Foster's timely work looks at globalization processes and the transformations that occur within a diverse society. He investigates the multicultural blend of Western and Moslem cultures in Morocco, showing how a multicultural society deals with differences, e.g., how urban secularized Moslems constitute their identities, and how they present themselves to non-Moslem Westerners. Foster's work is about close encounters-he captures the dialogues between individuals and their resistance to intolerance. He offers a combination of narrative & life history, timely investigation of the intercultural problems facing Westerners & Moslims, and a consideration of the broader psychological and political forces at work in a multicultural society. His ethnography is a rich resource for anthropologists and African studies researchers.

"This is a beautiful book about how individuals respond to globalization processes. It is also a valuable contribution to the literature on Morocco....By focusing on close encounters and the experiences of a few individual Moroccans, Foster reminds us about the complexities of human life and also introduces us to 'Moroccos' that do not usually come to the forefront." - Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 44, No. 5, September 2007

"Its extensive scholarly commentary and anecdotal approach reflect its author's training as an anthropologist. Foster has done a masterful job of illustrating, through anecdotes, the processes and effects of modernization, at least as they affect Tangiers and such principal Moroccan cities. Foster successfully blends his scholarly and personal itineraries, carrying them forward to a satisfying destination." - H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online