What books have you read that have helped you understand another culture, ethnic group or country?

Question

Fiction or non-fiction. I think stories about people can help us understand one another across cultures. Stories build empathy and empathy breeds peace. What books worked for you?

Answer 1

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Technically it's a graphic novel, but it was interesting to me to see the events of my childhood told from the Iranian perspective. It opened my eyes to the fact that while we here in America are shown pictures of American-hating Middle Easterners, in reality the vast majority are just like us. I hope that somehow this vast majority of Middle Easterners would understand that as well.

Answer 2

My mom had me hooked on reading books about people from different cultures and such as a child, and no, I don't mean 'I'm Jewish, let me tell you about Hannukah!' type books. I mean a book that actually had plot and story, but just happened to take place with a Jewish girl. Those are the best. Anyway, here's some stories that stick out in the past for me:

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Chinese Revolution - I'd heard about the Chinese Revolution briefly, but never really understood it until I read this book. You see what it's like to grow up in a country in the midst of a revolution: brainwashed kids, and how you deal with your own family being suddenly declared 'bad'. It's really amazing, and touches a little bit on Chinese culture.

There was another kid's book I read as a child, about a girl in Germany during WWII - who was, surprise surprise, not a Jew and in Hitler Youth. I read hers, and it totally rocked my world to see things from the other perspective. It taught me that it's not just and black and white, and to try and understand things from the other side. It did not endorse their behaviours, but it taught what it was like and why they did what they did and why they thought it was okay. I think we forget to have books like that these days, and they're so important.

Answer 3

You didn't mention age level. Some of these are technically children's or young adult books, but adults can still enjoy them:
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin , Caddie Woodlawn and Anne Frank's Diary are classics
The Chosen ( American Jewish culture) by Chaim Potok, another oldie, but goodie
Becoming Naomi Leon and Esperanza Rising, both by Pam Munoz Ryan ( Mexican American)
Bless Me Ultima ( Southwestern / Aztec/ Mexican culture) Rudofo Anaya I found this first book almost mystical. His later writings became more like novels. Albuquerque, for example, is a mystery novel. but still with the cultutral language and flavor.
Anything by Tony Hillerman ( southwest native American)

Anything by Ken Thomasma, my personal favorite is historical novel Naya Nuki about Sakajawea's friend and fellow captive. While Sakajawea chose to to stay with her captors and make a new life, her friend escaped and made in back, in winter across part of the Dakotas and Wyoming to Idaho, on foot. The Lewis and Clark journals refer to her. The accompanying tapes by the author include lots of background information and comparisons between what she saw and experiences and what we would now see

Besides books, check out various films. Family Feature Films has some good ones such as Hiroshima Maiden ( Japanese girl brought to United States for treatment for atomic bomb injuries).

Reel Intercultural Dialogue Films modern, more of documentary, Burkina Faso, India, Israel, Mexico and Romania
There are training courses available, yes YOU can become a cultural diversity trainer!
Also, consider hosting a foreign exchange student from another country. We have had 12, for stays from two weeks to full school years. Live with someone from another culture and learn a lot. ( I had the hardest time getting one kid to put the milk back in the refrigerator, because they don't use cold milk in their country, just the ultrapasteurized room temperature boxed stuff. He also couldn't remember to shut the front door when he left, because he was used to the maid/doorman shutting the door.) It's very interesting to experience our country throught the eyes of another country

Finally, and this is my favorite. as I am nearing retirement age ... there are lots of opportunies to live, study , work, and volunteer abroad. I am fascinated by English Village in Spain. You can spend a few week or more in Spain.( or other countries).. all you have to do is talk to people who want to learn English. What a great opportunity. I'm saving my money for the plane ticket. See you there!

Answer 4

I really enjoyed the Arabian Nights; being that it is a collection of folk tales that have been re-told throughout history, it really opens you up to the world of the ancient Middle East versus the version shown in the media today. It also reflects the ideas of beauty, imagination, magic and artistic structure that exist in Arabic storytelling.

By the way, great question!

Answer 5

I love going around the world in books. Here are some of my favorites (mostly contemporary stuff):

Iran - "Lipstick Jihad" - Moaveni
Turkey - "Birds Without Wings" - DeBernieres
Ireland - Anything by Roddy Doyle
China - Anchee Min or Ha Jin
Russia - "Crime and Punishment" Dostoyevsky
New Zealand - "Whale Rider"
Japan - Anything by Yoshimoto or Murakami
South Africa - Coetzee

Answer 6

The Tao Of Pooh

The Te Of Piglet

Answer 7

The Earth Children Series: by Jean M Auel
-Clan of the Cave Bear
-Valley of the Horses
-Mammoth Hunters
-Plains of Passage
-Shelters of Stone
This series is about a Cro-Magnon woman Ayla who is found by a group of Neanderthals and raised by them. The values and life lessons she learned helped her as she found other people like her and she travels across the continent now known as Asia. It gave me profound insight to what it may have been like to live back then.

Answer 8

Yeah I'm full Chinese but my eyes aren't small and I can tan easily. Mostly East Asians can tell I'm East Asian. But others think I'm Filipino, mixed Asian, or part Latino. Some people said I was too tan to be East Asian a long time ago. My original skin tone is peach but I just tan easily. I'm actually light tan now.

Answer 9

I read a book once about a Black man who who wore makeup and went undercover and disguised himself as a white man to see how he would be treated in the workplace.
It was a pretty amazing book,and his observations. Sorry I don't remember the name of it,it was a paperback version about 20 years ago or so.
I guess he straightened his hair and everything and tried to talk as "white" as possible.
He said he was treated better by fellow employees that he worked with.

Answer 10

I loved the book "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. THis helped me understand the African culture.