginia-sized patch of mountainous land with its sought-after beaches (I rarely found time to visit them) continues to maintain its grip on my soul. I wish this 2004 Duke University Press publication had been available about 1988. It would have rendered easier learning the lessons of tiquicia that had to come the hard, honest way.

No matter, it's here now. The editors guide us through a nuanced qualification of `Costa Rican exceptionalism', finding in the tico experience--whether lived by the indigenous groups who were not quite so few and compliant as the national mythology suggests in the face of conquest and marginalization or by the 19th century coffee lords with their debt to German mercantilism or the 1980s Nicaraguan refugee whose task it is to decide with which of her divergent constituencies to identify herself--deep continuities with the rest of Latin American experience as well as a dollop of the country's celebrated idiosyncrasies.

The seventy-odd pieces are brief, illuminating, and usually excerpted from something larger. Individually and as a collection, they leave the reader wanting more.

Which is not unlike Costa Rica itself in the experience of many sojourners there, many of whom will never go back but who at the same time never manage entirely to leave.

Read by this reviewer on a recent working week back in the land it so effectively describes, THE COSTA RICA READER would be highly recommended at twice the price.

Excellent Sociological Reading
I love sociology. This is a great reader presenting different points of view of a complex society.So you know a little about me to judge the (short) review...I've done immersion study in CR and am a master's level student in the us. US born.Also over 40.

A study at democracy through turmoil
By using variouus annotations on short stories the reader lives through many people which have helped create this nation.Events are told in first person that give realism to both their suffering and accomplishments. Interesting information about the United States influence/involement in the Central American zone and the indirect effect on Costa Ricans gives pause to think about current events. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Costa Rica's East Coast emigration
This book along with the travelogue "Costa Rica : The Last Country the Gods Made" should be owned by anyone who loves Costa Rica, even if they think they despise social histories as deathly dull. This book's spirit is undeniable. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether your customers are traveling in luxury or with just a pack on their back, it’s important that they have a safe, fun, and easy-going trip. Bad etiquette and a misunderstanding about customs can put an otherwise very exciting trip on hold faster than a bad case of food poisoning. Readers are going to want to know about the CULTURE SMART! customs and etiquette series and will find them as indispensable as their passports.

The CULTURE SMART! titles are not your basic travel guides: they are consistently updated customs and etiquette references for more than 25 countries, with six new titles available this fall. Now more than ever, travelers are more than just sightseers and tourists; they’re ambassadors making impressions of the United States wherever they go. Readers will find these to be invaluable for pointing them on their way to a safe and fun trip abroad. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent
If it's a 'traditional' travel guide you're after, with bus times and hotel prices, then this book isn't for you.

But if you really want to get inside the Costa Rican mindset, then it's fantastic. I read this book before I visited the country and it really helped so many things about how the Ticos behave make sense to me.

The writing style is fun, and I love how the author has peppered the whole book with little personal stories and experiences to illustrate her points.

I'd strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to do more than just scratch the surface of the country - especially good for anyone going to spend a long holiday in Costa Rica or even move there.
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