Just what I've been looking for! This book answers all the questions you've wanted to ask but you haven't liked to, as well as many you haven't even thought of! As the proud owners of a traditional property in a rural area untouched by tourism where we hope eventually to spend most, if not all, of our time, this book will be invaluable.

The author explains ritual greetings and responses, formalities and superstitions that make up so much of Turkish culture and what make the Turkish people so deliciously unique. The delight on the faces of our friends when we respond with a colloquialism is a joy to behold and for anyone who wishes to know how, what, when or why and to understand the Turkish culture I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A detailed guide to what makes things tick in Turkey, 28 Dec 2001

By A Customer

Listed under 'Travel & Holiday', this book really deserves to be categorized under 'Cultural Studies' or 'Anthropology'. A very perceptive study about what makes things tick in Turkey written by a distinguished Turkish linguist residing in Britain who can give both an insider's and an outsider's perspective.

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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars witty and entertaining, 12 April 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Culture Shock! Turkey (Paperback)

Apart from the fact that Arin Bayraktaroglu`s book is full of useful advice to people who are familiarising themselves with Turkish culture before settling down in Turkey, it also incorporates elements to create a strong sense of nostalgia in readers of Turkish origin. It is written in a witty and entertaining style and covers a wide spectrum from the natives` linguistic behaviour to social norms, and from characteristics of human interaction to information about urban life. The only drawback of the book is to do with some if its references which are of a temporary nature, and are bound to change in time, but this seems to be inevitable in books of this kind. I agree with Asuman C. Pollard and David Pollard, the authors of `Turkish - Teach Yourself Books` (1997), who describe Bayraktaroglu`s book as `an outstanding introduction to modern Turkish culture` (p. 5), and I recommend it highly.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Inaccurate, generalising, out of touch from the reality
Bayraktaroglu's book is indeed very entertaining. But his information on Turkey and its culture is partial, narrow-minded, orientalist and at times even false. Read more

Published on 13 Mar 2001

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