The Perfect Culture-Excerpt

Thomas Gephardt is a world traveler. Or at least he would like to be one. Determined to leave the confines of his sheltered upbringing in the United States, he voyages to France to expand his horizons. He spends three months with a French family in Bordeaux, working in a local hotel. Inspired by these experiences, Thomas has plans to continue traveling. However, a romantic interest in Paris—an Israeli woman named Sendi—complicates matters. He leaves, but remains in contact with Sendi while he lives abroad in Japan as an English teacher and then in Israel as a volunteer on a kibbutz.

Throughout his explorations, Thomas attempts to probe deeply into his experiences and to ponder big questions: What is the value of foreign travel? What is unique about each of these three cultures? How is each country shaped by its history? On the lighter side, Thomas has a variety of experiences—he is seen as a "quasi-alien" in a French restaurant, he wonders if he can meet expectations as a "talking monkey" in Japan, and he is informed that, unlike in The Big Lebowski, he definitely cannot roll on Shabbos in Israel.

Bill Bryson meets J.D. Salinger, The Perfect Culture is full of satirical observations and thoughtful analysis of travel, people, and customs.

Note: this is an excerpt. The full version is available for purchase. Options are listed on the author's website: brentrobinsauthor.com.

"Full of wry humor and sharp wit...Thomas's evocations of different cities, his reflective, humorous inner dialogue in the middle of real conversations, and his unique take on people and places make the reading a real delight...this charming novel will make the reader wish for a sequel featuring Thomas Gephardt."

-The Prairies Book Review

"This book shines a light on the significance of immersing yourself in other cultures and overcoming the cultural faux pas which we inevitably commit when traveling...Robins conveys all of this through humor, empathy, and by using a protagonist who is easy to relate to...The novel will encourage young readers to pack a bag and leave the perimeters of their everyday lives, and even for me, as a thirty-something-year-old to take a sabbatical and be Thomas again for a year."

-Independent Book Review

"Having traveled to some of the countries explored in the book myself, Thomas's experiences resonate and it is obvious that Brent has written the book after researching customs and people... I would highly recommend this book."

-Readers' Favorite