Sketches, usually published in the form of columns in (local) newspapers, can be very interesting or entertaining in the community they were written, and may help understand society by lifting individual experience to a higher level.

However, the success of many such pieces of writing depends on the context. Collections, published in book form often fail, even if the weekly columns were very successful.

This book, Bangkok people by James Eckardt fails to rise above the limitation of describing local characterizations. Uninteresting, and not instructive. ( )