Product Description

A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette in Turkey

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Customer Reviews (1)

More for residents than tourists
This book was not as helpful to us for our trip to Turkey as "Culture Shock--France" was before we went to France for the first time.There was some information on casual interactions, customs, and language that was helpful, but large parts of the book are aimed at people going there to live rather than as tourists.

If you are going to Turkey to live, even for a short time, I would highly recommend this book.If you are going for a brief tourist visit, most of the information you need for that is available elsewhere.

By the way, if you're reading this, you probably already know this, but there are a lot of misconceptions about Turkey.We loved it, people were friendly, it was not at all scary.I'm moved to add this because of the reactions we've gotten from some people when they hear we went to Turkey.Go ahead and go!Don't hesitate! Probably a tour is good for the first visit. ... Read more

Product Description
** Music in Turkey is one of several case-study volumes that can be used along with Thinking Musically, the core book in the Global Music Series. Thinking Musically incorporates music from many diverse cultures and establishes the framework for exploring the practice of music around the world. It sets the stage for an array of case-study volumes, each of which focuses on a single area of the world. Each case study uses the contemporary musical situation as a point of departure, covering historical information and traditions as they relate to the present. **

Music in contemporary Turkey is inextricably linked to the history of the Republic of Turkey and the complex histories of the Ottoman Empire and numerous other empires that preceded it. It is also an ideal avenue for introducing one of the most vibrant multicultural areas in the Middle East. Turkey is home to a rich variety of highly localized musical traditions--comprised of regional repertoires, instruments, performance practices, and dances--bound together by a strong sense of national identity. The first brief, stand-alone volume to explore the musical and cultural traditions of this region, Music in Turkey places the diverse sounds of the country (and the Middle East at large) in their social contexts.

Author Eliot Bates employs four themes in his survey of Turkish music:

* The role of music in forming a national consciousness about local and regional cultures
* How changes in musical meaning pertain to changes in contemporary Turkish society
* The process of arrangement, where technology is creatively used to revitalize and modernize traditional music
* How today's Anatolian musical instrument performance and construction are linked to local, regional, and national identities

The author draws on his extensive regional fieldwork, offering accounts of local performances, interviews with key performers, and vivid illustrations.

Music in Turkey is ideal for introductory undergraduate courses in world music or ethnomusicology and for upper-level courses on Middle Eastern music and/or culture. Packaged with a 70-minute CD containing musical examples, the text features numerous listening activities that actively engage students with the music. The companion website includes supplementary materials for instructors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Key Introduction to a World Music Crossroads
This first significant introduction to music of Turkey has a daunting mission, but Eliot Bates largely succeeds in the task. Turkey is a world crossroads with one foot in Europe, looking toward the Balkans and the Aegean, and the other in Asia, north to the Black Sea and Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, east to Iran and Iraq, south to Syria and the Mediterrean Levant. At least 46 ethnicities reside in Turkey, often in isolated villages, with their own language and musical variations. Although there are common features to Turkish music, how can a book of but some 125 pages help us understand the stylistic differences of each region, the older art song versus the modern adaptations of folk tunes, the complex rhythms (usul) of 9/8, 5/8, and 10/8 (which influenced jazz pianist Dave Brubeck), the various Middle Eastern instruments, and the political and historical influences? First, the book is dense in information and musical nomenclature, although easy to read. Second, it is accompanied with a 32-track, 70-minute CD of historic and modern examples that are discussed in detail. We learn of the Alevi, who are a religious people comprising about 15 to 20% of Turks, but not distinguished by the government (as also Kurds and Zazaki). Their religion (Shi'a Muslim with Zoroastrian and shamanistic roots) has its own music that is important in their communion. Turkish gypies and their own unique rhythmic and melodic variants are discussed. We read about the musical structure of soru-cevap, where the song is of two similar melodies that may or may not overlap during the course of the piece and is differentiated and emphasized by ornamentation, style, and note embellishments. The musical application of the various saz, tanbur, and oud lutes and fiddles are explained. Since Eliot has interest in recording production, we also follow him into the studio where engineering, arrangements, and instrument design are the topics. Such a wide survey requires repeated but rewarding reading. Even with a first browse, I learned much and was able to organize the sounds and instruments of the many Turkish recordings in my collection. Music, especially Anatolian folk traditions, has been governmentally regarded as important in achieving the national identity of Turkey, whose modern nationhood began in 1923. Restrictions on older Ottoman musics and art songs, with Arab, Persian, and European influences, have relaxed only recently, but as this book indicates, the variety of music in Turkey is so extensive (even hip-hop and rap have invaded) that only the gross rhythmic and melodic features will provide the common glue. I give this book top marks. It is a major addition to ethnomusicological literature and will be appreciated by world music fans. ... Read more

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
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Customer Reviews (3)

Not good.
Did not enjoy this.I felt like it's not updated at all.Wasted my money.

Must Read
I think this is the best guide for Turkey on the market. If you're going there you need to look at this book.

Essential for travels
If you are a casual traveler to Turkey or a serious one, these books are essential to read, to know the customs and habits of the country. It is not only useful, it is a courtesy you should show to ever country you step foot on their soil. We'd want people visiting America to know about us what this book tells us about Turkey. Read it, absorb it, and follow it. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the geography, history, government, economy, and culture of Turkey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

It covers it all
With lots of color photos this book covers Turkey from its geography, history, government, economy, the turks, lifestyles, religion, languages, arts, leisure, festivals to its foods and includes a map of Turkey...

pictures do not represent actual Turkey
Even though it is a short book, it talks about bunch of stuff from politics to the foods and informed its readers well. On the other hand, the pictures that were chosen are misrepresenting Turkey. All of them are from the east side of Turkey and generally poor people or street children. Well, this is not only this book's mistake, I observed this in tens of different books about Turkey. When the westerners see these pictures, they think that Turkish people are like Iranians, Iraqis or Afghans. They do not know that the majority of Turkish people look like Italians, French, Spanish or Americans. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

A good survey of literature though ethnographically not sound...
In terms of ethnographic merits this book may not meet expectations. However, it is a good review of developments in Turkish education after the 1980 coup, has a good list of references and its content/discourse analyses of the text books maybe very relevant for the interested parties... ... Read more

Product Description
Fragments of Culture explores the evolving modern daily life of Turkey. Through analyses of language, folklore, film, satirical humor, the symbolism of Islamic political mobilization, and the shifting identities of diasporic communities in Turkey and Europe, this book provides a fresh and corrective perspective to the often-skewed perceptions of Turkish culture engendered by conventional western critiques. In this volume, some of the most innovative scholars of post 1980sTurkey address the complex ways that suburbanization and the growth ofa globalized middle class have altered gender and class relations, andhow Turkish society is being shaped and redefined throughconsumption. They also explore the increasingly polarized culturalpolitics between secularists and Islamists, and the ways thatpreviously repressed Islamic elements have reemerged to complicate theidea of an "authentic" Turkish identity. Contributors examine a rangeof issues from the adjustments to religious identity as the Islamicveil becomes marketed as a fashion item, to the media's increasedattention in Turkish transsexual lifestyle, to the role of folk danceas a ritualized part of public life. Fragments of Culture shows howattention to the minutiae of daily life can successfully unravel thecomplexities of a shifting society. This book makes a significantcontribution to both modern Turkish studies and the scholarship oncross-cultural perspectives in Middle Eastern studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fine collection on contemporary life in Turkey
This volume is one of several very fine collections on contemporary Turkish culture and politics that has come out recently.Like most of them, there is a strong emphasis on urban living, and particularly, on Istanbul.This volume is particularly strong on issues of popular culture and its interaction with gender and class.While the essays are not not consistently strong, many are very useful for the classroom because they bring to life central questions in contemporary culture. Individuals with a scholarly interest in modern Turkey will almost certainly find something of value here.

Its contents include:

The new middle class and the joys of suburbia / Sencer Ayata -- The doorkeeper, the maid and the tenant: troubling encounters in the Turkish urban landscape / Gul ?zyegin -- Encounters at the counter: gender and the shopping experience / Ayse Durakbasa and Dilek Cindoglu -- Discipline, success and stability: the reproduction of gender and class in Turkish secondary education / Feride Acar and Ayse Ayata -- Playing games with names / Serif Mardin -- 'I dance folklore' / Arzu ?zt?rkmen -- The film does not end with an ecstatic kiss / Se?il B?ker -- Global consumerism, sexuality as public spectacle, and the cultural remapping of Istanbul in the 1990's / Ayse ?nc? -- The Islamist paradox / Jenny B. White -- The markets for identities: secularism, Islamism, commodities / Yael Navaro-Yashin -- 'We pray like you have fun': new Islamic youth in Turkey between intellectualism and popular culture / Ayse Saktanber -- Pink card blues: trouble and strife at the crossroads of gender / Deniz Kandiyoti -- A table in two hands / Ayse Simsek ?aglar -- Negotiating identities: media representation of different generations of Turkish migrants in Germany / Lale Yal?in-Heckmann.

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Customer Reviews (4)

Statistics gone crazy
I'm afraid I have to disagree with the other reviewers here who had nothing but great things to say about this book. It is really little more than a recitation of statistics, and lots of them. There is some analysis, but overall I found it to be a rather bland and uninspiring look into Turkish life. As a resource for statistics on just about anything you can imagine, this book is truly a gold mine, but it reads like an almanac or a CIA World Factbook report. I was really hoping for something more engrossing than this.

Everyone who plans to visit Turkey needs this book.
Turkey is an undiscovered jewel for many Americans. I have had the opportunity to lead groups to Turkey several times and to travel in all parts of the country on my own. Dr. Ergener has served as our guide several times. I have always encouraged the group members to buy his book because it provides the information one needs when traveling in Turkey. Now that the book is available on Amazon.com, I will be able to have tour members secure the book prior to the tour.

About Turkey
In these times of world tension and great misunderstanding about people of the Middle East, Dr. Ergener's book educated me about the culture and people of Turkey.I recommend this book to anyone who plans to travel to Turkey.But on a wider scope, I wish that all Americans could read "About Turkey" to increase their awareness about this wonderful country.I made a trip there last year and found that the people were warm and friendly, and that Turkey should be on everyone's travel list.I never realized just how much Turkey's history has impacted the rest of the world.Dr. Ergener's book addresses everything from Turkey's religions, to its history, to current-day politics and world affairs."About Turkey" is a wonderful, educational, timely read.

About Turkey - A Gem
If you want to know about Turkey this gem is the place to begin your journey. Dr. Ergener's clear and concise presentation spared me countless hours of research. He provides a broad perspective and insight into the character and concerns of modern Turkish society and the wondrously colorful mosaic that is Turkey. After reading this informative book I was well prepared to settle comfortably and quickly into my new neighborhood in the delightful old city of Istanbul.
Thank you Dr. Ergener. ... Read more

Product Description
Since the first century B.C., the rugged, mountainous region that stretches from the southern edge of the Balkan Peninsula to the western arm of Asia Minor has been at the heart of European civilization, influencing its costume and culture. From ancient Greece to the Byzantium and Ottoman empires, "Greece and Turkey" takes the reader through more than 2,000 years of European costume history. In this volume, you will find out about: life beneath the veil for women in the sultan's palace; why Greek men sometimes wore no clothes at all; how Byzantine spies stole the secret of silk from the Chinese; and, how nationalism and Westernization affected clothing in 19th-century Greece and Turkey. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

How Happy is the Person Who Says I am a Turk
There is one country in Europe where people feel nostalgic for the 1930s, and where they almost unanimously cherish the memory of a one-party state which multiplied statues of its great leader on every street corner. The country is Turkey and the golden age that Turks remember with nostalgia is the first two decades of the republic founded in 1923 by Mustapha Kemal, the father of all Turks. The climax of this era of bliss and hope occurred with the tenth anniversary celebrations of the declaration of the Turkish Republic, when Atatürk famously declared: "How happy is the person who says I am a Turk!"

Nostalgia is a thoroughly modern sentiment. Or maybe a postmodern one: it is fair to say that modernity ended with the end of hope for tomorrow. Since then, people have looked for their utopias in the past rather than in the future. As Esra Özyürek notes, quoting another author, the twentieth century began with a futuristic utopia and ended with nostalgia. A belief in the future is now only a relic of the past. What people look for in the past is the kind of pride and hope in the future that seems to have disappeared from our present.

By locating their modernity in the past, rather than in the present or future, and by cultivating a vivid memory of the 1930s as a modern past utopia in which the citizens united around their state, many Turks with a nationalist-secular worldview tend to reject the visions, revisions and divisions that characterize the present situation. They are discontent with the new definition of modernity that the European Union imposes on Turkey, becoming resistant to criticisms of the way Turkey has handled the Kurdish issue and human rights violations. They firmly oppose the rise of political Islam and what they perceive as attacks to the foundations of the secular state.

For nostalgic Republicans, the end of the single-party regime and the transition to democracy formed the starting point of selfishness and factionalism in Turkey. They agree that the golden age came to an end with the first fair general elections of 1950, when the Democrat Party replaced the Republican People's Party. Everything apparently got worse afterwards. Suddenly, there was more than one vision for the future of the country, and citizens were divided along the lines of gender, class, ethnicity, and religion. People started putting their private interest above the common good embodied by the state.

Of course, paradise is always and forever lost, and nobody in Turkey really wants to turn back the clock backward to the 1930s. The militaristic and patriarchal feelings associated with the early Republican era no longer match the contemporary ideals of European modernism, which promotes voluntarism, spontaneity, and free will in state-citizen relations. The nationalist march songs with lyrics glorifying the construction of railroad tracks and the devotion to the leader are revisited today with a new aesthetic of postmodern kitsch and disco rhythm. Nostalgia is also used to silence the opposition, as when the remix of nationalist songs blasted by discotheques compete with the calls to prayer of the muezzin.

In Nostalgia for the Modern, Esra Özyürek explores how nostalgia for the single-party era is indicative of a new kind of relationship citizens have established with the founding principles of the Turkish Republic, one that manifests itself in affective, domestic, and otherwise private realms generally considered outside the traditional field of politics. She takes as the sites of her ethnography the seventy-fifth anniversary Republic Day celebrations arranged by civil society organizations; the popular life histories of first-generation Republicans who transformed their lives as a result of the Kemalist reforms; the commercial pictures of Atatürk that privatize and commodify a state icon; the pop music albums that remixed the tenth-anniversary march originally made in 1933; and museum exhibits about the family lives of citizens that articulate metaphors of national intimacy.

Özyürek sees a parallel between the neoliberal policies of market reforms and structural adjustment and what she describes as the privatization of state ideology. Both are characterized by a symbolism of privatization, market choice, and voluntarism that contrasts with the statist, nationalist and authoritarian ideology of Kemalism in the former period. With neo-Kemalism, a secular state ideology, politics, and imaginary finds a new life and legitimacy in the private realms of the market, the home, civil society, life history, and emotional attachment, transforming the intimate sphere along the way.

This shift of secular ideology from the public to the private, which (just like neoliberal economic reforms) involves processes of destatization and restatization, occurred just at the same time as, and in reaction to, the growing importance in the public sphere of religious beliefs and practices that were once confined in the private realm. Secularism went private just when Islam went public, as both had to face the shift produced by market reforms and liberalization. This exploration of cultural imaginaries associated with the neoliberal ideology opens up new possibilities for political anthropology: according to the author, "anthropologists are uniquely equipped to understand the newly hegemonic culture of neoliberalism in the fields of economy, society and politics."

There is also an autobiographical aspect to this ethnography. For Esra Özyürek, fieldwork was intimately linked to family work. As she confesses, "I am the granddaughter of a parliamentarian of the single-party regime and the daughter of two staunch Kemalist and social democrat activists affiliated with the Republican People's Party." Raised as an orthodox Kemalist, her mother is a firm believer in Westernization, secularism, and Turkish nationalism. She doesn't hesitate to chastise her daughter for her sympathy with the cause of veiled university students. Her father is also a stalwart Republican who was elected to Parliament in the course of her research. Analyzing further her motivations for undertaking this project, the author notes that "this study became a tool for me to negotiate daughter-parent relations and establish myself as an adult in some ways." Coming of age as an anthropologist also involves dealing with the father-figure of Atatürk, whose towering presence makes itself felt in every chapters of the book.

Written as a scholarly essay with a rich theoretical apparatus, Nostalgia for the Modern can also be read as a very personal rendition of the author's effort to come to terms with her Turkish identity. ... Read more

Product Description

With exhaustive coverage on one of the world's most diverse and exciting countries, Culture and Customs of Turkey is an essential addition to high school and public library shelves. Illustrative accounts of past traditions help readers to understand contemporary culture today, covering such customs as religious beliefs, folklore, gender issues, art, performing arts, cuisine, and festivals. Students will learn how Turkey has become culturally rich and diverse, mixing Western and Eastern traditions to form a unique bridge between Europe and Asia. This latest volume in the Culture and Customs of Europe series is a must-have for high school students studying world history and culture, as well as for general readers interested in global hotspots.

Swirling with both Western and Eastern traditions, sitting on the edge of the war in the Middle East, Turkey is one of the world's cultural and political hotspots.With exhaustive coverage on one of the world's most diverse and exciting countries, Culture and Customs of Turkey is an essential addition to high school and public library shelves. Illustrative accounts of past traditions help readers to understand contemporary culture today, covering such customs as religious beliefs, folklore, gender issues, art, performing arts, cuisine, and festivals. Students will learn how Turkey has become culturally rich and diverse, mixing Western and Eastern traditions to form a unique bridge between Europe and Asia. This latest volume in the Culture and Customs of Europe series is a must-have for high school students studying world history and culture, as well as for general readers interested in global hotspots.

Customer Reviews (1)

The trickiest things about Turkey you may get from...
What I knew about Turkey before reading this book? Turkey seems to me as a bridge between East and West. Ancient Troy, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires - all these states existed on the territory of modern Turkey, as a result you may find here historical memorials of European and Asian civilizations, Islam and Christian sacred places, and meet the people of different cultures. Actually, that confused me much because I didn't have the whole systematic picture of Turkey in my mind.

Therefore, the most appealing characteristic of this book to me is that you can find here a lot of information collected and presented together that normally you should look for from different sites and mass-media. This book unites three hypostasis - a guide to the modern Turkey for a tourist or a fan of oriental cultures, an encyclopedia and a history textbook.

Nothing boring! The book is oriented for broad audience. The author vividly described modern Turkey and explained a course of things in different spheres such as history, politics, culture and customs, thoughts and religion, folklore and literature, cuisine, and even details on Turkish marriage and gender issues in this country. The text is illustrated with a bunch of photos that help you to get into the atmosphere of the country.

This book is a real "must have" if you are going to visit Turkey or to get familiar with this country. If you are providing any research or seeking for some specific information, you will be satisfied to find a convenient bibliography for each chapter located in the end of the book. Moreover the indexes include many cultural terms which makes your search easier.

Culture and Customs of Turkey
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Product Description
Turkish Odyssey is an unusual culture guide offering a clear, concise overview of Turkey and the Turkish people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Turkey travel
This book is well written and easy to read with ample photos and documentation. The copy I have does not have the CD.What I like about this book is that it does not cover a lot of info about lodging, transportation, restaurants, etc.It focuses on the history and culture of the primary places visited in Turkey.Great overview/background book.

Learn from a native son
Serif Yenen has created an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to learn about the history and culture of this fascinating country.While he provides the reader a thorough introduction to the long history of Turkey and an intimate orientation to the life and culture of modern-day Turks, the greatest value the author contributes is his palpable love for his country.The in-depth descriptions of the many interesting sites in Turkey would be an asset to any tourist who wishes to learn as much as possible from a visit to Turkey. Look elsewhere if you want to find a hotel to stay in, but study this book to learn about the country.

Cultural review a must if visiting Turkey
This Cultural review is a must if visiting Turkey! Many guide books exist on Turkey, but this cultural review gives in depth look at the history, culture, and people of this country. This guide is marvelous for those visiting Turkey or merely interested in the anciet cultures. Great photos as well! Made my tour of Turkey much more meaningful and insightful!

Introduction to Turkey Her Peoples
Every Country has a varied history and peoples.GuideBooks tell you where to go to see what has been.

This book shares with the reader what Turkey and her Peoples are today and maybe why. Historical, geographical and social insights bring to the reader a better understanding of what Turkey is today and who the Turkish People are.

This is more of an introduction to Turkey than a guide book.I found the insights to the Government helpful in better understanding Turkey. The geographical descriptions help me understand the issues and beauty of the the Turkish landscape. The cultural issues for rural and cities, economic challenges, religious tolerances are presented and provided me with a perspective that not all the People of Turkey are of one mind, but that all are People of Turkey.

Nothing is better than visiting to achieving understanding and this book is a primer for understanding, accepting and really enjoying Turkey and the Turkish People.

The Best of the Best
I have been to Turkey and enjoy reading about it.This book was absolutely wonderful.If you are planning a trip, this book is a must buy.It would also be good for an armchair traveler.It tells it all--places to see, the people, the culture, etc.Now that I read it, I can't wait to return.One of the best travel books I have ever seen.And it includes a wonderful CD...can't get better than that. ... Read more

Product Description
CULTURE SMART! is the series of travel guides written for the smart traveler on the go. Each volume is a quick, accurate guide to customs and etiquette. What you'll find in CULTURE SMART!:--All the essential cultural and etiquette points covered, making you confident in a variety of situations.--You'll know what to expect in each particular culture.--You'll know how to behave in specific social and business situations.--Essential attitudes and values are clearly explained.--You'll find the concise writing style makes each topic a quick, easy read.--Each has the same look, page count, and organization for reference use.--Small and light, it tucks into your pocket or purse for on-the-go use.--Culture Smart! books are written by a staff of experts who consult on world travel as a profession. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Quick and Exact
As one who has been going in and out of Turkey for over 30 years, I can say with experience that this is one of the best collections of usable and correct information on the market! It's sized to fit in a knapsack and to be read while held in one hand. In concise detail you'll readily find necessary information about Turkey and its people, many and varied tips on what to do and what not to do socially while visiting or living there as well as basic facts concerning things like transportation and shopping. The author of Culture Smart! Turkey is an American who has lived in Turkey for 26 years as a worker, researcher, writer, lecturer and social leader. She knows her material and doesn't bore you with what you won't immediately need. Don't go to Turkey without this book! ... Read more

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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 (8)

good
If you are going to travel to Turkey - this is a quick read and the information is essential - don't want to be one of those 'ugly Americans' who haven't a clue they are insulting people right & left!

Hold the phone
I note that one reviewer has posted four times. What is it, why cannot one post suffice? This is overkill, don't you think?

would like to rate this but must receive it first
I have never received this book, so it is impossible to rate it.Please send this book to me, and I will be glad to write a real review.

extremely enjoyable
This is not an academic book with pedantic overtones, nor is it a promotional book which shows only what the Turks would like the outsiders to see.One cannot claim it is a literary piece either, although it is dotted with some poetic expressions.Instead, it is an extremely enjoyable book with useful explanations and tips to prepare the reader for a variety of contexts and characteristics, well beyond the stereotypes.The style is chat-like and personal, the tone is level-headed.

Certain things need updating.For instance, since the publication of this book, Istanbul has been introduced to a new subway system and a second bridge.The author, however, excels in the description of the national spirit and the cultural features, which do not change so easily.Furthermore, local characteristics such as the vitality of an Istanbul street, the rustic colours of the intercity areas, the serenity of the old graveyards on the Bosphorus, the slow-paced offices of the state sector, the friendly `corner-shop`, etc. are so vividly portrayed that ones feels as if one strolling through these places.

I think it is an essential text for not only those who are planning to settle down in Turkey, but also those who are going there on a short visit.

BAD!
This book is a complete failure. Read Mary Lee Settle's "Turkish Reflections" instead!

Arin Bayraktaroglu (apparently an expatriate Turk living in London) seems even more ignorant about Turkey than theavarage tourist. At some points, the book is deliberately misleading, andthe attempts at humor are particularly unsuccesful. Don't waste your moneyon this. Buy Mary Lee Settle's "Turkish Reflections" instead. ... Read more

Product Description

Discourse (both popular and academic) surrounding Turkey has leaned toward the reductionist and the de-contextualized, framing Turkish media, culture and politics in polarized terms such as East vs. West, Modern vs. Traditional or Muslim vs. Christian. The objective of this new volume is to move away from such essentialist dichotomies and to provide scholars with a well-written, comprehensive and much-needed investigation into media and culture in Turkey.

Three themes, "Structures," "Spaces" and "Voices," make up the core structure of the book, providing an intellectual and epistemological arc. Following an introductory chapter written by the co-editors, the first section, "Structures," provides critical examinations of the structural underpinnings of contemporary Turkish media and culture through analyses of, for example,  journalism, cultural policy, Information Society and citizenship. The second section, "Spaces," connects Turkish media and culture to spatial/locational factors: Turkey’s role and place in Europe; the Turkish diasporic space; representations of the Turkish "East;" and Istanbul as urban/social space. In the final section, "Voices," the book turns toward chapters that address central issues in contemporary Turkish media—for example, Islam, arabesk music and the presentation of Kurds on national television—from a cultural perspective.

The text will be essential reading for scholars within, for example, Middle and Near Eastern Studies, Media Studies, Sociology who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between media, politics and culture in this complex and increasingly important country.

Product Description
Publisher: New York, Excelsior wire ... Read more

Product Description
Part of a series that offers mainly linguistic and anthropological research and teaching/learning material on a region of great cultural and strategic interest and importance in the post-Soviet era. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1901.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more