"There is but one way of knowing the mind of a foreign people -- to share its life, adopting its own style, allowing oneself to be swayed by its rhythm."
Such is the observation of Kurt Singer, author of one of these "best" books. This immersion is a qualification. Another, however, is that the reaction must be accounted for.
The book ought thus to constitute an inquiry that includes the emotions as well as observations -- how you feel about what you find. It should be the results of the country and its various patterns, and of the writer and his or her various patterns. My idea of "best" lies just at this intersection. Here are a few examples.