David Holt-BiddleSouth Africa - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture

This book is really awesome, full of a great deal of historical information about South Africa that I never would have known. Published in 2007, so a few things were slightly dated, but nothing that would make me not recommend it highly. It's a very small and quirky, but interesting, font of information about South Africa & it's citizens. Definitely worth stuffing into your backpack or carry on. It includes common phrases (that to an American would be completely foreign, even though they are spoken in English). There is a wealth of information about the many facets of life in South Africa that it would be difficult to mention them all, although it's not meant to be a travel guide. I'd think of it as an entertaining and fun primer to South African norms, cultural diversity, and basic social etiquette that would prove beneficial to any first time visitor. Really worth the read and it will accompany me on my first trip to the African continent next week.

I liked this book because it sets the context before arriving into South Africa. A very easy and quick read over the long flights from US to Africa. This is not a travel guide but one that presents in broad strokes the history that has shaped current sentiments. It desperately needs a revision (new edition) since this was written in 2007. A lot has transpired since then and 2017. It will sad to see such a book fade away into the past.

It is the perfect companion to one's trip to South Africa. It is broad in it's scope, touching on a little bit of everything from it's history, government, customs, traditions, race...it's unity and discord. Again, it's NOT in depth but an overview on a lot. So, if you're looking for really detailed information then this is not the right book for you.

Help in understanding a different culture before you go visit.

I enjoyed reading the book. It's realtively a quick read. Provided a great oversight of many aspects of South African culture(s).I just wished that the book was a little bit more up to date. For example, it still talks about all the anticipation for the soccer world cup.

Not that I'll ever go there, but if I did this has a lot of good everyday information in it

A very interesting book filled with facts about South Africa. It's a travel size as well! I learned a lot which is exactly why I ordered it.

The items were wonderful, arrived on time and good quality for the amount pain.

If you have never been to South Africa and not read much about the place, this book is a place to begin. Short, easy to read and with tips you won't find elsewhere.The issue of tribe and language in this multilingual land could have had more detail. That said, there are many South Africans who don't know some of the wisdom in these pages.Worth reading before you go.

Great.

This was a great book in preparation for my trip. Even my travel partner, who is from there, learned a few new things.