[verybigf]

Is the book worth reading? does it have some particular insight that other publications lack? Hmm, I don't know quite how to answer that. People with a lot of experience have said that there's nothing surprising in it, which I guess is a positive comment, really.

There is an extensive discussion about the difference between Thai and farang families and relationship expectations. I've never seen a detailed explanation of naam-jai, sam-nuk-bun-kun, and gat-dtan-yuu anywhere else (but of course I haven't looked very hard). My feeling is that if you know about those concepts you don't need the book, but if you were saying "sam-who?" you really do need help

Even if you do know the concepts, it may be helpful. It is written in both English and Thai so you can tell your friend to "read this section, that's what I'm worried about!"