Culture book?

[EvilCowSlayer]

I'm going on foreign exchange in Japan for a year starting in March. The organization I'm going with, AFS, suggests a book called "Culture Shock!" for learning general cultural information about a specific country (each country they cover has its own book). I've been trying to find the "Culture Shock! Japan" book, but I haven't had any luck. One store told me it was out of print. The prices they're asking for on Amazon were kinda ridiculous. Is there another book you guys would recommend?

 

[nice gaijin]

I believe the name of the book is "cultural episodes," published by the Japan Times. It's a great book for Japanese practice, and the stories are informative as well as increasingly challenging to read.

 

[EvilCowSlayer]

I tried Googling that, and I didn't find anything. Could you send me a link?

 

[nice gaijin]

Strangely unavailable from Amazon, but helpful reviews:
Amazon product ASIN 4893583700
I'm having ａ hard time finding a copy online, but I got mine from kinokuniya in San Francisco a few years back. It's possibly out of print, but I don't see why they would discontinue such a good book.

 

[made of stone]

It's possibly out of print, but I don't see why they would discontinue such a good book.

Poor sales, probably. Many fine and worthy books are now out of print, just because they didn't make enough dollars or pounds in the time they were given. Many more are still unpublished because the people who make the decisions don't see enough potential profit in them. I know a few of those sorts of folk here in London, and I think it's enough for me to say that I wouldn't even let some of them choose what to cook me for dinner...

Nonetheless, all the best with your search, ECS san!!

 

[senseiman]

I was given a copy of that "Culture Shock" book as part of my recruitment package when I got hired to teach at AEON. Its not a bad book, I've seen them all over the place...you should check any used book shops in your area, the ones in my city seem to always have at least one copy of it (cheap).