Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyororin
Yes, get that book if you want to read an entirely negatively biased view of Japan - with unpleasant comments on pretty much every aspect of Japanese life and culture. Get the book if you want to talk yourself out of visiting or living in Japan.
I *really* hate that book. Yes, it presents a fair amount of useful information... But almost all of it is wrapped in a veil of negativity. If you`re expecting awful culture shock, you`ll start looking for it... and find it. Some people really do have problems adjusting to another culture, but I do not feel that reading something negative toward the other culture is going to help them at all. It just makes the shock more acute, and gives them an even worse attitude toward it instead of trying to understand and overcome it.
In other words - I highly discourage reading that book. Unless, of course, you want to hunt down any reason you can not to enjoy Japan.
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well, the point of the book is to prepare one for the difficulties of living in Japan and recognize the psychological stress of being a stranger in a strange land there. I don't think it left me with a negative impression of Japan. there are criticisms of any community and I don't think it's negative to understand them.
You know from previous conversations I don't believe in being romantic about a place, even if it's a place one loves. I take the good with the bad and enjoy it anyway. I have new kitten that my three-year-old girl named "Ice Cat."
I love that kitten, even though i know she will attempt to scratch my furniture and leave hair all-over my clean house. I must be aware of the difficult stuff to deal with this cat because if I think it's going to be all hugs, purrs and head bumps i would be in for a rude awakening.
Does that analogy make any sense?
I loved "Dogs and Demons" by Alex Kerr, too. A person who loves and lives in Japan, but has written a social critique. I'm sure you hated it if read?