"Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol

07.08.05, 03:38
"Shortcuts to Poland" is the name of a book, now in its second edition and on
sale at the chain of American bookstores, of a humorous but informative book
by Laura Klos Sokol.

I bought this book, and was very pleased with it. It explains very well the
cultural differences between Poles and others, being made up of 60
odd "toilet-sized" chapters, spanning 182 softcover bound A5 pages. The
publisher is International Publishing Service Sp. z o.o. and the ISBN is 83-
921149-0-6. It is written from the American perspective, and teaches us a lot
about both nations by the continual compare-and-contrast approach, across a
range of topics.

I ought to mention that there are numerous amusing cartoons linking to the
text every few pages. These seem to be ascribed, but not very unanimously, to
Piotr Ziolkowski.

A useful sequel to the book might be all the business, tax and bureaucracy
differences that there are. If LKS doesn't write that one, I might be tempted
to give it a go.

Anyway, I certainly recommend it as 29.99 PLN well spent. The price may vary
of course, as Poland does not have a net book agreement, and there is no
printed price on this.

It contains more content than Richard Berkeley's "Points of View", a rare
title that deals with Polish-British cross culture, at times quite savage
about his particular bugbears, nothing wrong with that, and it is very good
but too thin, and the Xenophobes guide to Poles, which is dumbed down, not up-
to-date, and too bogged down in improperly researched stereotypes which are
not recognisable, like the Klos Sokol book, and gives the impression of
having a less proficient observer as author.

I would put this book into the hands of anyone thinking of coming out to
Poland.

Has anyone else got books about Polish culture that they would like to share
some thoughts about?
    • kylie1 Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 08:16
      >made up of 60 odd "toilet-sized" chapters, spanning 182 softcover bound A5
      pages...

      question, Uncle Davey: what's "toilet sized"? Does it mean the chapters are
      very short? Judging by the amount of pages, that's about two pages per chapter,
      I guess.

      "toilet sized" is a great adjective. I've never come across that one... smile
      • ianek70 Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 09:37
        kylie1 napisała:

        > >made up of 60 odd "toilet-sized" chapters, spanning 182 softcover bound A5
        >
        > pages...
        >
        > question, Uncle Davey: what's "toilet sized"?

        My toilet measures about 30 x 40 cm, which seems quite a typical size.
        • kylie1 Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 09:51
          I don't think uncle Davey had the toilet size in mind when he wrote that. smile smile


          P.S.
          Guess what, my toilet is the same size as yours...it's probably a universal
          feature with all toilets.
          Wow... it's getting more interesting by the minute here.
          So instead of discussing the book itself, we have this toilet thing going
          on!!.... Cool.

          smile
          • ianek70 Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 10:37
            Why are toilets different shapes in different countries? Is it something to do
            with the physiological effects of different diets?
            Or maybe that's a question for the Poo Forum.
            smile
            • usenetposts Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 13:52
              ianek70 napisał:

              > Why are toilets different shapes in different countries? Is it something to
              do
              > with the physiological effects of different diets?
              > Or maybe that's a question for the Poo Forum.
              > smile

              That reminds me of that U-No-Poo in the latest Harry Potter book.

              On a slightly related matter, did you know that Warsaw has a Winnie-the-Pooh
              street?

              Time for something sweet. . .
          • usenetposts Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 13:48
            kylie1 napisała:

            > I don't think uncle Davey had the toilet size in mind when he wrote that. smile :
            > )
            >
            >
            > P.S.
            > Guess what, my toilet is the same size as yours...it's probably a universal
            > feature with all toilets.
            > Wow... it's getting more interesting by the minute here.
            > So instead of discussing the book itself, we have this toilet thing going
            > on!!.... Cool.
            >
            > smile

            I'm just hoping right now that Laura never drops in here, and sees what became
            of the book review I did. What an embarassment that would be wink.

            If any body knows her, give her our regards, and ....

            [boom boom boom boom] Tell Laura, I love her book
            [boom boom boom boom] Tell Laura, I read her book
            [boom boom boom boom] Tell Laura don't be upset
            You gotta read something, when you're having a sit.

            I resisted the temptation to add an 'h' to the last word, as I thought it
            wouldn't have been literary. That 'h' is now wandering around like a free
            radical or the "c" in scrabble waiting for something it can attach hitself to.

            Ah. Okay.
            • kylie1 Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 21:28
              I think Laura would be thrilled to know we are actually discussing her
              book....more greasy foods, please, and we are done in one sitting! That answers
              another poignant question: how can diet affect our intellectual well being...hm


              > You gotta read something, when you're having a sit.
              That 'h' is now wandering around like a free radical or the "c" in scrabble
              waiting for something it can attach hitself to.

              That's funny. I love it!

              I guess that's where we all sit on the subject then?

              smile




        • usenetposts Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 13:39
          ianek70 napisał:

          > kylie1 napisała:
          >
          > > >made up of 60 odd "toilet-sized" chapters, spanning 182 softcover bo
          > und A5
          > >
          > > pages...
          > >
          > > question, Uncle Davey: what's "toilet sized"?
          >
          > My toilet measures about 30 x 40 cm, which seems quite a typical size.

          That would be more like 6 pages of A5, wouldn't it?

          I've got a spreadsheet that converts paper sizes to square metres somewhere. I
          did it once as an aide-memoire when doing a check-up on a printing company, but
          I can't muster the energy to dig it out right now.

          That's why I'm easy. I'm easy like Sunday morning.
      • usenetposts Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 13:36
        kylie1 napisała:

        > >made up of 60 odd "toilet-sized" chapters, spanning 182 softcover bound A5
        >
        > pages...
        >
        > question, Uncle Davey: what's "toilet sized"? Does it mean the chapters are
        > very short? Judging by the amount of pages, that's about two pages per
        chapter,
        >
        > I guess.

        That's about what it is.

        >
        > "toilet sized" is a great adjective. I've never come across that one... smile

        I dare say it says something about the relationship of my speed of reading and
        the state of my guts, but without knowing the one, you can't get at the other,
        and I'm not saying any more wink
        • kylie1 Re: "Shortcuts to Poland" by Laura Klos Sokol 07.08.05, 21:47
          > I dare say it says something about the relationship of my speed of reading
          and the state of my guts, but without knowing the one, you can't get at the
          other, and I'm not saying any more wink

          I hear you, Uncle Davey. I think I am the same way...perhaps we are all the
          same way... Laura Klos Sokol sure brings us together through a very routine but
          wonderful familiarity...

          smile





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