Remember those annoying “intro” pages of any travel guide meant to give you a short description of what the country you are visiting is all about? The part you most often skip just to make sure you get to the interesting stuff about museums, hotels, restaurants and attractions? I’m guilty of doing that as well but, I should probably remind you that it’s the general information which can really make or break a vacation.

Greece: Instructions for use won’t help you find out how much it costs to visit the Acropolis or figure out the day trips from Thessaloniki , but it will give you very important information about language – including common phrases – , how to use the buses, the trains or ferries and why strikes are part of the Greek culture. It also has a really nice chapter about Greek food and drinks , so you can learn some useful tips about what to savor (and how to savor) while in Greece.

Greece: Instructions for use is written by Kat Christofer, an American journalist, world traveler and full-time resident of Athens. She’s written the book with the American audience in mind, as well as those who are not from the EU zone and, as it says on the cover, it’s great for “new arrivals to Greece”. In fact, I would strongly recommend the book to anyone who plans to visit Greece for the first time.

When I read the book (for the first time) I was tempted to think from the European’s perspective who already knows all about the Euro zone and the phone calls. But I quickly realized that anyone who’s been to Western Europe will have a small culture shock when they get to Greece. Things don’t always go as smoothly as you’d expect so when things take a wrong turn, just open Greece: Instructions for use and read the following (very) intelligent tip:

6. Sense of humor required

Sleeping on a lumpy mattress, sweating for hours on a crowded bus and taking that 10th cold shower may understandably wear on your patience. But did you spend your hard-earned money and come all the way to Greece to complain and wallow in misery?

It’s not the end of the world, so laugh and suck it up! Should you be traveling with a companion or group, a positive attitude and sense of humor are indispensable. It’s their vacation too, and unfair to bring everyone else down. (page 8 )

Greece: Instructions for use is interesting and readable. It’s written with love, from the perspective of someone living in Greece. Don’t be fooled by the small book. It’s more powerful than you think!