It's typically the outsider looking in

Thailand Book List This is not Doug's version of The New York Times bestseller list.    Books have been recommended that lend some insight into Thailand, the Thai character, or the foreign scene in Thailand, all of which should have some interest to those coming to the country.   We have refrained from listing books that are flavors of the month and will quickly fade out of favor and print, dating our site, ruining the reputation of Doug's Republic and probably getting us sued.    Title Summary THE S.E.A. WRITE ANTHOLOGY OF THAI SHORT STORIES & POEMS Collection of short stories and poems of 11 current Thai writers, each of whom has been awarded the prestigious Southeast Asian Writers Award, popular referred to as the S.E.A. Write, the Pulitzer Prize of the area.  It's great the contributing authors won awards because the title isn't award-winning, but then, the direct to-the-point title does reach its intended audience: readers of English interested in Thai literature. MODERN THAI LITERATURE:  WITH AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION Another electrifying title, this book features thirty-four translated texts and introductory essays. The translations cover texts written between 1960-75. The book is divided into sections like Politics and Family, and the author pens an essay introducing each topic. LETTERS FROM THAILAND  This is probably the most famous work of Thai literature, originally published in 1969, to get translated into other languages. At the time, it won the SEATO Prize For Thai Literature, an award that sounds impressive but which may equate to the same honor as winning an honorable mention in the local science fair. A Chinese man journeys to Thailand after World War II and writes letters home to his dear Chinese mama about his new wife, his successful business, and his life in Thailand. THAI GIRL  This 18,000+ copy seller in Thailand, self published initially by the author, shows that you don't need to sell many copies to earn the title of "one of the biggest-selling English-language novels ever published in Thailand."  A young conventional British couple split up in Thailand, she to go off treading previously ravaged backpacker, he to attempt to seduce a young Thai masseuse on the island of Koh Samet.  The author walks the walk and talks the talk, seducing and then marrying a Thai woman half his age and setting up shop in the Isaan town of Surin.  NESCAPE: THE TRUE STORY OF THE ONLY WESTERNER EVER TO BREAK OUT OF THAILAND'S BANGKOK HILTON  The true story of a British-Australian drug smuggler who was the only one to have ever escaped from the infamous Bangkok Hilton and then gets to reap the additional profits of writing a book about it.   We're not talking about the 5-star Hilton hotels, where many a tourist would love to be imprisoned.   This 'Hilton' is the Klong Prem prison in Bangkok -- many a drug smuggling foreigner checks in but never checks out.  JASMINE NIGHTS An example of Thai expat fiction - written by a Thai who moved to England at 6 months of age and learned English as his mother tongue.  This novel, set in 1963, is a semi-autobiographical account of his life filled with satire and sex, a combo anyone interested in Thailand is sure to devour. THE KING NEVER SMILES No book list would be complete without a book or two about the Thai king, the person most embodying Thailand as a nation.   This book, banned for sale in Thailand because it does not always portray the King as a demi-god, is heavily researched and draws a three-dimensional picture of King Rama IX as a man, warts and all.   The resultant image is still a flattering one.  THE REVOLUTIONARY KING The 'other' book about the King, this one preceded the publication of The King Never Smiles.   This book was written with full cooperation of the Thai palace and should be considered as more of an authorized biography, which is to say, it can't be considered accurate in any sense of the word.  No authorized biography ever is.  In fact, the book has been ridiculed by scholars and reviewers for its many inaccuracies and fawning tone.  THAILAND FEVER  A must-own for all those foreigners seducing, involved with, or planning to cohabit with Thais.  Translation: a must-own for 80% of the foreign males coming to Thailand.   The book is written in both English, addressed to the foreign male, and in Thai, for the bedded Thai female.  It explains the difference in perspectives between Western and Thai (or indeed, many Asians) on independence, money, parents, and environment. HOW TO ESTABLISH A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN THAILAND  For those with an entrepreneurial bent intent on moving to Thailand.  Thailand is not just the Land of Smiles.  For foreigners, it's also the Land of Bureaucracy, which this British-written guide does some help plowing through.  THE BEACH  A classic of the Gringo banana-pancake trail.  Every backpacker traveling the same trodden paths, doing the same by-the-guidebook activities, fits this one onto his reading list.   A British backpacker seeking the next big thrill comes across a map to a utopian Thai island.   The terrible 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio movie, seen by many, probably hurt this book's chances of getting read.  A pity.  The book outshines the movie.