4 Books to learn more about Thailand

Whether you're familiar with Thailand or not, whether you're a tourist or an expatriate, our literary selection will help you learn more about this country and its many facets. Like guides, these works will give you the keys to decrypt Thai culture, its specificities, and its subtleties! Discover 4 books you absolutely must read to better understand Thailand as a 'farang'…

Majestic Thailand by Madi Testard

As a senior reporter and journalist, author Madi Testard has always been passionate about Asia, particularly Thailand. Accompanied by two other photographers and reporters (Suzanne Held and Patrick de Wilde), the author embarks on writing a book dedicated to the Kingdom of Siam. From ancient royal cities and their ruins to Buddhist temples and monasteries, not forgetting the frenzy of Bangkok, as well as rice paddies, stilt villages, and other rural landscapes… Far from clichés, the book "Majestic Thailand" offers foreigners "the necessary keys to enter, lightly and with an open heart, into the palaces of the eternal Kingdom of Siam."

Thailand, by Arnaud Dubus and Nicolas Cornet

Not familiar with Thailand? This is the book for you! It features a collection of photos by Nicolas Cornet, extensively captioned by Arnaud Dubus. From the beaches of the Andaman Sea to the banks of the Mekong, through countryside and urban chaos, this book provides an insight into the Land of Smiles. What do we love about it? The authors did not want to deceive the reader. On the contrary, it includes numerous portraits of ordinary Thais in their daily lives in the countryside. The idea is to show the true Thailand, which is not always imagined and lies beyond tourist trails.

The bonds that unite Thais, by Pornpimol Senawong

Thailand is fascinating. It is, after all, one of the few Asian countries that has never been colonized. As a result, the Kingdom of Siam has preserved a rich culture, maintaining its traditions and customs despite modernism and globalization! In this guidebook, Pornpimol Senawong paints a comprehensive picture of Thai society to help foreigners understand all its subtleties. From spirituality and religious beliefs to Buddhist traditions, language, national identity, Thai lifestyle, not forgetting cuisine, crafts, and the world of entertainment, it's all there!

Interestingly, 'The Bonds That Unite Thais' was originally written to assist students aspiring to become tour guides. This underscores just how educational and comprehensive the book is.

Many lives by Kukrit Pramoj

We conclude our literary list with a work by a notable Thai author, Kukrit Pramoj. He was of royal descent, a successful journalist, author, and businessman; he even served as Thailand's Prime Minister. A true institution in Thailand, he is renowned as one of the country's greatest intellectuals. In his book "Many Lives," the author narrates the story of 11 lives, 11 destinies, and 11 karmas, all victims of a shipwreck on the famous Chao Phraya River. Through these 11 characters, Kukrit Pramoj paints a striking picture of 1950s Thailand while questioning the concepts of karma and Buddhist beliefs.