The Real Turk
by Stanwood Cobb
Category: Turkey

Cobb spent three years in Turkey learning about the culture. He writes about the "character" or cultural norms, and climate in the first chapter, crediting the hot climate to certain behaviors that Americans deem "lazy". He discusses the prototypical Turk in his mindset ("medieval"); as a citizen; in business; women and gender roles; and home life. He gives a chapter to a profile of Tewfik Fikret Bey. Cobb spends a good portion of his book on education in the Ottoman Empire--Turkish schools, the education of girls, American influence on Turkish education, and education at Robert College specifically. Finally, the last few chapters discuss Islam, Islam and the inner life, sects, particular beliefs and rites, faith healing, and cross-cultural exchange.