Culture Shock!: Pakistan

Rating:
Summary: rather unbalanced
Review: althought this book is relativly well written and candid it seems as though the author does to full understand the culture and often misrepresents it. the pictures (although black and white) are quite nice and the descriptions of the elite in the major cities such as karachi and lahore are close to true but not always agreeable. I visited pakistan for my friends wedding a few months ago and this book contradicts most of what i learned about their culture and ceremonies. what i found most misrepresented was the issue of sexism in pakistan. the author mentions how women have less authority than men but conveniently forgets to mention the respect and facilities they are awarded as mothers,sisters, and wives. all in all i felt this book isnt the best way to go if you really want to understand the country and the people of pakistan, this book isnt the best way to go.

Rating:
Summary: By No Means Uninteresting
Review: Having never been to Pakistan myself, I am perhaps not a fair judge of how accurate this book actually is. However, I am familiar with the Pakistani culture and I can comment on the style in which this book was written.

The book is very informative and detailed. Every aspect of life imaginable: villages, cities, business, weddings, hosting parties, buying houses, what is/isn't safe to eat--it even gives a break-down of which foreigners will be liked and/or disliked by Pakistanis. She does a very good job, ostensibly, of giving a description adequate for more than just a two week vacation in an exotic country. This book is also, considering that it is a nonfiction travel guide, quite interesting and able to keep your attention--with appealing photography (although in black-and-white) and hilarious sketches by Zafar Ihsan, it will not fail to keep your attention.

As negatives for the book, they unfortunately come across rather distinctly. Ms. Mittmann comes from a failed marriage to a Pakistani, so perhaps this explains her viewpoint. The book is very dour and rather pessimistic. Although Mittmann claims to love Pakistan and cherish it as a country, you can hardly believe that given her criticism of it. While it is true that Pakistan's Islamic culture does strike Westerners as rather sexist, she lacks the compassion to explain that some of this restriction stems from an ancient desire to protect women and keep them out of harm's way. There is also a quality in this book which is bereft of light-hearted excitement. Perhaps this is because the thrill of living abroad wears off in expatriates all-too-soon.

This is a fair book. I would consider it worth reading for somebody already familiar with Pakistani culture, but would warn away any newcomers. Its style is mildly patronizing and there is a stoic, almost-depressing air about it, which would frighten anyone curious about Islamic cultures away.

Rating:
Summary: I definately recommend this book
Review: I think most people are smart enough to take things in context. Not everywhere and every situation will match cultural norms, but this book is the best place to start on Pakistan. I look forward to reading others in this series as I travel elsewhere. I read the travel books on Pakistan but this one gave the most preparation to the culture and what to expect while most books tell you places or events of interest.

A definite must when heading that direction!!!

Rating:
Summary: Not for Professional Women.....
Review: I work in foreign assistance and am very much looking forward to moving to Pakistan for my next job. I bought this book, as I have bought others in the "culture shock" series when I have worked/traveled in other developing countries for extended periods.

Unfortunately, this book seems to be written for men. At first I thought it was just poor editing and choice of words (i.e. using masculine he/his/him pronouns without it being clear if the advice was meant to apply to men or to men AND women) then it became obvious that I was just being left out. The sectiions about women are preoccupied with clothes and shopping, and in a few sections -- most notably the one on the workplace -- it actually starts refers to a few things for "your wife" (i.e, playing hostess) to do to "help". As a single woman professional, I'm pretty disgusted that this section made NO reference to issues or etiquette that I must consider if I am to succeed at my next job.

And, just to add appalling icing on the cake....... the "sex" section consists solely of how I can find a prosititute despite the banning of brothels and how not to get conned by their pimps.

ARGH!

Rating:
Summary: Not for Professional Women.....
Review: I work in foreign assistance and am very much looking forward to moving to Pakistan for my next job. I bought this book, as I have bought others in the "culture shock" series when I have worked/traveled in other developing countries for extended periods.

Unfortunately, this book seems to be written for men. At first I thought it was just poor editing and choice of words (i.e. using masculine he/his/him pronouns without it being clear if the advice was meant to apply to men or to men AND women) then it became obvious that I was just being left out. The sectiions about women are preoccupied with clothes and shopping, and in a few sections -- most notably the one on the workplace -- it actually starts refers to a few things for "your wife" (i.e, playing hostess) to do to "help". As a single woman professional, I'm pretty disgusted that this section made NO reference to issues or etiquette that I must consider if I am to succeed at my next job.

And, just to add appalling icing on the cake....... the "sex" section consists solely of how I can find a prosititute despite the banning of brothels and how not to get conned by their pimps.

ARGH!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Passage to Pakistan
Review: This book covers the societal norms of mainstream Pakistan. It seems to be written by a person who objectively sees both positive and negative points in an extremely rich culture. Though it may not be helpful to ganja-smoking twenty-something year old backpackers, or people planning to live in extremely remote areas of Pakistan, the book is a must have for those who will be in larger cities in Urdu and Panjabi speaking areas (Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, etc.) because it very accurately describes the lifestyles of most middle-class and/or elite Pakistanis with whom cultural experiences will be shared on a daily basis. It will certainly take the "shock" off of a trip to Pakistan.