Barry, Dave

I started out reading his book with quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. After I was about half-way through this book, it no longer seemed all that funny to me any more. I am familiar with Japan, not from traveling there, but from reading Japanese fiction and from hearing about Japan from my older son's frequent travels there. I have come to respect the Japanese culture even though it is quite different from my own. For this reason, the more I read this book, the more I became disappointed with Barry's "appreciation" of Japanese culture. It was this same reason which in the past turned me off to some of Bill Bryson's "humorous" travel writing. What's entertaining about someone poking fun at something one truly knows well is quite different than poking fun at another culture, something deeply personal. It no longer comes off as funny.

Fortunately, the chapter about Hiroshima was appropriately somber. The conclusion also hit the right notes by noting some marked differences between the American and Japanese cultures with at least a degree of respect.

This is not to disparage Dave Barry's humor. His other writing I find hilarious. This book did not sit too well with me, though. ( )

If you've ever been to Japan, Barry will help you remember how different Japan is from the U.S. ( )

Incredibly funny book about the Author's 3 week visit to Japan.

Incredibly funny book about the Author's 3 week visit to Japan.