Iran - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture

Culture Smart / Cultuur Bewust

by Stuart Williams

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

* 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

Genres: Iran, Travel, Nonfiction, History

168 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2008

Reviews

[Kashayar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this small booklet is considered to be a travel guide, it is very well written. Detailed and factual. It gives a great image/impression of the Iranian people, their traditions and the country itself. It's short but fun to read. I laughed a lot while reading it. It really captured the meaning of being an Iranian. Fun Stuff and practical in most ways. Almost every thing in this little book made sense to me as an Iranian and is true. Apparently the author has done his homework on Iran very well so this deserves a 4 star rating in my opinion... Politics aside (no one gets the Iranian politics correctly any ways so I am willing to cut him some slack there) this tiny book does a good job. Buy this if you're traveling to/thru Iran or about to meet an Iranian person. It can be very helpful and informative.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning more about the country. Easy to read.

[Dave Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little book with some useful insight to the Iranian country and culture. Major takeaways include but are not limited to:
1. These are not Arabs. Albeit, they are in close proximity to the Arab speaking nations, and their state religion is Islam, a religion whose Holy works are written in Arabic, Iranians are Persian. They speak Farsi. Their history, culture, and values differ greatly than that of their neighbors.
2. The country is both ancient and modern. Despite having and still upholding the heritage of one of the most ancient civilizations, the nation is highly motivated to move into the 21st century. With distinct focus on science, technology, and education, and a very modern urban capital city of Tehran. This nation upholds the poems and historical sites of its former empires, while also motivating its citizens to study and learn innovative ideas for future economic prosperity.
3. Iran is varied in climate. Mountainous and near the sea. It is cold and hot. You can have extreme weather in many verities depending on where you visit.
4. While it is an Islamic state, many religions come out of this nation beyond just Islam.

Overall an informative read. The only qualms is it is a book published almost 10 years ago. Since the American presidency of Trump there have been some major changes in the social and political dynamics of this nation. Still, overall, quite informative!

[Mehran]

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[Bishop Juneblood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly interesting and respectful book about Iranian culture!