Any Book Recommendations of "funny experiences of foreigners in other countries"?
07-10-08, 09:57 PM
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Any Book Recommendations of "funny experiences of foreigners in other countries"?
Does anyone have any book recommendations of "funny adventures of foreigners in other countries"?
This is what i've liked so far:
Holy Cow: an Australian girl's funny experiences in India
The Russian Debutante's Handbook: An American guy's funny experiences in Russia
Towelhead: A Lebanese-American girl's experiences in USA
This is what i've liked so far:
Holy Cow: an Australian girl's funny experiences in India
The Russian Debutante's Handbook: An American guy's funny experiences in Russia
Towelhead: A Lebanese-American girl's experiences in USA
07-11-08, 08:00 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know if this is exactly what you're looking for, but you might like Robert Whiting's You Gotta Have Wa which is about the experiences of foreigners playing professional baseball in Japan.
The book, using the differences between Major League Baseball and the Japanese League, does an excellent job at showing how the different cultures between (mostly) Americans and the Japanese is exemplified in how they play the same game (baseball) in very different ways. It's funny and smart and I highly recommend it.
I'm going to steal one of the reviews on Amazon that I think does the best job at explaining the book:
"On the surface, this is a treatise about baseball in Japan. Only slightly underneath, it's a fascinating work on the difference between Japanese and American culture. The title word Wa comes from the Japanese word for team unity, as opposed to the American interest in individuality.
The book goes through both a history of baseball in Japan, as well as challenges American's deal with over there. It covers the trials and tribulations of Americans like Bob Horner, who thrive on the diamond, but struggle off the field. It covers the adverserial relationship between Japanese coaches and their foreign (Gai-jin) charges. Any American going to work in Japan is well advised to pay attention!
How is Japan changing over time? Compare how the approval of "different" antics of foreigners changes over time. Learn how some Japanese players follow the model, but as the exception and not the rule. Is the Japanese culture changing, or a surface appearance of change part of the Japanese character? Read the book to find out. Again, it's only about baseball on the surface.
How does training differ? The American model suggests individuals can improve, but only to the limit of their ability. The Japanese model in both the field and the office is that there is no limit - strength and success is limited only by effort. This drive leads to a 10-11 month season counting training camp, as well as several hours of strenuous exercizes every day before practice. This is essential to developing the fighting spirit. Again, someone travelling to Japan for business is well advised to understand this.
The book is a must for baseball lovers as well as people interested in learning more about Japan. The book is a fascinating work that hides great learning behind Japan under the story of America's pastime."
The book, using the differences between Major League Baseball and the Japanese League, does an excellent job at showing how the different cultures between (mostly) Americans and the Japanese is exemplified in how they play the same game (baseball) in very different ways. It's funny and smart and I highly recommend it.
I'm going to steal one of the reviews on Amazon that I think does the best job at explaining the book:
"On the surface, this is a treatise about baseball in Japan. Only slightly underneath, it's a fascinating work on the difference between Japanese and American culture. The title word Wa comes from the Japanese word for team unity, as opposed to the American interest in individuality.
The book goes through both a history of baseball in Japan, as well as challenges American's deal with over there. It covers the trials and tribulations of Americans like Bob Horner, who thrive on the diamond, but struggle off the field. It covers the adverserial relationship between Japanese coaches and their foreign (Gai-jin) charges. Any American going to work in Japan is well advised to pay attention!
How is Japan changing over time? Compare how the approval of "different" antics of foreigners changes over time. Learn how some Japanese players follow the model, but as the exception and not the rule. Is the Japanese culture changing, or a surface appearance of change part of the Japanese character? Read the book to find out. Again, it's only about baseball on the surface.
How does training differ? The American model suggests individuals can improve, but only to the limit of their ability. The Japanese model in both the field and the office is that there is no limit - strength and success is limited only by effort. This drive leads to a 10-11 month season counting training camp, as well as several hours of strenuous exercizes every day before practice. This is essential to developing the fighting spirit. Again, someone travelling to Japan for business is well advised to understand this.
The book is a must for baseball lovers as well as people interested in learning more about Japan. The book is a fascinating work that hides great learning behind Japan under the story of America's pastime."
07-13-08, 10:24 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
07-13-08, 10:44 PM
#6
Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by excom101
