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| Culture Shock! Brazil: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides) | 
 enlarge | Author: Volker Poelzl
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corporation
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $9.39
You Save: $6.56 (41%)
Buy New/Used from $7.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  (3 reviews)
Sales Rank: 93877
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 324
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 4.9 x 0.5
ISBN: 0761424903
Dewey Decimal Number: 918
EAN: 9780761424901
ASIN: 0761424903
Publication Date: February 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
CultureShock! Brazil dispels the preconceptions about this diverse dynamic country and reveals the beauty and character that is Brazil. Written in a personable style, the book touches on all aspects of Brazilian life presenting the reader with a balanced, realistic and useful guide. This book leads you through the economic power house that is SAo Paulo to the beach life of Rio de Janeiro, to the lush and abundant vegetation of the rainforest. There is invaluable information about how to acquire a visa, rent a property, obtain a driving licence together with details on dining etiquette and the Brazilian work environment. Be introduced to the friendly and outgoing Brazilian character and understand how to speak Brazilian. Socialising is key to life in Brazil, which is why CultureShock! Brazil is packed with information and advice on dealing with crowds, noise and learning to not only survive but enjoy the experience that is Brazil.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Culture Shock December 3, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Book is well prepared to get first glance of how really the culture is and how one should behave. As i got a lot of contacts with Brazilians before going to Brazil, reading this book just confirmed the ideas i have understood from them. The book didn't surprise me but it definitely taught more details and confirmed my understanding.
An essential read for those that are going to live in, or seek to understand Brazil. October 21, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have read and reread this excellent ethonography. I read Culture Shock! Brazil before coming to Brazil, then again while traveling in Brazil. Volker Poelzl has done his homework. He has given readers brilliant profile of Brazil. This is no easy task, as Brazil is as large as the continental United States and equally as diverse.
Culture Shock! will give you everything that you need for a primer education on Brazil. It will specially be valuable to those who are coming to live for a while and for along with a travel guide like Frommer's (Strongly Recommended - see my review) will open the country up to you. I especially appreciated his sections on synergistic religions: Candomble, Kardecism, Umbanda, Shamanism, Feticaria (witchcraft) etc. Excellent.
Brazil is as dynamic as its Carnivals. It is also contradictory and contrasting, as seen in its wealth and poverty. The towering new high-rise buildings, that look down on the sprawling slums point to a country with the world's 12th largest economy, yet 1/3 of the people live in abject poverty. Volker is not Pollyannaish in his writing about Brazil. He is critical of the antiquated social elitism, cronyism, corruption, police violence, gross injustice and dysfunctional socials systems that continues to foster the widespread poverty - "Brazil is a democracy. But what I see here is a wretched, sad situation where there is no justice." Yet, he also shows how the people of Brazil, in spite of poverty, have their family, friends, love, sexuality, music and dance.
NOTE: Volker Poelzl's guide should get a five star rating, BUT there is a serious flaw: the binding gives out after one use and the pages fall out. This shoddy workmanship is the responsibility of the publisher (Marshall Cavendish - Singapore). However, if you can hold it together with rubber bands, this is a valuable and 'Strongly Recommended' guide.
 Good so far October 3, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have not finished reading this book entirely, but what I have read is very good. It is easy to read, and from what I already know about Brazil, an accurate description so far. I also like the fact that the book definitely tells about Brazil from the perspective of an outsider that is not familiar with the culture. It will prepare travelers to not be shocked, and rather, to appreciate what they experience.
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