Culture Smart! Egypt

By Jailan Zayan

Book Overview

This revised and updated edition of Culture Smart Egypt reveals a country in the throes of change. The largely secular revolution that started in Cairo's Tahrir Square in January 2011 became the flagship of the Arab Spring revolts. The uprising resulted in a political effervescence, with new parties, movements, and groups all jostling for space in the new political landscape. But the situation remains fluid. Free elections produced a parliament dominated by Islamists and the country's political and social identity has yet to be defined. Egypt's heady spirit of change is both rooted in and challenged by traditional and deeply conservative values. The timeless Egypt that has inspired conquerors, academics, and artists for millennia is home to 82 million people who call it Omm Eddunia, Mother of the World. It is the people who are Egypt's true wealth. They are friendly, cheerful, proud, and renowned for their sense of humor. In bringing the narrative up to date, this new edition of Culture Smart Egypt explores the codes and paradoxes of Egyptian life. It outlines the country's history and shows the forces that have shaped its sensibility. It explains values and attitudes, and guides you through local customs and traditions. It opens a window into the private lives of Egyptians, how they behave at home, and how they interact with foreign visitors. It offers practical advice, from how to make friends to avoiding faux pas. It sets out to make your encounter as rich as possible by taking you beyond the clich s to the real people.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1857336712
• ISBN13: 9781857336719
• Release Date: May 2013
• Publisher: Kuperard
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.3" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

A must for travelers to Egypt

Outstanding guide! If you follow this simple and easy to read affordable book, you will get a great reception everywhere in Egypt whatever you are a man or a woman. It is a beautiful country so worth of visiting. People there are open and friendly. Following their traditions for duration of your visit, although not necessary, is a small gesture of respect they very much appreciate. This book will give you an insight on traditions and culture.

An excellent guide

This has everything worth knowing about the Egyptians and Egypt. It's very good if you want to come closer to their culture, or if you want to travel there.

The stuff the guide books don't say

This was a wonderful book to read in preparation for our trip to Egypt. I highly recommend it if you are not familiar with the culture of Egypt and/or how it is different from other Arabic nations.

Superb introduction to egypt and its people

This is not a guide book - it's not about places, good restaurants and value hotels. This is about the people of Egypt, their history, their culture and how they think. As such, it is a much more interesting read than any guide book.

A Gem

The little book presents an excellent overview of a country with a complicated history. It covers succinctly the highlights of Egyptian history from the earliest time through to the present in so few pages that you end up with a real understanding of the progression of time. It then covers current social, economic, and political life. It gives excellent advice on what every tourist should know but even if you aren't going to Egypt this would be an interesting read. I can't imagine not reading this before going. It is not a guide book and is not advertised as such.