Matt Owens Rees is a seasoned travel writer and social/cultural anthropologist who has lived in Thailand for over 18 years. He tries to make the subject of Thai culture and the lifestyle of the Thai easier to understand than some of the more academic texts. But Matt does so without sacrificing the detail which is necessary to appreciate how this country and its people tick.

He writes from his own experiences and his conversations with Thais from different backgrounds and social classes. To get the cultural points across, Matt often compares Thai culture to that of western countries, and often does so with some humour. The result is a very rich picture of the real Thailand.

Many writers are leaving the Medium platform because there appears to be a problem with algorithms removing their articles. I have not, therefore, placed any more articles on that platform until it’s resolved. For the moment, you can read the old stories.
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The link also takes you to replies to his stories from other writers. That does not of course indicate in any way that he endorses those stories. The search facility is useful as it can take you to all stories on medium under your search topic. Some of those stories are interesting. But, again, that does not imply he endorses those stories. It is up to readers what they read, and what they ignore. We are not children, after all. We can use our own judgment.

To understand Thailand and to integrate better with the Thai people and their culture, it’s important to observe and listen rather than doing all the talking oneself. After all, God gave us two eyes and two ears, but only ONE mouth.

Matt Owens Rees has a “focus group” where he can bounce ideas off Thais from varying social classes. From poor farmers and construction workers to those working in offices and shops. From bankers to well-off business owners. His group includes members of the so-called hi-so elite, as well as military and police officers. Interaction sometimes needs to be one-to-one, as Thais are cautious expressing their views in front of their other countrymen. The group took time to develop but is paying dividends.

Despite not being similar in style, his books reflect on some observations in “Mai Pen Rai Means Never Mind”. In his opinion, the best introductory book on Thais and Thailand. Written by Carol Hollinger in 1965, its insights are still very revealing. Her book is as relevant now as it was then. Sadly, Hollinger passed away at 45 years old before she could see her best-selling book in print. Matt also then lost an opportunity to collaborate with her on a new book on the concept of Face in Thailand.

You can email Matt at brigydon1@outlook.com, where he always welcomes comment. His Twitter address is @MattOwensRees and his Facebook page in Chiang Mai, Thailand is Matt Owens Rees.

Where to preview or buy my books.

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