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Rating: 
Summary: Going to Ireland? Buy this book!
Review: I highly recommend "Culture Shock! A Guide to Customs and Etiquette: Ireland." This is not your average travel book containing descriptions of places, events, lodging, exchange rates, etc... Instead, it gives the nitty gritty on how to conduct yourself in your day-to-day life. Especially enjoyable was the chapter entitled "Paddies", which gives a valuable groundwork in dispelling myths and stereotypes surrounding the Irish and Ireland. I'd liken the book to the grease which lubricates social wheels. Quite useful is the insight into historical forces in Irish lives, as well as the influence of the land, religion, and politics on Irish culture. Entertaining and informative, this book will help visitors to Ireland get more out of their visit.
Rating:
Summary: Going to Ireland? Buy this book!
Review: I highly recommend "Culture Shock! A Guide to Customs and Etiquette: Ireland." This is not your average travel book containing descriptions of places, events, lodging, exchange rates, etc... Instead, it gives the nitty gritty on how to conduct yourself in your day-to-day life. Especially enjoyable was the chapter entitled "Paddies", which gives a valuable groundwork in dispelling myths and stereotypes surrounding the Irish and Ireland. I'd liken the book to the grease which lubricates social wheels. Quite useful is the insight into historical forces in Irish lives, as well as the influence of the land, religion, and politics on Irish culture. Entertaining and informative, this book will help visitors to Ireland get more out of their visit.
Rating: 
Summary: After All, It's Not All Shillelaghs and Shamrocks
Review: If you think of green beer, shamrocks and leprechauns when someone says "Ireland" then this is a book for you. Different from a travel guide, this book will help a new Eire inductee gain insight to Ireland and the Irish people themselves whether you are there for vacation, business trip or school. Especially good is the section about Irish history, the people involved in the making of that history and the important player's in making peace in Northern Ireland. Having said that, this book is badly in need of an update since it stops just after the 1998 Peace Agreement was reached. It also helps you to understand where each side is coming from and how not to make conversation faux pas when discussing the often sensitive issue of The Troubles. The book is great for an overall feel of Ireland's culture but it's not for those who have had much exposure already. Having gone on several trips to Ireland and knowing many native Irish individuals personaly, I found much of the book to be too basic. However I still was still entertained and learned bit more about the Irish in general. I wish I had read it before my first trip; it would have helped me to understand and appreciate the island more at that time.
Rating:
Summary: After All, It's Not All Shillelaghs and Shamrocks
Review: If you think of green beer, shamrocks and leprechauns when someone says "Ireland" then this is a book for you. Different from a travel guide, this book will help a new Eire inductee gain insight to Ireland and the Irish people themselves whether you are there for vacation, business trip or school. Especially good is the section about Irish history, the people involved in the making of that history and the important player's in making peace in Northern Ireland. Having said that, this book is badly in need of an update since it stops just after the 1998 Peace Agreement was reached. It also helps you to understand where each side is coming from and how not to make conversation faux pas when discussing the often sensitive issue of The Troubles. The book is great for an overall feel of Ireland's culture but it's not for those who have had much exposure already. Having gone on several trips to Ireland and knowing many native Irish individuals personaly, I found much of the book to be too basic. However I still was still entertained and learned bit more about the Irish in general. I wish I had read it before my first trip; it would have helped me to understand and appreciate the island more at that time.
Rating:
Summary: After All, It's Not All Shillelaghs and Shamrocks
Review: If you think of green beer, shamrocks and leprechauns when someone says "Ireland" then this is a book for you. Different from a travel guide, this book will help a new Eire inductee gain insight to Ireland and the Irish people themselves whether you are there for vacation, business trip or school. Especially good is the section about Irish history, the people involved in the making of that history and the important player's in making peace in Northern Ireland. Having said that, this book is badly in need of an update since it stops just after the 1998 Peace Agreement was reached. It also helps you to understand where each side is coming from and how not to make conversation faux pas when discussing the often sensitive issue of The Troubles. The book is great for an overall feel of Ireland's culture but it's not for those who have had much exposure already. Having gone on several trips to Ireland and knowing many native Irish individuals personaly, I found much of the book to be too basic. However I still was still entertained and learned bit more about the Irish in general. I wish I had read it before my first trip; it would have helped me to understand and appreciate the island more at that time.
Rating:
Summary: much to like, but appeal will vary a bit
Review: Obligatory caveat: I have only been to Ireland once. For this reason I disqualify myself from making authoritative statements as to whether Levy's impressions are accurate; I can only compare against what I do know. With this in mind, what I found most helpful is the up-to-date impressions of the author concerning the issues that tear at the national psyche of the Republic. She makes clear that much has changed in Ireland in the past forty years in almost every aspect of life, and gives the right amount of detail. Her suggestions as to pub etiquette are quite good, and pub culture is a key aspect of Irish life because they are in fact community centres of a sort. Her tone is that of someone who likes Ireland and its people, but is not blind to their foibles and weaknesses. Stereotypes are addressed head-on and debunked where necessary. There is a distinctly feminist tinge to a lot of Levy's commentary. I don't think it reaches the level of polemic, but it would affect the reader's enjoyment of the book positively or negatively depending upon receptiveness to the author's views. Myself, I thought most of it was on the mark but that a few of the comments needed some balance. Those supportive of feminism will find it refreshing; those hostile to it will likely be put off. The factor that bothered me most, oddly, was the consistent misspelling of Gaelic terms. While I understand that spelling Gaelic using the Latin characters is in some ways not an exact science, the misspelled words are among the most commonly known and the errors are glaring--if you pronounce the word as printed, you do not get the word that is commonly known. I felt this to be sufficiently glaring for a markdown. Recommended with the specified reservations. Would form a good basis for avoiding pitfalls and entering into discussions with the Irish if you were planning to visit.
Rating:
Summary: much to like, but appeal will vary a bit
Review: Obligatory caveat: I have only been to Ireland once. For this reason I disqualify myself from making authoritative statements as to whether Levy's impressions are accurate; I can only compare against what I do know. With this in mind, what I found most helpful is the up-to-date impressions of the author concerning the issues that tear at the national psyche of the Republic. She makes clear that much has changed in Ireland in the past forty years in almost every aspect of life, and gives the right amount of detail. Her suggestions as to pub etiquette are quite good, and pub culture is a key aspect of Irish life because they are in fact community centres of a sort. Her tone is that of someone who likes Ireland and its people, but is not blind to their foibles and weaknesses. Stereotypes are addressed head-on and debunked where necessary. There is a distinctly feminist tinge to a lot of Levy's commentary. I don't think it reaches the level of polemic, but it would affect the reader's enjoyment of the book positively or negatively depending upon receptiveness to the author's views. Myself, I thought most of it was on the mark but that a few of the comments needed some balance. Those supportive of feminism will find it refreshing; those hostile to it will likely be put off. The factor that bothered me most, oddly, was the consistent misspelling of Gaelic terms. While I understand that spelling Gaelic using the Latin characters is in some ways not an exact science, the misspelled words are among the most commonly known and the errors are glaring--if you pronounce the word as printed, you do not get the word that is commonly known. I felt this to be sufficiently glaring for a markdown. Recommended with the specified reservations. Would form a good basis for avoiding pitfalls and entering into discussions with the Irish if you were planning to visit.
Rating:
Summary: Before You Go To Ireland, Read This....
Review: This book is a wonderful preliminary to any first-time excursion to Ireland, as well as a concise compendium of everything Irish. Not a tour-guide; it delves into cultural issues, Ireland's history (up to and including the 1998 Northern Ireland Peace Agreement, which, unfortunately will require a whole new chapter as of today's writing), political faces and national celebrities,interacting with the locals, pub life, key Gaelic phrases, and basically, how to navigate without looking like a total tourist. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in an introduction to Irish history and current issues, and to anyone who is going to Ireland for the very first time.
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