Culture and Customs of Laos

(Hardback)

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This all-encompassing volume offers a comprehensive look at the contemporary culture that defines this Southeast Asian country of Laos, examining everything from Buddhist traditions to Laotian cuisine. Coverage includes a brief history of the nation followed by in-depth narrative chapters on religion, literature, visual and performing arts, fashion, gender roles, everyday social customs, and more. Through illustrative descriptions of daily life, students will learn how traditional customs have shaped contemporary life in Laos today. Few other resources provide the same extensive coverage on current culture in Laos. Ideal for high school students as well as general readers, Culture and Customs of Laos is a must-have for all library shelves. The Southeast Asian country of Laos, one of the world's last-standing communist nations, has often been overshadowed in the international newsroom by its more dominant neighbors, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Among one of the most bombed countries in the world, one that suffered much during and after the Vietnam War, Laos has been struggling economically and politically for decades. In spite of these challenges, a rich, beautiful culture has survived in Laos. This exhaustive volume offers a comprehensive look at the contemporary culture that defines this seemingly quiet country, from Buddhism to Laotian cuisine. Coverage includes a brief history of the nation followed by in-depth narrative chapters on religion, literature, visual and performing arts, fashion, gender roles, everyday social customs, and more. Through illustrative descriptions of daily life, students will learn how traditional customs have shaped contemporary life in Laos today. Few other resources provide the same extensive coverage on current culture in Laos. Ideal for high school students as well as general readers, Culture and Customs of Laos is a must-have for all library shelves.

Reviews

Kislenko (history, Ryerson U., Canada) presents general readers with this overview of the geography, history, culture, and customs of Laos. A chronology opens the text, followed by chapters on religion and thought; literature; art; architecture and design; theater, dance, music, and film; cuisine and traditional dress; gender, courtship, marriage, and family; festivals; and social customs. A glossary and a chronology of Lao Kings supplement the text. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

ARNE KISLENKO is Associate Professor of History at Ryerson University and an Adjunct Professor in the International Relations Programme at the Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto. His other publications include Culture and Customs of Thailand (Greenwood, 2004), The Uneasy Century: International Relations 1900-1990 (with Margaret MacMillan) , and numerous book chapters and articles on modern Southeast Asia and other topics in international relations history.