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 (2)

Argentina culture smart
It was a quick and easy read with lots of cultural information for anyone who wants to visit or live in Argentina.

Fantastic Little Book!
Great guide for getting a quick and comprehensive overview of Argentina.Although primarily focused on Buenos Aires, it gives the reader a fast grasp on what seem to be the essentials in many areas of life, both personal and business.Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you travel for business, pleasure, or a combination of the two, the ever-popular CULTURE SHOCK! series belongs in your backpack or briefcase. Get the nuts-and-bolts information you need to survive and thrive wherever you go. CULTURE SHOCK! country guides are easy-to-read, accurate, and entertaining crash courses in local customs and etiquette. CULTURE SHOCK! practical guides offer the inside information you need whether you're a student, a parent, a globetrotter, or a working traveler. CULTURE SHOCK! AT YOUR DOOR guides equip you for daily life in some of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. And CULTURE SHOCK! SUCCESS SECRETS guides offer relevant, practical information with the real-life insights and cultural know-how that can make the difference between business success and failure.

Each CULTURE SHOCK! title is written by someone who's lived and worked in the country, and each book is packed with practical, accurate, and enjoyable information to help you find your way and feel at home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Very helpful
Very helpful crash course in Argentinean culture before a vacation there.A lot of the information centers on Buenos Aires, but that's where most readers would probably be.We were in the wine country (Mendoza area) and it was somewhat less applicable (not much tango, people look more ordinary than the conveyed endless stream of preternatural and surgically enhanced beauties dressed in the latest haute couture), but still a lot of fantastic tips on what to expect.

Extremely useful pre-trip reading
This is a useful and interesting book to read (or even peruse) if you are considering visiting Argentina.I recently returned from 9 days in Buenos Aires, and the book provided a good discussion of the country's culture, behavior and attitudes such that I felt that much more comfortable during my visit.My only adverse comment is that the author kind of over-romanticizes the subject matter a bit at times (although that is a result of an enthusiastic writer) and thus should be consulted in tandem with other materials on Argentina.

Though the guide is dated, it is still has significant value
Culture Shock! Argentina by Fiona Adams 2000

To say that Fiona Adams is enthusiastic about Argentina would be a gross understatement. Her book, often reads like she is a publicist for the country. Her unbridled accolades about Argentina clashed radically with the pessimistic, often despairing citizen that I often talked with.

Yes, as Fiona Adams writes,Argentina has: the tango, beautiful people, cosmopolitan centers, chic boutiques, great steaks and cheap (good) wines, but these alone do not capture the ethos (or culture) ofArgentina, any more than cloths make the person.

Though Fiona Adams mentions the dark recent history called the "dirty war" (1976-1983) where30,000 "disappeared" and the military governmentoppressed its own populous she does not elucidate how this culture could foster such a government, or how this has affected the culture of today.She fails to say how the culture allowed years ofmassive ineptitudeamong corrupt government officials.Though the book is tagged "New, Expanded Edition" it is really a pre-2000 work, thus it doesn't consider how the economy sunk in the economic morass it is in today, nor does it talk about the effect on the society when the majority of all the people lost life savings in the financial collapse of 2001 (FYI: in 2002 the GDP was minus11%, Inflation was 41% and more than 37% of the population lived below the poverty line).

Though the guide is now dated, it is still has significant value and is a worthwhile primer on the culture.Fiona Adams does give you insight into the social customs, business etiquette, foods, football, and unique characteristics that you will find in Argentina.So should you buy it?Well, agood travel guide will also give you cultural insights (though not nearly as completely) and because of the date and what has happened in Argentina I would wait until Adams both revisits, and rewrites "Culture Shock!".Conditionally recommended.

An Excellent Travel Guide on Argentina
This 250+ page book had me glued. Generally, I don't read enthusiastically as I get distracted or bored during the process. I finished this in 3 days which for me, is miraculous. Fiona offers practical advice and her style is written in a way that it feels as if she's talking to you about the customs, scenery, people, do's and don't, traditions, history, and idiosyncracies of Argentina. I really appreciated statistics, detailed yet undaunting explanations of aspects of Argentine culture. As I'm heading to Argentina, this book has me so excited about my trip, I find myself restless, hyper, and filled with excitement like a "trasnochador."
Although you may need tour guides for specifics (such as for hotel bookings), this is a great supplemental guide on Buenos Aires and Argentina to give you an overall feel of the climate of this great country.

The sense of humor, seriousness, usefulness, and fun within the pages of this book makes this the best travel guide I've ever read.

Just the ticket for American travelers
My husband and I recently took a trip to Argentina, reading this book before we went, and bringing it along to reference while we were there. With the obvious exception of economic information (the economic crisis there wasn't in full swing until after this book was published), the information presented was dead on. Because of it, we were way ahead of the game in terms of understanding the local customs, habits, and manners, and we felt much more at ease in this new environment than many of our fellow travellers did. The book is written in a clear and amusing way, making the fascinating Argentinian culture acessable to all. One would expect a certian amount of the information to be out of date, but even so it seemed pretty accurate, right down to some of the popular rock musicians. A must read for anyone planning on a trip there! ... Read more

Product Description
Argentina, one of the most dynamic societies in Latin America, is known for its impressive level of cultural production. This examination of the social and cultural institutions of Argentine society contains a series of comprehensive and informative essays that focus on the most important forms of cultural production in terms of major works, major artists, and major venues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

no thanks
not enough in this book to review or to accompany me on my argentinean trip, where i currently am traveling. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is suitable for children of ages 9-14. The mixture of different traditions brought by immigrants has created a rich variety of cultural life in Argentina. This book celebrates its nation's symbols - the gaucho and the tango, as well as other important cultural aspects of Argentina including religion, festivals, folk art, language, and literature. The topics include: many cultures into one; religion, holidays, and festivals; Argentine arts, music, and the tango; clothing and food; gaucho culture; language and literature; and, a folktale - the fox and the armadillo. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Comprehensive and Wide Ranging
A good reader.It has a good mix of material about Argentina.It's not something you sit and read cover to cover, but it's got an interesting collection of materials. Nicely bound as well.

The Argentina Reader
This is a nice collection of historical work, including speeches, articles and poetry.The work is structured chronologically and most pieces are written by historical Argentine figures including Juan Peron, Jose de San Martin, Juan Manuel del Rosas, etc.But also folks like Che Guevara, Charles Darwin, and the National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons.Nicely done with excellent historical preambles for each Chapter and introductions for each article.The downside is at 580 page this is a rather weighty tomb and not great for the plane, more a beside reference.Excellent for those wanting a different, eclectic spin on Argentine history. ... Read more

Product Description
Take readers on a fascinating tour of Argentina from its near-tropical forest in the north and arid desert in the south to the lofty Andes mountains in the west. Glorious full-color photos show its breathtaking landscape and many wonders as well as its weather, plants, animals, farming, and industry. ... Read more

Product Description
Argentina's rich history is explored as a Spanish colony and on the rocky road to independence and democracy. Candid photos reveal what daily life is like in the city and in the village, how children are educated, what people wear, and how they spend their leisure time. ... Read more

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This is a fascinating history of how psychoanalysisbecame an essential element of contemporary Argentine culture-in the media, in politics, and in daily private lives. The book reveals the unique conditions and complex historical process that made possible the diffusion, acceptance, and popularization of psychoanalysis in Argentina, which has the highest number of psychoanalysts per capita in the world. It shows why the intellectual trajectory of the psychoanalytic movement was different in Argentina than in either the United States or Europe and how Argentine culture both fostered and was shaped by its influence.

The book starts with a description of the Argentine medical and intellectual establishments' reception of psychoanalysis, and the subsequent founding of the Argentine Psychoanalytic Association in 1942. It then broadens to describe the emergence of a "psy culture" in the 1960s, tracing its origins to a complex combination of social, economic, political, and cultural factors. The author then analyzes the role of "diffusers" of psychoanalysis in Argentina-both those who were part of the psychoanalytic establishment and those who were not.

The book goes on to discuss specific areas of reception and diffusion of psychoanalytic thought: its acceptance by progressive sectors of the psychiatric profession; the impact of the psychoanalytically oriented program in psychology at the University of Buenos Aires; and the incorporation of psychoanalysis into the theoretical artillery of the influential left of the 1960s and 1970s. Finally, the author analyzes the effects of the military dictatorship, established in 1976, on the "psy" universe, showing how it was possible to practice psychoanalysis in a highly authoritarian political context. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Insight!
Great insight into Argentine psychoanalysis. Author has a good pulse on the Argentine personality & describes it with witty anecdotes & observations. It's helped me to better understand my families views towards psychotherapy...yes...they're Argentine=)

First book to examine the phenomenon of Freud in Argentina
What an enigmatic country Argentina is: a South American country with a largely Spanish and Italian-descended citizenry that looks to France for cultural inspiration in architecture. A country that was poised at the beginning of the 20th century to take its place as a true world power, only to have its economy collapse and looting break out in its urban centers this last year. "The failure of Argentina as a nation," said The New Republic in 1978, "is the biggest political mystery of this century."

And now the puzzle that, counter to the anti-Freudian backlash that has swept the United States over the past two decades, the works of Sigmund Freud are largely gospel in Argentina. Anyone who questions the existence of the Oedipus complex, the author notes, may be treated by "Portenos" (citizens of Buenos Aires) the way a man questioning the virginity of Mary might be treated by the Pope. Argentine love for psychoanalysis has even spilled out into all of Latin America, and the "Argentine psychoanalyst" is so common in Madrid and Barcelona that it has become a stereotype. How did psychoanalysis become so entrenched in Argentine culture that budgeting for sessions is as reasonable to the average citizen as budgeting for food? It is the difficult task of this book to explain the development of this unexpected phenomenon.

Well-written, though a tad dry in some places, this book is the first of it's kind - the first to explore the emergence of the work of Freud as a central cultural force in Argentine thought, speech, and even newspaper editorials. And it is therefore indispensable to anyone interested the culture of this colorful country. Most interesting is the description of the governmental reaction to the spread of psychoanalysis; repressed during the first Peronist eras, the language of psychoanalysis was recently used by generals in addressing the nation regarding the state of the "disappeared" of the Dirty War of the late 70s and early 80s; he spoke of working through the grief process and the trauma that had been done to the Argentine "collective unconscious." The author notes that even some military men are now known to lie on a coach and talk about their dreams. ... Read more

Product Description
With over three million copies in print, CultureShock! is a dynamic and indispensable range of guides covering countless destinations around the world. The series is especially intended for travellers who are looking to truly understand the countries they are visiting and who might even consider residing there. Each title contains invaluable advice for the traveller to adapt seamlessly into the local environment and is packed with useful details on transportation, taxes, accommodation, health, shopping and festivals. Additionally, each book provides concise insights into the history, language, cuisine and business practises of each country, as well as explaining the customs, traditions and social etiquette in a lively and informative style. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Opposite World?
I bought this book before coming to Argentina but never read it. Now after nearly two years in Buenos Aires I picked it up to see what it had to say. I was shocked to find how inaccurate it was. Under fitting into society it casually mentions how you might need to get used to someone lighting up a cigarette in line in a supermarket, which has been prohibited for many years here. It says you can call your taxi driver, waiter, or a stranger, Che. If you do that, in each of those circumstances people will consider you disrespectful or poorly educated. Che should be used under circumstances where you are familiar with the person. The section on flirting is the most difficult to swallow. Don't expect people to be flirting with you everywhere you turn. Argentina is more gregarious than parts of the USA, but it's a complicated subject, and one which I am not an authority on, but I'm knowledgeable enough to know the book is not accurate on flirting.The book's perspective on skiing here is, well -odd. According to the book you might get stood up for an important meeting because of good skiing conditions (Las Leñas & Bariloche are an airplane flight from Buenos Aires). And people at the slopes ditch skiing if the conditions aren't great to sip hot cocoa, stay up till dawn and don't get to the slopes before the afternoon. These are very odd comments, and don't really make sense as you read them.

"There's a relatively new service called PagoFacil..." -That has been around for years.-Further evidence that this book needs a major overhaul. How PagoFacil & RapiPago work or don't and the difficulty of paying a bill here would be worth reading.

These are not just my experiences, or those of my family from here, but also of my friends who also were born and raised here.

Maybe the book just needs a major updating to catch up to the times. There are a lot of differences that one should know about if they are planning to live here. It would be nice if this book did a better job as a primer.

Not the best, not the worst
Inaccuracies here, but not too bad, in general. Many entertaining parts, but fact-check with an Argentino.

Great Read
This book reads extremely smoothly and is not a dull travel guide.The book starts with a brief history on the country then breaks up Argentine culture into different parts.The author constantly reinforces important aspects and repeatedly uses key Argentine words or phrases to help remember.It also contains a good list of words and phrases used in Buenos Aires.

This book is less of a travel guide and more of an essay on modern culture and is a great supplement to a more specific travel guide. ... Read more

Product Description
"En una palabra" is a unique interactive tool to help students learn about Spanish culture while increasing vocabulary and listening skills. Students experience the program through a series of video segments in which fifteen residents of Cordoba - of varying ages and sociocultural backgrounds - define the same ten concepts: amigos (friends); familia (family); trabajo (work); pais (country); libertad (freedom); exito (success); orgullo (pride); individualismo (individualism); ambicion (ambition); and felicidad (happiness). While these words are easily translatable into any language, the definitions offered by the speakers reveal the diverse nature of culture and how words convey individual and collective values, which are not always obvious. This program is a resource flexible enough to fit into almost any curriculum, by setting appropriate tasks and expectations. Words like trabajo, familia, and amigos represent concepts that are an integral part of most first-year college textbooks, while individualismo, libertad, and ambicion lend themselves to more abstract thinking appropriate for second-year and advanced courses.Especially for students at the intermediate level and beyond, "En una palabra" can assist in understanding how cultural values are reflected in a language. The CD-ROM includes the following features to assist students' cultural comprehension: transcription of each video; selective glossary; information about Cordoba, Argentina and its region; web links for further exploration; information about the local dialect; easy navigation; and navigational and technical help on the CD-ROM. There is also a free, online instructor's manual that offers suggestions for using the CD-ROM in the classroom at different levels. The content is presented entirely in Spanish and plays on both PCs and Macs, using the free program QuickTime. Language labs that purchase a copy of "En una palabra, Cordoba, Argentina" will automatically receive rights to post an electronic copy of the CD-ROM on a secure (password protected) network for use by current students and faculty at their institution; and loan the number of purchased copies to students. ... Read more

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Each book in the unique Culture Shock. serie s provides travellers with a practical guide to the culture, customs, traditions and society of the featured country. ' ... Read more

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The importance of cultural perspectives for enhancing the comprehension of A2 texts has been widely acknowledged by theorists and researchers in the field. This book reports part of the results of a broader study whose specific aim was to describe the comprehension of the cultural content of a literary narrative text through response writing tasks and visual reformulations. About 200 Argentine college students voluntarily participated in the study. The chosen selection to be read described a celebration in a Native American context from an outsider perspective. The difficulty this population revealed in approaching otherness manifested itself in the abundance of stereotyped perspectives about the Native Americans in the written tasks produced. ... Read more

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Susan and Peter Calvert present an account of Argentina, the eighth largest country in the world, blessed with immense natural resources but which has so far failed to justify expectations. The cultural and political heritage is examined to help explain the political instability and economic underdevelopment of the country. Culture, Catholicism, liberalism and personalism are among the influences discussed. Peter Calvert has also written "The Process of Political Succession". ... Read more

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Some theorists claim that democracy cannot work without trust. According to this argument, democracy fails unless citizens trust that their governing institutions are serving their best interests. Similarly, some assert that democracy works best when people trust one another and have confidence that politicians will look after citizen interests. Questioning such claims, Democracy and the Culture of Skepticism, by Matthew Cleary and Susan Stokes, suggests that skepticism, not trust, is the hallmark of political culture in well-functioning democracies.

Drawing on extensive research in two developing democracies, Argentina and Mexico, Democracy and the Culture of Skepticism shows that in regions of each country with healthy democracies, people do not trust one another more than those living in regions where democracy functions less well, nor do they display more personal trust in governments or politicians. Instead, the defining features of the healthiest democracies are skepticism of government and a belief that politicians act in their constituents' best interest only when it is personally advantageous for them to do so. In contrast to scholars who lament what they see as a breakdown in civic life, Cleary and Stokes find that people residing in healthy democracies do not participate more in civic organizations than others, but in fact, tend to retreat from civic life in favor of private pursuits. The authors conclude that governments are most efficient and responsive when they know that institutions such as the press or an independent judiciary will hold them accountable for their actions.

The question of how much citizens should trust politicians and governments has consumed political theorists since America's founding. In Democracy and the Culture of Skepticism, Matthew Cleary and Susan Stokes test the relationship between trust and the quality of governance, showing that it is not trust, but vigilance and skepticism that provide the foundation for well-functioning democracies. ... Read more

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The woman question was a subject of discussion in post-independence Buenos Aires, reflected in the press and in the book world where writers contemplated the nature, role and status of women, linking the subject to topics such as political transition, reform, modernisation, regional conflict and patriotic culture. This examination of a varied body of works dating from the 1820s, consisting of pamphlets, a history book, conduct literature and periodical literature, demonstrates the impact of transatlantic print networks such as the book trade, and translations from Britain, France, and Spain. Developing our understanding of the post-independence cultural landscape, the study investigates a hitherto unexamined debate that was at the heart of state building in Buenos Aires. It simultaneously challenges traditional male-centred accounts of the period and serves as a counterpoint to historic feminist approaches to print culture. ... Read more