Planning on a trip to Thailand? Maybe thinking of retiring in the Land of Smiles?

Doing a bit reading before you go could greatly improve your enjoyment of your trip, whether it's learning some of the language, finding out where the good beaches or affordable accommodations are,  or trying to get an insight into the Thai people's undying love for their monarch. Whatever it is you want to know, there are many great books on the subject, and we have read a lot of them.

Below we have assembled a list of the ten most useful books (plus one) that we have come across over the years relating to Thailand. Enjoy.

1. Lonely Planet Thailand
   
2. Lonely Planet Thailand's Islands & Beaches
3. A History of Thailand
4. There are surprisingly very few books in English on the history of Thailand, which is surprising for a country with such a rich history.
5. The Revolutionary King
6. The people of Thailand have an unparalleled adoration for their king which foreigners  can sometimes find bewildering. Find out what is behind this national love affair before you go to Thailand and hopefully you will gain a greater understanding of your hosts.
7. Conversational Thai: Learn to Speak and Understand Thai with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's Pimsleur)
8. Understanding or even being able to say a few phrases in the local language of any country you visit multiplies the enjoyment factor by at least 10 fold. The reaction you will get from the locals as you try and converse with them is priceless. Do yourself a favor and learn some Thai before you go.
   
9. Thailand Fever
10. A bilingual reference guide to the many cultural differences that may cause misunderstandings in relationship between a Thai person and  a westerner. A must read if you are in or about to be in a relationship with a Thai person.
11. Thai for Lovers
12. Congratulations if you need this book! Fun and useful expressions that you won't find in most Thai language learning books.
13. Minor Wife
14. A nice riveting novel of intrigue by one of the most well known and regarded Thailand based foreign writers. Good for the plane ride over, as well as the beach.
15. How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand
16. Unfortunately it is  not as easy for a non-Thai to buy property in Thailand as it is  in other countries. There are a tangle of regulations and red tape and you just couldn't do it on your own. 
    
17. Retiring in Thailand
18. Many people come to Thailand and decide that they want to retire here, and with good reason. Find out about where to start with this book. You might also like to check out "Retire on 550 a month" for a wealth of information on retiring inexpensively in Chiang Mai.

One more book that we didn't include in the above list is The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej. This is another book about the king but it is very controversial and in fact is banned in Thailand. You cannot even discuss it on Thailand related forums or the authorities will shut down the site. We are not endorsing the book, merely pointing it out because some readers may find it interesting. Do however be very careful if you decide to discuss some of the content of this book with Thai people. We would strongly advise against bringing it up.