Dave Barry Does Japan (1992)

Dave Barry reports on his three-week trip to Japan in 1991. Laugh-out-loud funny. ( )

Hilarious! I laughed out loud several times per chapter, and at least one of those laughs was an actual roar of laughter. The chapter on Japanese was especially funny as the boyfriend and I recently took a Japanese course, and the chapter on music was quite entertaining as well. Dave writes very amusingly, with plenty of quips to go around for both sides of the culture divide -- while the unusual-to-Dave customs are chronicled with entertaining results, he also frequently pokes fun at himself and his family, especially trying to find their train at the train station, sampling new food, or Dave being thrilled that he is the tallest person in the room most of the time. Worth a read if you've been to Japan (to see if what Dave said in the early 90s still holds true) or if you're interested in a lighthearted look at its culture. ( )

This book chronicles Dave Barry’s thoughts and rants on American and Japanese cultures after having spent three weeks traveling in Japan. In typical Dave Barry style, his writing shows a perceptive, witty mind and sometimes his vignettes are laugh out loud funny. A decade later, some of his comments are even more pertinent, such as American car companies’ inability to keep pace with Japanese fuel-efficient cars. Other points are still important to keep in mind – for instance, how Americans can learn about respect and responsibility from the Japanese. The audiobook version ends with a tutorial on learning Japanese numbers, which seems odd as it is not really within the scope of the book. Overall, the book is a quick read (could easily be done in a day) and is a great pick-me-up providing comic relief for a dull day. ( )

A really cool book about trying to understand another culture. ( )

This isn't Dave Barry's best effort, but it was still good for a giggle or two. While some of the jokes made me roll my eyes and other jokes are definitely showing their age, overall the book is enjoyable and does manage to educate on many of the basics of Japanese culture for those who are completely unfamiliar. ( )