About Me
Matt Owens Rees is a seasoned travel writer and social/cultural anthropologist who has lived in Thailand for over 18 years. His writing aims to make Thai culture and lifestyle more accessible than some of the more academic texts—without sacrificing the depth needed to truly understand how this country and its people tick.
He writes from personal experience and from conversations with Thais across a wide spectrum of backgrounds and social classes. To bring cultural insights to life, Matt often compares Thai norms with those of Western countries, using humour and analogy to clarify subtle points. The result is a rich, nuanced portrait of the real Thailand.
Why I’ve Left Medium
I’ve decided to step away from publishing on Medium. The platform’s recent changes—especially its tiered visibility model—no longer align with my values of transparency, trust, and reader-first writing. From now on, all new content will be published here, where I retain full control over tone, access, and integrity. Thanks for reading—and for supporting independent voices.
My Mission and Writing Philosophy
To understand Thailand—and to integrate more meaningfully with Thai people and their culture—it’s important to observe and listen, rather than doing all the talking. After all, we were given two eyes and two ears, but only one mouth.
I’ve developed a “focus group” of Thai contacts from diverse walks of life: from poor farmers and construction workers to office staff, shopkeepers, bankers, and successful business owners. The group also includes members of the so-called hi-so elite, as well as military and police officers.
Because Thais are often cautious about expressing views in front of their peers, many of these conversations happen one-to-one. The group took time to build—but it’s paying dividends.
Collaboration with Carol Hollinger
Although our writing styles differ, my books reflect some of the observations found in Mai Pen Rai Means Never Mind—in my view, the best introductory book on Thais and Thailand. Written by Carol Hollinger in 1965, its insights remain strikingly relevant today.
Sadly, Hollinger passed away at just 45, before she could see her best-selling book in print. I also lost the opportunity to collaborate with her on a new book exploring the concept of Face in Thai society.
Get in Touch
You can email me at MattOwensRees@proton.me
I always welcome comments and reply to every message.
Twitter: @MattOwensRees
Facebook (Chiang Mai): Matt Owens Rees
Where to Preview or Buy My Books
My books are available from all good bookstores. You can also purchase directly from my website by clicking on MY BOOKSTORE at the top of the homepage.
If the link doesn’t work, simply copy and paste this into your browser:
https://books2read.com/mattowensrees/
I hope you enjoy reading my titles—and I’d be grateful if you leave a comment or review. This enables me to tailor my b