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 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Everything you need to know in a few pages...
I ordered this book to get a bit more insight on the country since we are traveling there this summer on a mission trip. Our family found it easy to read and so interesting. I feel I am even more prepared for an amazing trip within a beautiful country and it's special people.

Kenya culture smart is great
I have a fair amount of experience working and traveling in Kenya, and I think the author has hit all the main issues a visitor should be aware of.It's not hard to get along in Kenya as long as one doesn't try to push western standards onto everything that occurs.This book will speed up the adjustment for anyone wanting to spend some time in one of the most beautiful and challenging countries on earth.

Kenya and my Kikuyu firends
I spent three months in Kenya living with people from the Kikuyu tribe working at an orghanage in Dagoretti Market. I wish I had read this book before going. Now I have a better understanding of Kenya and it's wonderful people. When I go back next year I will take the book and hopefully improve my ability to integrate closer. I still know very few words in Kikuyu!

Thank you for the information in this well written book. ... Read more

Product Description
Kenya, a land of safaris, wild animals, and Maasai warriors, perfectly represents Africa for many Westerners. This peerless single-source book presents the contemporary reality of life in Kenya, an important East-African nation that has served as a crossroads for peoples and cultures from Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia for centuries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

There's no one more knowledgeable...
Dr. Sobania has spent years in Kenya and eastern Africa, and his knowledge is superlative.On top of the great information, he is an interesting writer with fresh perspective, thoughtful insight, and little "first world" cultural bias.It says a lot that this book re-sells for the same price (just about) as it costs new. Splurge and learn something about a truly amazing part of your ever-shrinking planet. ... Read more

Product Description
Once the major success story of a troubled continent, by the early 1990s Kenya came to be regarded as its fallen star. This book challenges such images of reversal and the analytical polarities that sustain them.The analysis ranges from telescopic to microscopic fields, combining many disciplines and perspectives to give a rich and varied picture of the culture of politics in twentieth-century Kenya. ... Read more

Product Description
An introduction to the geography, history, economy, culture, and people of Kenya. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very useful book
I have read this book several times and coming from a community practising FGM, I find the book very insightful and truthful in its depth and contents. It is a true representation of what actually takes place. It has a well organized scholarly approach too!
... Read more

Product Description
In I Laugh So I Won’t Cry, Kenya’s women tell their stories of love, struggle, happiness, and tragedy in their own words. I Laugh strikes a balance between intimate acquaintance and a comprehensive view.In-depth portraits allow readers to know a diverse selection of women intimately. Topical chapters feature the voices of a large range of women talking about the subjects closest to their hearts. Chapters cover: marriage, childrearing, work and getting by when there is no work, women’s self-help groups, genital cutting, ethnic tensions, and the new government that has promised huge reforms.I Laugh shows the full panorama of women’s struggles in sub-Saharan Africa without sacrificing the vivid details of individual lives. Subsistence farmers, herders, beggars, sex workers, office workers, hawkers, business executives and a few friends who stopped an ethnic war all speak in I Laugh So I Won’t Cry. I Laugh will interest readers who seek to understand the multiple realities of contemporary Africa.Excerpts from I Laugh So I Won’t Cry:On Husbands“You know, men don't like laughing with their wives. Other men will say, ‘Don't laugh with her. You are showing her that you love her too much. She will shame you. She will make you serve tea.’So they just sit stony-faced.”“A man wouldn't like the woman to know how much money he has. If a wife asks her husband to buy something that is needed, like soap or tea, he will ask himself, ‘Now, how did she know that I have money in my pocket?’”On Education“Women who have been educated are respected. A husband knows that she is also an independent person and can do things on her own. The man is scared. He thinks maybe that if he hits her she is free to leave, but an uneducated lady is just forced to stay even if she gets problems in her marriage.”On Female Genital Cutting“Our mothers live with us. They will say it must be done. I can't disagree with my mother regarding my daughter. But for my daughter's daughter, it will change.”“There's the social pressure, even when they are very young. Because it is being done to all her friends in school, she would feel that you are denying her right. “ ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

great stories about REAL people

This book was well organized, and definately a plus for anyone interested in E. Africa life.

I was pleased with the manner the author interviewed women in groups and by themselves when able.She used an interturpertur to explain how the women felt about multiple issues; including work, families, children, sex, relationships with spouces, multiple marriages, etc.

The only complaint I would have is that in some instances men were present, making me wonder just how much freedom the women had to give honest answers.

The women discussed how they are required to marry another women who has sons if their husband dies before they have a son; otherwise their property will be divided between her husband's brothers and nephews.The work is hard: domestic violence is common and "ordinary," with men being taunted by other men if they treat their wives in a loveing manner. Education does help many girls overcome the drugury of field work, but is only available to the wealthy or from outside missionary communities.

Pretty good!
This book is very interesting but slightly repetitive.The author records her extensive interviews that she conducted with Kenyan women.She used a tape recorder and so much of the book is written verbatim from the discussions that she had with these women.Some of the topics that she covers are husband-wife relationships, aids, education, marriage, raising children and the work that a typical day entails.

An interesting aspect of life for these women is the corporal punishment that abounds in their daily life.According to this book, women accept being beaten by their husbands or perhaps their parents as the natural order of events.Many viewed it as punishment for behaving badly, for example, burning dinner. There were a few women who escaped from abusive marriages and didn't re-marry, but several of the women were satisfied with husbands who beat them but didn't threaten their lives.Interestingly enough, most of the women, even knowing what married life was likely to be like, wanted to marry and have children.This was a concept that was hard for my American mind to grasp.

Another theme of these women's lives is the fact that they often bear the sole responsibility of raising their children and providing for them financially. The fathers of the children often don't even provide their children with money for food or their elementary education.

This book provides the reader with a very detailed and insightful look into the daily lives of some of the women of Kenya.Very good for those with an anthropological bent, but perhaps not so great for those who are just looking for a good novel.I enjoyed it very much myself and recommend it to anyone who is thinking of traveling to Africa or who is interested in studying the culture of Kenya.

The Women Folk of Kenya
This is a very professionally accomplished book of collectd interviews of the ordinary Kenyan women who is trying to live from day to day in difficult conditions. It is very good reading especially in the light of the post election crisis happening now in early 2008.

Wonderful depiction of reality
This is an interesting and informative book.It has a bit of an academic format but because the author includes so many firsthand accounts of real women in all stations, ages and social strata, it has a great story telling aspect as well.
Since I spent most of my time in the interior of Kenya in the most primitive settings, I can only speak authoritatively on the plight of rural women. I can tell you that Helena's recounting of lives and situations is really indicative of what's going on there. It brought back a lot of memories.
The social landscape is changing rapidly over there but the situation women find themselves in is moving a lot more slowly. I am so thankful for this snapshot provided by this book.

Reality in the land of "The Constant Gardener."
From Robert Ruark's "Something of Value" of 50 years ago to John le Carre's "Constant Gardner," popular literature about Kenya has been visualized through the point of view of white people makking their way there.

Halperin's non-fiction book is a first. It's a story of the land, compiled from the viewpoint of very many actual Kenyans, mostly female: It is about what's really been happening there over the past half century. How the society has changed, sometimes for better, often for worse, in the past generation, as more and more people have to live on fewer acres of farmable land or depart for the impoverished cities.

It's about living with AIDS, the effects of money on a barter society, how education affects relationships and what it means to be a born again Christian (or Muslim) in a society where animistic beliefs often prevail. In short, its about what it is like beinga Kenyan. It is a book of anthropological thoroughness that reads like the deep-felt personal narrative that it is. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Foods of Kenya-Juvenile writing
This is a nicely illustrated and very informative book.However, I was expecting a cookbook for adults; instead, this is primarily a review of foods, agriculture, and daily cooking life in Kenya written for a children's/young teen audience; a few receipes of common foods are included througout the text.A nice summary, however, for anyone who has lived in Kenya or wants more detailed but basic information about its foods. This is NOT a cookbook in the usual sense; however, there does not appear to be much in the way of actual Kenyan cookbooks on the market.This is an alternative to consider. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the factors affecting the social, political and economic situation in Africa today is the youth. Among today's African populations, there are various groups of younger people who find themselves disillusioned with the inevitable lack of political space available to them for meeting their needs. Kenya is uniquely positioned within Africa, since it has experienced relative peace and avoided major political turmoil. However, there is no question that since the early 1980s the youth have increasingly begun to agitate for political accountability from their leaders. This agitation has taken various forms, key among which were artistic expressions through music. In this way, youth carved out for themselves a niche of 'social inclusion' from which they questioned corrupt practices. These practices, by state agents, leaders and the common 'mwananchi', were intimately linked to moral decay in the society.
This discussion paper addresses the varied notions of culture, politics and youth music in the Kenyan context during former President Moi's presidency. Moving away from the notion that youth activities can be equated with terror and acts of idleness, the author examines the historical centrality of music and politics in Kenya. Using imagery derived from proverbs as a basis of thinking, the author discusses the changing views of culture and identity among the youth of Kenya. To enhance the discussion, politics and the urban context serve as the basis for interrogating youth involvement through music in the political space in Kenya. Finally, the discussion presents the youth musician Eric Wainaina and discusses his use of music as an intervention into the issue of political decay and corruption. The underlying thrust of this discussion is to reflect upon and dispel the assumption that, through their music, youth in Kenya are engaged in violent activities against the state. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review on "Islands of White"
In his study, "Islands of White," Dane Kennedy offers a novel perspective on the social dynamics of white settler colonies in imperialist Africa.Kennedy convincingly illustrates how these white societies wereable to create a distinct and unified culture.Presenting a newinterpretation of white settler society, Kennedy analytically demonstrateshow the social identity of white colonists was radically recast toaccommodate their special circumstances.Kennedy's study is of longlasting importance to the field of African history because it reveals thepowerful dynamics of solidarity within colonial societies whichconsequently enabled them to create and maintain a system of dominationover the indigenous African population.While the majority ofhistorians have primarily focused on the social divisions within thesettler populations, Kennedy asserts that economic, ethnic, and social differences were secondary to the overriding need for unification.Kennedyremains balanced in his approach by conceding that a certain amount ofsocial friction within the colonies cannot be denied.Yet, he alsosustains that the preoccupation of Marxist historians with the internalfissures of white society neglects to appreciate the external strength ofthe community. Through an analysis of the particular experiences faced bywhite settlers, Kennedy portrays how white settler society was not simply atransfer or replication of European national traits onto colonial societyin Africa.He holds, "this was the distinguishing feature of the settlerculture: not in the cherished values of the settlers' European heritage,but in the centripetal forces that distorted that heritage by securing itagainst all change."(192)To further establish this claim, the authoreffectively applies knowledge of social psychology to interpret and explainthe pathological behavior of the white settlers. Kennedy's compelling argument is fully supported through his analyticalutilization of many sources and statistical evidence.The extensive use ofwell documented private and official manuscripts further validate Kennedy'spersuasive argument.Unlike many documents on colonialism, the volumeappears to be written without prejudice and without reference to apreconceived view of determents. While historically solid, Kennedy's workbrings a fresh, unbiased insight to the inner workings and far-reachingimpact of white settler colonists. As Kennedy has firmly established inhis study, "Islands of White," settler culture was the expressionof the white community's delicately held position of dominance in the orderof imperial Africa.In order to maintain this dominance, white settlersexerted strong social power to shape and control their identity andposition.The significance of Kennedy's book is in its illustration of thepower group solidarity can have in shaping a community and its neighbors. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the geography, history, government, economy, and culture of Kenya. ... Read more

Product Description
Off the coast of northern Kenya is the island of Lamu—Kenya’s oldest town and one of the original Swahili settlements along coastal East Africa. Listed by UNESCO as a prestigious world heritage site, Lamu offers visitors the hypnotic experience of entering another world. With 300 exquisite, specially commissioned photographs, the volume opens a window onto the island’s enchanting and inspiring architecture, interiors, crafts, and traditions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Made for Western Tourists not Cultural Anthropolists
Just in case there is confusion, this book is not a cultural anthropological or art historical study. It is purely a tourguide for Westerners with lots of money and are looking for the next "exotic" hot spot. This stance is clear because with the Foreword featuring a picture of an Omani Arab who is the Minister of Tourism.

As a result, the book lacks a scholarly eye in discussing Lamu's culture, history, and art. The book does have some decent photos (though could be better) of places and things particular to Lamu and a few selected sites in other neighboring Swahili cities.However, 90% of everything discussed is attributed to Indian or Arabian invention and brought to the Swahili coast.In some cases there were some appropriation of these Asian goods but the alterations remained minor and more or less insignificant. This attitude toward Africa, and the Swahili in particular, is historically Western. Though contemporary scholarship has debunked the idea that the Swahili are essentially a product of Asian colonization it still remains strong in the minds of many.It is the idea that Africa--especially when accepted signs of civilization are exhibited--is not capable of initiating civilization but only of receiving it and adding a slight alteration or two. This is the comfortable view of this marvelous civilization that the book clearly wants to side with in order to attract visitors who are invested in Caucasiancentrism and are not interested in visiting places were their Caucasian-centric world view is challenged. In this case Caucasian-centric is the idea that Caucasians (Europeans, West Asiatics, or North Indians) are the necessary ingredient to explain any non-primitive aspect visible in an African society.

Interesting enough, the writers--George and Lorna Abungu--are themselves African. Some would assume that they cannot be so Caucasian-centric but less we forget, the most Caucasian-centric people are often not Caucasians themselves, but the peoples whose minds they have enslaved. The Swahili merchants of the 19th-century were among the most notorious anti-African people and enslaved millions of other Africans to sell to West Asia and India.Thus, being African does not mean one is free of anti-Africanism.Perhaps the Abungus were not thinking to belittle Africa purposely but seek to Asianize everything Swahili because they believe this will give Swahili culture value...not realizing that very mindset belittles Africa.

Overall, the book is very poorly written and few of the photos are anything you couldn't see elsewhere on the web.But if you're thinking of visiting or have visited, it would be a decent coffee table book so that visitors may ask you if you've been.

For lacking representation of indigenous African aspects of Swahili cultural in Lamu, for over-Asianizing everything, for only being interested in things with Asian counterparts, and for being overpriced I give this a 2.

Worth the price
Beautiful photographs. Nice combination of photos from the past to the present.
My only complaint would be that there are too many "staged" photos, such as multiple images of henna designs.It's still a beautiful look at Lamu through the eyes of visiting photographers. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the geography, history, language, people, and culture of this country on the east coast of Africa. ... Read more

Product Description
Our lives, which are mainly structured according to repeated and socially sanctioned modes of behaviour suggest that human activity is a performance; it is an activity undertaken with a consciousness of itself. We are always aware that someone who has certain expectations about us is watching. In order to satisfy the expectation we behave accordingly. Quite often we are conscious of projecting identity - in politics, in our homes, places of worship, on the street, among colleagues and so on. But how does this happen? This book brings together essays which cover a number of key areas: Gender, Disability, Media, Sports, Literature, Religion, Land and Youth, Music. Through an examination of the situation in Kenya, the essays opens new ways of understanding forms of local, national and global identity. ... Read more

Product Description
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Kenya has no one culture that identifies it. With such diverse regional peoples such as the Swahili along the coast, several pastoralist communities mainly in the North and the different communities in Central and Western regions, having a mutually acceptable cultural identification is difficult. There are about 42 different ethnic groupings in Kenya - each of these with its own unique culture, but majority of them with intertwining cultural practices brought about by the close resemblance in the languages, the similar environment and physical proximity of the ethnic groups. The ethnic groups are grouped into larger sub-groups - based on their cultural and linguistic similarities. There are three major unifying categories of languages: the Bantu speaking people of the Coastal region, the Central Highlands and the Western Kenya Region, The Nilotes who are mainly found in the Great Rift Valley and the Lake Victoria Region and the Cushites who are mainly composed of pastoralists and nomads in the drier North Eastern part of the country. ... Read more