MALAYSIA

Culture Shock! Malaysia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette
$15.95
I bought this book shortly before moving to Malaysia for a year. Reading it filled me with absolute terror. It made the country sound uncompromisingly alien and rather unpleasant. Thankfully I ignored the book and discovered Malaysia to be a very pleasant and incredibly inviting place.

The problem with the book (apart from the writer's continually negative attitudes to everything) is her very narrow perspective. Before coming to Malaysia, she admits, she spent her whole life in a small Swiss town. Thus, she finds everything that is slightly different from her upbringing horrifying and worth commenting on. The fact that not everyone in Malaysia is European and that they don't eat European food is considered worth several awe-inspired mentions . For anyone who has ever travelled, or who has a more cosmipolitan background, most of these comments are useless and are in fact rather nauseating.

Even worse, however, is the fact that she is only writing for those likely to live in her very specific situation - namely as the wife of a rich ex-pat. She spends a whole chapter lamenting the difficulty of choosing a good maid. She also points out the importance of finding things to do when you are at home and your husband is at work.

For me, as someone working in Malaysia full-time for a relatively modest salary, all this was completely useless. In fact, I'd imagine that for the bulk of people coming to Malaysia, much of this information will be either off-putting or superfluous.

Thus, I'd recommend avoiding this book - otherwise you might decide not to come at all.

Frommer's Singapore & Malaysia (Frommer's Complete)
$21.99
Living in Singapore, we have a collection of guides for visitors to use and most seem to find this by far the most useful. It's engagingly written and covers a wide choice of hotels, places to eat and things to see and do. As others have said, Singapore is covered in more detail than Malaysia, but we find that suits our needs, since most of our visitors aren't planning to visit Malaysia for more than a couple of days.

Malaysia - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
$9.95
Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include:

* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken

"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

Malaysia:A Pictorial History 1400 - 2004
$39.95
Having been a frequent visitor to Malaysia for the past 27 years, this book presents a very detailed and comprehensive pictorial history of Malaysia. Unlike many books, it divides the various states and cities into separate sections thus one can follow their progress and development as the history of Malaysia unfolds. It emphasizes the important states and cities throughout various periods. Penang,as the important state during the early days and ending up with Kuala Lumpur in the late 20th century. This book captures the sound, aroma and the color of Malaysia as seen thru the hawker stalls, rubber plantations, the stately houses, and the padangs. Old pictures of Penang and its capital of Georgetown show the splendor of Beach Street, Northham Road, and the beaches that still exist for the most part today. After viewing this book, the reader will come to two conclusions. The book is sufficient to feel that one has visited Malaysia or it will urge a person to visit Malaysia to pursue the aftermath of the book. This is a book that should be part of any collection about Southeast Asia.