Product Description
You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices and making friends. There are tips on political traditions, building business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or office.Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great culture book
If your interest in Indonesia and its culture goes beyond what can be read in the tourist brochures, then this book is definitely for you.In a very entertaining way, it explains about the culture, habits and beliefs of the Indonesian people, and it includes a funny Cultural Quiz at the end.Highly recommended.

Easy-to-read guide for traveler or expat
Indonesian culture?A bit like saying Western culture... a rather broad term.But this book acknowledges that right away and does an admirable job of isolating the most important manners for visitors to know and use.

Thebook's practical tips are especially useful, and these are organized withfinger-tip simplicity (Do's and Don't's appendix is great), making thisbook easy to consult at a moment's notice.Business section and home helpsection ("Translating Needs into Action") are especially helpful.

There are also meaty and interesting sections about Indonesian values,social structure, and food.It's a good read, will serve well the traveleror expat.

Cultural quiz at the end, a test so silly no one could failit, is the only negative to this guide.

Great book for expatriates
This was one of the first books I purchased when I discovered we were going to be posted to Jakarta, Indonesia. Now almost 3 years later, I find that I still enjoy reading this book and have found its examples of everyday life to be accurate. The book is very informative and many of itsstories are humerous which enables an easy read. I highly recommend thisbook to anyone who is planning a move to Indonesia and even to those whoare just planning a trip.

Both humorous and informative
Indeed a very helpful and informative book for understanding Indonesian people and culture.Haveing spent almost two years living and working in Indonesia I found myself referring to this book often.I found myselfexplaining to my fellow expatriates why certain things happened the waythey do in this country often referring to things I read.From conductingbusiness to accomplishing everyday tasks, this book offers excellentexample and explantions.Definately a book for expatraites living inIndonesia, business travellers, but also beneficial to the travellerwanting to ascertain a deeper, more sincere understanding of Indonesianpeople and culture. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Indonesia Reader
Its not a history book; but a collections or snippits of informations, the average reader would get a very brief overview of Indonesia. Just a wetting of the tongue; and a shallow view. Read PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER (Buru Quartet - 4 books) and then this book. ... Read more

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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 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Useful Quick Reference
A good reference overall that packs a lot of information in a small volume. While history is an important factor in understanding culture, too many pages were spent on it, and in some cases, seemed repetitive. It is a good primer reference, a handy travel ready reference, or good refresher. I recommend it for business travelers. ... Read more

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Home to approximately one-fifth of the world’s Muslim population, Indonesia and Malaysia are often overlooked or misrepresented in media discourses about Islam. Islam is a religion but there is also a popular culture, or popular cultures of Islam that are mass mediated, commercialized, pleasure-filled, humorous, and representative of large segments of society. During the last forty years, popular forms of Islam, targeted largely towards urbanized youth, have played a key role in the Islamisation of Indonesia and Malaysia. This book focuses on these forms and the accompanying practices of production, circulation, marketing, and consumption of Islam. Dispelling the notion that Islam is monolithic, militaristic, and primarily Middle Eastern, the book emphasizes its dynamic, contested, and performative nature in contemporary South East Asia. Written by leading scholars alongside media figures, such as Rhoma Irama and Ishadi SK, the case studies although not focused on theology per se, illuminate how Muslims (and non-Muslims) in Indonesia and Malaysia make sense of their lives within an increasingly pervasive culture of Islamic images, texts, film, songs, and narratives.

Product Description
During Suharto's New Order (1966-1998), the ethnic Chinese expanded the nation's economy (and their own wealth), but, paradoxically, were marginalised and discriminated against in all social spheres: culture, language, politics, entrance to state-owned universities, and public service and public employment. Following the fall of Suharto, and the anti-Chinese riots in May 1998, Indonesia underwent a process of 'Reformasi' and democratisation, whereby for the first time in several decades Chinese culture became more visible. Many ethnic Chinese took advantage of the new democratic space to establish political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and action groups to fight for the abolition of discriminatory laws, defend their rights and promote solidarity between ethnic groups in Indonesia. They utilised the 'Reformasi' atmosphere to promote pluralism and multiculturalism, and to liberate their long-suppressed identity and cultural heritage.This book sets out to unpack the complex meanings of 'Chineseness' in post-1998 Indonesia, including the ways in which the policy of multiculturalism enabled such a 'resurgence', the forces that shaped it and the possibilities for 'resinicisation'.The author examines how ethnic Chinese self-identify, and investigates how the pribumi 'Other' has contributed to identifying the ethnic boundary in terms of 'race' and class. A unique aspect of the study is its discussion of the complexities of cultural crossing, borrowing and mixing experience of Chinese-Indonesians through localisation and globalisation. ... Read more

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This two-volume set is completely self-contained, providing clear explanations of all basic grammar points.It may be used as a comprehensive series of lessons conducted by an instructor or for self-study. Extensive notes on usage and etiquette as well as copious practical examples make it suitable as an in-depth introduction to both the language and the culture of Indonesia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

I Love This Book
This has to be one of the very best language-study books ever written. I particularly like the way it helps you learn vocabulary. It gives you a long list of new words in every chapter, but it doesn't simply let you sink or swim after that. Instead, it follows up with abundant drills by repetition, until the words, and their proper usage in plausible sentences, are practically branded into your memory.

For me, at least, this seems to be the most effective way to learn a foreign language. I am tempted to recommend this book even to language buffs who are not particularly interested in Indonesian, because it is that good. It is so effective that you can't help but learn, and learn comprehensively. It is calculated to turn a merely casual interest in Indonesian into devotion.

I enjoy learning languages, and I only wish that more language books would follow this one's technique. I started out trying to learn Indonesian from the book entitled "Teach Yourself Indonesian," but was soon discouraged. Try this instead.

Indsonesian 2
As with the first order, the book came in new condition and is easy to use.

Demanding introduction that is worth the effort
No pretenses are made that this book is written for the serious student. If you are just looking to spend a few weeks in Bali and want to pick up some phrases to get by, this is not the language book for you. There is in fact very little material in the book that would be useful to the average tourist. The goal of this book is to help the motivated student build a strong foundation in Indonesian grammar. It is assumed that you will read more on your own as your understanding of the grammatical structure of the Indonesian language enables you to do so. Vocabulary will therefore be built by repeatedly referring to dictionaries.

What I like most about the book is its step wise towards helping students master increasingly complicated sentence structures. I took the author's advice to heart and mastered the material page by page. As I look back, I am actually surprised at how far I have come from where I had begun. Even though you probably cannot read an article from say [...] without painfully looking up the majority of the words from a dictionary after finishing book one, it becomes possible to do so whereas it would have been very unlikely for those who have not been introduced to the Indonesian language to get the sense of what the text in any news article says.

It is a great text for those who care to make the long journey.

Good book to learn but a bit unorganized and random
This book has a wealth of information in it, and I am sure I will learn a great deal of bahasa indonesia with it, however I feel as though the organization in the book is lacking.The vocabulary is spilled at you at the beginning of each chapter and sometimes the words are somewhat related to a common theme but more often than not they are not.The book has many of the words in Indonesian in the back with a glossary which only goes from Indonesian-English.However there are many words that the book uses which are not in the back, leaving the learner clueless as to what they mean without having the aid of a dictionary.I feel that a grammar book should include all the words it uses in the back in a glossary from the language to English and vice versa ESPECIALLY with a language with such long and interesting spellings as many of the words in bahasa indonesia have.If you are willing to work with the style (which I don't particularly care for) I think you will learn though.PLUS remember there aren't very many other choices out there for you outside of this and TY Indonesian.This book is a standard in many universities for Indonesian programs around the world, so it does deserve credit.I will continue using it since I don't have much else from which to choose.I think with a good dictionary and a little work to organize the topics in such a way that you learn better from it this book would be much better than it is as is.

Best Bahasa Indonesia learning book available!
I'm really satisfied with this book! After three months of self-study, I was already able to communicate about everyday life issues in Bahasa Indonesia!
It's well articulated and well done, really! You shouldn't miss this book!
A+! ... Read more

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Indonesia comprises more than 17,000 islands stretching on either side of the equator for nearly 4,000 miles and hundreds of ethnic groups with almost 300 languages spoken. This book reveals the remarkable social, religious, and geographical differences that exist from island to island. Because of such variety, Indonesia defies simple categorizations. Europeans have produced most of the written histories of this region, although Indonesians have contributed much. Culture and Customs of Indonesia reveals something of local people's ideas of their identities and pasts as well.

Indonesian cultures covered include those of forest-dwelling hunters, rice growers, fisherfolk, village artisans, urban office and factory workers, intellectuals, artists, wealthy industrialists, street vendors, and homeless people. Readers will learn about the amazing range of belief systems, material culture, and arts that enliven Indonesia. Forshee describes the majestic temples, complex poetry and literature, lavish theatrical performances, and splendid visual arts and more that have distinguished Indonesia for centuries and continue into the present. Indonesians are shown to be constantly reinterpreting and refining their cultures in the modern world.

Customer Reviews (1)

Very well-written and informative
Very well-written and informative in ways that most text books usually are not. Basic information about a range of cultures and locations and discussions of topics relevant today. Rich in arts and cultural knowledge. This is a nice synthesis about Indonesia for undergraduates or those wanting to read more than a tourist guide book would include. Definitely the best book of this series. Highly recommended. ... Read more

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Increased interest in Indonesian culture and politics is reflected in this work's effort to advance and reject various notions of what it means to be Indonesian. It also addresses perceptions of how Indonesia's citizens and state officials should interact. Because, in recent times, the Indonesian state has been so strong, much of the book is about state-sanctioned and state-supported notions of Indonesian identity and culture and efforts to come to terms with -- or sometimes to challenge these official or dominant notions.

The contributions presented here represent a wide range of disciplines, points of view, and ideological orientations. Taken together they convey the notion that much might be gained if the idea were abandoned that a single understanding of what constitutes Indonesian culture is possible or desirable. ... Read more

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Every political aspirant and activist knows the media are important. But there is little agreement on how an increasingly diversified media operate in post-authoritarian transitions and how they might promote, or impede, the pathways to a sustainable liberal democracy in the 21st century.  This book examines the role of the media during Indonesia’s longest experiment with democratisation. It addresses two important and related questions: how is the media being transformed, both in terms of its structure and content, by the changing political economy of Indonesia after the fall of Suharto? And what is the potential impact of this media in enabling or hampering the development of democracy in Indonesia?

The book explores the relation between the working of democratisation, by examining the role of ethnic identity and nationalism; increasingly cheaper and diversified means of media production, challenging state monopolies of the media; the reality of personalised and globalised media; and the challenging of the connection between a free media and democracy by global capitalism and corporate control of the media. The book argues that the dominant forces transforming Indonesia today did not arise from the singular point of Suharto’s resignation, but from a set of factors which are independent from, but linked to, Indonesia’s internal politics and which shape its cultural industries.

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In this lively book, Benedict R. O'G. Anderson explores the cultural andpolitical contradictions that have arisen from two critical facts in Indonesianhistory: that while the Indonesian nation is young, the Indonesian nationis ancient originating in the early seventeenth-century Dutch conquests;and that contemporary politics are conducted in a new language. BahasaIndonesia, by peoples (especially the Javanese) whose cultures are rooted inmedieval times. Analyzing a spectrum of examples from classical poetry topublic monuments and cartoons, Anderson deepens our understanding of theinteraction between modern and traditional notions of power, the mediationof power by language, and the development of national consciousness.Language and Power, now republished as part of Equinox Publishing's ClassicIndonesia series, brings together eight of Anderson's most influential essaysover the past two decades and is essential reading for anyone studying theIndonesian country, people or language.Benedict Anderson is one of the world's leading authorities on Southeast Asiannationalism and particularly on Indonesia. He is Professor of InternationalStudies and Director of the Modern Indonesia Project at Cornell University,New York. His other works include Imagined Communities: Reflectionson the Origin and Spread of Nationalism and The Spectre of Comparisons: Nationalism, Southeast Asia, and the World. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must Read Book To Begin Understanding Indonesian Politics
Within his collection of essays in this book, Anderson explores the underlying cultures of Indonesian politics. He ties back the political atmosphere of Indonesia to the social values of the most dominant culturein Indonesia, the Javanese culture. These essays were written prior to 1984(mostly in the late 60's), but their contents relate well even to thepresent political scenes of Indonesia.

As an American citizen withIndonesian ancestry, I find that this book would help anyone who isinterested in learning the complexity of Indonesia's sociopolitical arena.A lot of misunderstandings about Indonesia's politics can be cleared byreading this book. This book does not talk about the current politicalscenes, rather it explains the origins of political values that aredominant in Indonesia even today. ... Read more

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The island nation of Indonesia -- the largest and most populous country in Southeast Asia -- balances equal parts of custom and change. As gleaming skyscrapers rise in major cities, traditional design and ways of living remain extremely important. This visual paean to Indonesia's visual and artistic culture is both a wonderful source of design inspiration and a fascinating armchair tour of the multifaceted nation. Lavish new color photography of houses and interiors, bazaars and markets, mosques and temples, festivals and celebrations, shadow puppet theater and masked dance, gives the reader a sense of daily life in Indonesia.

The book is divided into four major island regions: Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Bali. At the heart of each is a presentation of houses, more than twenty in all. The house in Indonesia, as in many other countries, is considered a complete environment. The many faces of residential design shown in the book, from humble cottages in agricultural areas to royal palaces, evoke personal stylistic sensibilities, encompassing both age-old local traditions and contemporary trends with a Southeast Asian flair. Furnishings, fabrics, objects -- all are featured as part of these remarkable works. Interviews with the owners and detailed commentary offer a comprehensive insider's tour of the principles of Indonesian design. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent
Beautiful photography! Going to Indonesia or even if you have been there, this book capturesIndonesia like no other book I pick up since I was there in January of 1998. ... Read more

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This book shows how colonial representations have been revived and rearticulated in postcolonial Indonesia. It shows how one might write a political history of postcolonial cultures of the present without neglecting the importance of the colonial past. In the process, it poses serious questions about the relevance of contemporary postcolonial theory and criticism for the analysis and understanding of postcolonial states. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

somewhat disappointing
incredibly good theme; structure seems acceptable, illustrations usually efficient, quotations well chosen. But then it is so much about commenting the author`s own intentions, and far too little about the subject. Writing three pages about what will be dealt with in the chapter, one more about the structure of the chapter, and two pages about what has been purportedly demonstrated on the chapter, is not enough for a 20 pages chapter that actually fails to demonstrate anything, but the author's ability to rephrase those he quotes. ... Read more

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Media, Culture, and Politics in Indonesia is about the institutions and policiesthat determine what Indonesians write, read, watch, and hear. It covers theprint media, broadcast radio and television, computers and the internet,videos, films and music. This book argues that the texts of the media can beunderstood in two broad ways:. as records of a "national" culture and political hegemony constructed bySuharto's New Order. as contradictory, dissident, political and cultural aspirations that reflectthe anxieties and preoccupations of Indonesian citizens.Media, Culture, and Politics, now brought back to life as a member ofEquinox Publishing's Classic Indonesia series, explains what has escapedstate control, not only by self-conscious resistance, but also because of theownership patterns, technologies, and modes of consumption of media textsand institutions. The role of the media in the downfall of Suharto is examinedand the legacy of his New Order is analyzed.This dynamic and innovative text is suitable for all students of Indonesianlanguages and culture, Asian studies, Southeast Asian studies, cultural studies,media studies, and contemporary politics.Krishna Sen is Professor of Asian Media and Dean of the Humanities ResearchCentre at Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western AustraliaDavid T. Hill is Professor of Southeast Asian Studies and Fellow of the AsiaResearch Centre, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia ... Read more

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Introduces the geography, history, government, commerce, people, and culture of Indonesia. ... Read more

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In the mid-1990s, the formerly pliant Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) was transformed into an active opposition party by Megawati Sukarnoputri (now President of Indonesia). The subsequent backlash from the Suharto regime ultimately led to its downfall. ... Read more

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Art as Politics explores the intersection of art, identity politics, and tourism in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Based on long-term ethnographic research from the 1980s to the present, the book offers a nuanced portrayal of the Sa'dan Toraja, a predominantly Christian minority group in the world's most populous Muslim country. Celebrated in anthropological and tourism literatures for their spectacular traditional houses, sculpted effigies of the dead, and pageantry-filled funeral rituals, the Toraja have entered an era of accelerated engagement with the global economy marked by on-going struggles over identity, religion, and social relations.

In her engaging account, Kathleen Adams chronicles how various Toraja individuals and groups have drawn upon artistically-embellished "traditional" objects--as well as monumental displays, museums, UNESCO ideas about "word heritage," and the World Wide Web--to shore up or realign aspects of a cultural heritage perceived to be under threat. She also considers how outsiders--be they tourists, art collectors, members of rival ethnic groups, or government officials--have appropriated and reframed Toraja art objects for their own purposes. Her account illustrates how art can serve as a catalyst in identity politics, especially in the context of tourism and social upheaval.

Ultimately, this insightful work prompts readers to rethink persistent and pernicious popular assumptions--that tourism invariably brings a loss of agency to local communities or that tourist art is a compromised form of expression. Art as Politics promises to be a favorite with students and scholars of anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, ethnic relations, art, and Asian studies.

"The unusual richness and appeal of this insightful book unfold in layers, delightful to read yet theoretically sophisticated. Attentive to the ironies, entanglements, and serendipities of life, Adams demonstrates through prose and photographs the changing worlds of Toraja individuals and their artistic productions. Her deeply perceptive, epic account has so much to say that it leaves no room for jargon. She offers instead a mature, refreshingly honest, engaging approach that dynamically illuminates the intricate interconnections between arts and society in the contemporary world. An anthropology of art for these times, Art as Politics meticulously draws from scholarly works while building on the richness of its own history." --Jill Forshee, author of Between the Folds: Stories of Cloth, Lives, and Travels from Sumba ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book on Indonesian art!
This is a fascinating book on studying the art of an Indonesian group and how it relates to politics. The author also shares a lot about her fieldwork, how she got the information she did and what daily life was like when she was doing her research there.A must-read for anyone who ever wondered what it would be like to be an anthropologist studying another group!

Wonderful, Well-written Book
This is a thoughtful academic book that is fascinating to read.Seldom do scholars treat their subject with such a personal touch and still attain a high academic level. Adams shows clearly and in a highly readable fashion how the Toraja are able to use their art as a vehicle for political expression. Adams includes lot of nuanced insight in her pages, showing the intricate ways in which these highland people have adapted and preserved their culture despite the constant intrusions of the outside world.An outstanding book in every way.

Wonderful and unique book!
Kathleen Adams' finely written book especially proves the value of an anthropologist studying with and knowing a group of people over decades--thus creating a rich cultural epic. This is a complex yet very readable account of the mountain dwelling Sa'dan Toraja of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The author illuminates histories (from a number of views), the inevitable dynamism of art forms, and honest ethnographic experiences. She brings to life the people in her book withinintricate stories reflecting the pressures of history-- brilliantly linking art and life through the changes of time. This is an anthropology of art and of an Indonesian people that deeply resonates today. Rich in description and humanity, meticulous in references, theoretically sophisticated, and many-layered in meanings, the book is also refreshingly lively and engaging in writing style. A welcome break from overly jargonistic books that seem to be written for ten people to read. Anyone interested in learning of other cultures, Indonesia, the people of Toraja, artistic processes, the workings of history, good story-telling, and impressive cultural anthropology will enjoy this book. Really a gem.

Shows the poltics of Toraja art in a verrrryyyy slow and pointless way
first off, I must say that the topic itself is not that bad, the author tries to demonstrate how the art of the Toraja people of Indonesians has been politicized (even though i disagree with her methods, she really brings too much personal emotion into her research).but i must say that the book seems to just keep on going on about something that could have been written about in half the length.she reuses the same concepts and experiences to create new chapters.....pretty disappointed

fascinating book on Indonesian Toraja artists
Art as Politics is a thought provoking and very readable account of how tourism, world religions, and Indonesian politics have changed the lives and culture of the Toraja. (The Toraja people are a minority ethnic group on the island of Sulawesi.) What first attracted my attention was the striking carved portrait on the cover. The artistic skill of the Toraja artisans is truly noteworthy which gives this book a particular importance in understanding how culture shapes art. Adams describes in warm and vivid detail the changes the Toraja have faced over the past two decades and how this has affected their artistic productions as well as their attitudes about their art. In addition, the production quality of the color photos and other illustrations is praiseworthy. One thing that modern Western culture has obscured about art is the importance of social-cultural constraints and rewards. In the West we follow along with Romantic notions of Art as the product of the isolated genius. However, art generally was and probably still is mostly produced to serve social and religious purposes.Adams describes the complexities of the Toraja attitudes about their art and culture in the sometimes traumatic interplay of tradition and modern society that Indonesia has experienced since the 70s. While interested in the art of other cultures, I have only taken one college anthropology course, yet I had no difficulty following the points expressed. The people in this book really come alive and the author has a very readable and involving manner of expression. Armchair travelers, people interested in other cultures with strong religious traditions, and people interested in ethnic arts will love this book.

... Read more

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Landscapes of Emotion is a fascinating look at the cultural construction of emotions, examining how people in different cultures shape ideas and talk about emotion.The primary subjects of the book are the Minangkabau, a matrilineal Moslem culture of three million people in West Sumatra, Indonesia. ... Read more