101 American Customs : Understanding Language and Culture Through Common Practices

This book is full of obvious. I can not believe you can learn a bit about American culture with this at all.The pictures are not particularly cute as well. Pretends to be somewhat humorous, but never made me laugh, so - no credit for that part. To me, it is actually annoying - if something is not a joke to laugh at, just make it sound normal. This is minor though, the content is what matters.I was going to give this as a present to my friend who spent a few months in the US and plans to come to study. Not that it could be a rich source of information, but I was expecting at least somewhat helpful - some good points and useful tips. Nope!I do always read the book intended to be a present to avoid being irresponsible about my friends time. This one is a complete waist of it.If it is designated for kids in their early teens, this is supposed to be mentioned at some point in the description.If you are really desperate for such helpful information as that people commonly shake hands, make OK gesture, sing the happy birthday song, say "bless you" for sneezing and enjoy popcorn in the movie theater, then go for it, but I doubt it.It is also sort of misleading in some way. It contains a good percentage of out of practice old traditions while lacking some essential ones. I don't know that many people saying prayers before a meal, obviously there is nothing wrong with it and some people do exactly that - but introducing it as a main practice associated with modern American culture? Some very specific Jewish traditions are included in one row with independence day parade - again, there is nothing wrong with Jewish traditions, but I thought this book was about American culture.The majority of the customs mentioned are not unique to US, but very general and common sense to any European person whether or not he/she has been to America. This is while in reality, there are so many unique traditions that need to be covered. (I can not view this from a stand point of someone from, say, China or Korea, or Malaysia etc., in terms of how much the common sense can cover, but I bet, this book will be not much of a help still)The bottom line: don't waste your time and money for this book and save the trees!I gave it another star for an effort.

A quicky illustrated, basic book. I also bought my very foreign friends another one that is far better written, and at the end there’s questions to help prep you for the citizens exam.

Very informative & a reawakening of things learned while you were young but forgot over time. Fabulous explanations for the origins of where these customs came from & how they evolved. A wonderful reader for all ages! Harry Collins is a Master author!! :)

A great jumping off place for cultural discussions with our short-term Japanese program. Each student received a copy to take home to Japan.

This book is another great idea for foreigners visiting America for the first time or just trying to find out more about our culture.

I loved the idea of the customs being explained for my ESL students. But, the explanations are far too difficult for beginning or even intermediate ESL students to understand. I was not impressed either.

1. I choose this rating because the product that I selected are of what I expected in terms of quality and quantity2. I like this product3. I would recommend this to my friends who also own the same car that I own (kia carnival)

I was hoping for more when I ordered this book. There are a few good descriptions for adult learners of ESL but I didn't find it compelling or useful for my ESL kids.

意外と知らないアメリカの当たり前の習慣を知るのに良いと思います。趣味で読むのにちょうど良い感じです。

アメリカに7年滞在しました。びっくりするような習慣が幾つかあったので、知っていて損は無いと思います。

一つのテーマにつき、1ページで説明されてあるので、非常に読みやすいですが、文が簡単すぎたので、子供向けの本を読んでいる気がしました。（実際子供向けかも？）でも、イラストは分かりやすいし、説明も簡潔で無駄がないので、英語教材とかにはいいかもしれないですね。代表的なアメリカの行事をとりあげているので、アメリカ生活を控えているひとには、一通り知識を取り込むのに便利だと思いますが、わたしの場合は留学後なので、知っていることばかりになってしまい、物足りなかったです。