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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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Named a Book of the Year by the Times Literary Supplement, this lavishly illustrated work explores the vibrant interaction among different and sometimes opposing cultures, and how their contacts with one another transformed them all. It chronicles the tumultuous history of Castile in the wake of the Christian capture of the Islamic city of Tulaytula, now Toledo, in the eleventh century and traces the development of Castilian culture as it was forged in the new intimacy of Christians with the Muslims and Jews they had overcome. 

The authors paint a portrait of the culture through its arts, architecture, poetry and prose, uniquely combining literary and visual arts. Concentrating on the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the book reveals the extent to which Castilian identity is deeply rooted in the experience of confrontation, interaction, and at times union with Hebrew and Arabic cultures during the first centuries of its creation. Abundantly illustrated, the volume serves as a splendid souvenir of southern Spain; beautifully written, it illuminates a culture deeply enriched by others. (20090813) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Arts of Intimacy: Christians, Jews, and Muslim...
This is a very important book for anybody interested in this topic. Don't miss out!It's a gorgeous book written by true authorities in this field.

The book many of us have been waiting for
In The Arts of Intimacy, Dodds, Menocal, and Balbale document and analyze the collision/fusion of Muslim, Christian (indigenous Mozarabic and Roman), and Jewish cultures in the architecture, literature, decorative arts, and linguistics of medieval Spain. They focus on Toledo, which, as a city on the border between the Christian and Muslim worlds, was a microcosm of the evolution taking place all over the peninsula.

This is a terrific book, beautiful to look at (almost but not quite a coffee-table book), well-organized, nicely-written, and full of wondrous detail and provocative thinking. For thoseinterested in learning more about this subject, the 57-page annotated bibliography "Sources and Readings" is alone worth the price of the book.

If you are one of those who thought Menocal's The Ornament of the World presented a simplistic, utopian view of the period, this book is the antidote. The detail is lavish in support of the theses and there is no attempt to gloss over the many ugly lapses of La Convivencia.

If anything, The Arts of Intimacy argues against any simplistic or reductionist approach to the development of Iberian culture. Esthetic influences were as fluid and multidimensional as political alliances, and in many cases religion turns out to be the least useful tool of explanation.

Get the book. Look at the photographs. Read the poems. Absorb and reflect on the hundreds of examples of cross-cultural influence. I promise you a worthwhile journey.

Great
Been eagerly awaiting this and am glad to see it in print. It is rich in its interdisciplinary breadth, the evocative descriptions of places and explanations of society, and the complex ways that it traverses the ethnicities, religions, and politics of medieval Spain. Excellent text for classes in medieval art, literary, and cultural history, but also highly recommended for enthusiasts of al-Andalus and Spain. For example, this would be a great book to read prior to traveling to Spain. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Columbus Day Celebrates Founding of America.
It is said that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. At least that is what all elementary school children were always taught: "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Of course, Columbus never did "discover" North America, and the regions he did explore were already inhabited. Nova investigated the history and authenticity of the Vinland Map, a document believed by some to be the first to depict America, and to date to 1440, half a century before Columbus' famous voyage. There are accounts the Vinland Sagas, 13th-century chronicles that relate Leif Erikson's discovery of Vinland.

He only discovered them from the viewpoint of the Europeans. Yet his first voyage did prove one thing for sure, that the earth was not only round, but that it was bigger than he had thought, Eratosthenes notwithstanding. In Washington state, the 9,000-year-old Kennewick Man was a rare find. Only a handful of skeletons this old had ever been found in North America.

One of the first known celebrations marking the discovery of the "New World" by Christopher Columbus was in 1792, when a ceremony organized by the Colombian Order was held in New York City honoring Columbus and the 300th anniversary of his landing in the Bahamas.The Bahamas, a group of 700 islands, dot the Atlantic Ocean from Florida almost to Haiti. Only 30 of the islands are inhabited. When Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492, the Arawak Indians were the only inhabitants there.

On October 12, 1866 the Italian population of New York organized the first celebration of the discovery of America. Three years later, in 1869 Italians in San Francisco celebrated October 12 calling it C-Day. How did Christopher Columbus find his way to the "New World"? He used maps, of course. There was just one problem. His maps were wrong!

The year is 1492. In three frail boats, Christopher Columbus heads west across the Atlantic Ocean.Half a world away, on the South China Sea, another ship embarked on a very different kind of journey. In its hold lay the riches of the Far East: intricately embroidered silks and the finest vessels of delicately painted porcelain. These were the treasures that Columbus could only dream of and only China could create.

Between the 13th and the 16th century, China was the greatest industrial power. Not only in Asia, but I would think in the world. The quality of what China was producing during that period was simply staggering to the vast majority of the consumers in the known world at the time.

On August 2, 1492, Columbus set sail in search of the East Indies. The voyage was financed by Ferdinand and Isabella by making the city of Palos pay back a debt to the crown by providing two of the ships, and by getting Italian financial backing for part of the expenses. The crown had to put up very little money from the treasury.

Columbus and 90 crewmen boarded the three ships that were to make the first voyage to the New World, the Niña, Pinta, and the flagship, Santa Maria. On October 12, 1492, Columbus first saw the islands of the new world, landing in the Bahamas. Later in the month, he would sail to Cuba, and to Hispaniola (now Haiti). He thought he had reached the East Indies, the islands off Southeast Asia.

All educated individuals in the 15th century, and especially sailors, already knew that the earth was round. What was not realized by Columbus, however, was just how big a globe it was. Columbus seriously underestimated the size of the planet.

On Christmas Day, 1492, the Santa Maria sank off Haiti.Columbus departed for Spain on January 16, 1493 on the Niña, arriving there on March 4.Columbus made three additional voyages to the New World. The second voyage set sail in September, 1493, with 17 ships. During his expeditions, he helped to colonize Hispaniola, and discovered the South American mainland.

He did not, however, see mainland North America during any of his voyages.He returned to Spain for the last time on November 7, 1504. He died at Valladolid, Spain on May 20, 1506, at the age of 55.

Much controversy exists over Columbus' expeditions and whether or not one can "discover" an already-inhabited land. The natives of the Bahamas and other islands on his journey were peaceful and friendly. Yet many of them were later enslaved by the Spanish. Also, it is known that the Vikings explored the North American coast 500 years before Columbus.

To mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage, in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison made a commemorative proclamation. But it was Colorado, in 1905, that became the first state to observe a Columbus Day. Since 1920 the day has been celebrated annually, and in 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day. That's where it remained until 1971 when Congress declared it a federal public holiday on the second Monday in October. ... Read more

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Stars and Masculinities in Spanish Cinema focuses on the careers of ten contemporary Spanish film stars, including Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, and Eduardo Noriega. Set in the double context of new approaches to Star Studies and current debates around masculinity, this is a key contribution to the growing fields of Spanish Cultural and Film Studies. ... Read more

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Culture Smart! is a new series of travel guides written for the traveler on the go. Each volume is a quick, accurate guide to customs and etiquette.

Outstanding features of CULTURE SMART!* All the essential cultural and etiquette points are covered, making you confident in a variety of situations.* You will know what to expect in each particular culture. * You will learn how to behave in specific social and business situations. * Essential attitudes and values are clearly explained. * You will find each topic a quick, easy read due to the concise writing style.* Laid out in a clear and easy-to-read format.* Each book 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.* Your Culture Smart! books are written by a staff of experts consult on world travel as a profession.

Be smart! Take Culture Smart! along when you travel abroad! ... Read more

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Each Teach Yourself . . . Language, Life, and Culture title delves into the customs and ways of a country and its inhabitants, taking a respectful yet lively point of view. Topics covered include government, arts, language, work, leisure, education, festivals and celebrations, and food. By asking questions like Is Italy the birthplace of opera? and How much beer does the average German drink? and Do the French really spend hours at the dinner table? this series invites readers to examine fascinating aspects of another culture. ... Read more

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Spanish culture in the modern period has often displayed a bold experimentalism, expressed through a disregard for generic boundaries and formal conventions. The essays in this collection explore the dialogue and interrelation between cultural discourses and artistic practices in a variety of nineteenth- and twentieth-century texts, from the perspectives of literary criticism, cultural analysis, media and film studies, political sciences and history of art. In the process they not only address fundamental questions about the relation between different kinds of texts and the parameters of representation, but also provide insights into the way identities - social, political or cultural - are bound up with the textual. ... Read more

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Teach Yourself Portuguese Language, Life and Culture delves into the customs and ways of Portugal and its inhabitants, taking a respectful yet lively point of view. Topics include government, arts, language, work, leisure, education, festivals and celebrations, and food. By asking questions such as "What is modern Portuguese art and architecture like?" this book invites you to examine fascinating aspects of another culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

To be read with caution
This book amasses a lot of information from different sources, apparently more interested in capturing the reader's attention at any cost rather than in giving accurate information. Some statements are a challenge to the basic facts of Portuguese history and a challenge to the basic notions of history periods in general. There is no such thing as a "pre-historic Lusitania" as this book says. In level of mediocrity this book is comparable to Ian Robertson's A Traveller's History of Portugal, two books to be read (if at all) with a good deal of caution.

Disturbingly inaccurate
This book makes statements that may be just a personal view but are presented in a manner that may suggest they are confirmed facts. It is so with statements on education and status. History is given inaccurate coverage too. You may find some faulty statements about well known periods of Portuguese history like the discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries and Salazar in the 20th century. Instead of this book I would like to recommend a more objective and informative work, Terry Payne's Portugal Matters, published by Education Matters. It covers geography, history, politics, culture, society and language. It also has interviews with Portuguese people coming from all walks of life

It gives you a strange picture of the people and the country
I have been to Portugal several times and have friends there. When I showed this book to my Portuguese friends they were very critical. A lot of wrong information, bias, etc. Not being a national, there is much I don't know, but in some points I can easily see good reasons for my friends' disapproval. Just to mention one of them, there is a whole section of the book on things like witchcraft and related practices. It makes the Portuguese look rather superstitious and unpleasant. This is the opposite of what I have experienced. They are quite open minded and easy to relate to. I think this book gives the wrong picture of the Portuguese people, and not a very nice one.

It gives you a strange picture of the people and the country
I have been to Portugal several times and have friends there. When I showed this book to my Portuguese friends they were very critical. A lot of wrong information, bias, etc. Not being a national, there is much I don't know, but in some points I can easily see good reasons for my friends' disapproval. Just to mention one of them, there is a whole section of the book on things like witchcraft and related practices. It makes the Portuguese look rather superstitious and unpleasant. This is the opposite of what I have experienced. They are quite open minded and easy to relate to. I think this book gives the wrong picture of the Portuguese people, and not a very nice one.

Incoherent!
I bought this book expecting to get a profile of the Portuguese people, a picture of their national identity. I thought this is what the title meant. Instead I found a mishmash of scattered information, and some of it may not be particularly accurate. The whole thing just does not make much sense. You certainly do not get a profile of the Portuguese people. In a way this is a book that leaves you with an uncomfortable feeling. ... Read more

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An introduction to the thought of three major philosophers of twentieth-century Spain. ... Read more

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One of the world's renowned centres of culture, Barcelona is also one of the capitals of modernist art given its associations with the talents of Dali, Picasso, and Gaudi. Jazz Age Barcelona focuses the lenses of cultural studies and urban studies on the avant-garde character of the city during the cosmopolitan Jazz Age, delving into the cultural forces that flourished in Europe between the late 1910s and early 1930s. Studying literary journalism, photography, and the city of Barcelona itself, Robert Davidson argues that the explosion of jazz culture and the avant-garde was predominantly fostered by journalists and their positive reception of innovative new art forms and radical politics.

Using periodicals and recently rediscovered archival material, Davidson considers the relationship between the political pressures of a brutal class war, the grasp of a repressive dictatorship, and the engagement of the city's young intellectuals with Barcelona's culture and environment. Also analysing the 1929 International Exhibition and the down-and-out Raval District - which housed many of the Age's clubs and bars - Jazz Age Barcelona is an insightful portrait of one of the twentieth century's most culturally rich times and places.

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This book, based on unpublished archival material of the period, unveils some hitherto unknown aspects of medieval Indian history, 1507-1528. The growth of Islam in the coastal regions of India, the economic life of the Indian Ocean at the time of early Portuguese expeditions, and the beginnings of the first European colonization of India, are all brought into sharper focus in an account of the activities of the Mappila chief of Cannamore - the ancestor of the Ali Rajas. Scholars and students of Indian history. ... Read more

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Examines the geography, people, customs, and history of one of the largest countries on the continent of Europe. ... Read more

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This work is an analysis of Latin American literary criticism. The author takes us through the work of five of the key practitioners of Latin American literary criticism - Mariategui, Rama, Losada, Cornejo Polar and Sarlo. ... Read more

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A Network of Converso Families in Early Modern Toledo addresses the fortunes of Jewish families who converted to Catholicism in fifteenth-century Spain. From the fifteenth through the seventeenth century, their careers, successes, and misfortunes are traced as they confront institutional and societal prejudices in the form of the Spanish Inquisition and pure blood statutes.
Linda M. Martz focuses on families that were immersed in the worlds of business and finance. They formed the backbone of the trade industry and, during the economic expansion of the sixteenth century, enjoyed a high degree of affluence. The seventeenth century, however, brought harder times. How these families rose to positions of commercial eminence and then adapted to this economic downturn is one of the questions addressed in this insightful book.
A Network of Converso Families in Early Modern Toledo relies heavily on archival evidence--notarial, parish, and city records--that offers new insights into the families' histories. Business endeavors, marriage alliances, involvement in local politics, and the pursuit of improved social status are all subjected to Martz's keen analysis.
These families appear to have been well integrated into their contemporary society; aside from their business and financial activities, many were members of the city's governing council. But how well did they integrate with the lower classes? Assimilating minorities in the majority culture is a task that confronts most modern societies, so the experience of Spain and this particular minority may serve as an example of how earlier societies viewed and confronted this challenge.
This book will appeal to historians of medieval and Renaissance Spain and those interested in the Inquisition's effect on Renaissance Spain. It will also prove to be indispensable for those interested in the history of the Jewish race, as well as for those pursuing the question of marginalization.
Linda M. Martz is an independent historian as well as a freelance editor and writer.
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