This is one of, if not the, best Sci fi book I've ever read. Of all the culture series I find this one the most enjoyable to read. It's a true demonstration of what the culture really is as a civilization showing the discrepancies between the values of society and the actions taken to preserve those values. The main character is fully relatable and the plot is engaging. I couldn't recommend this book more, you can read it as a standalone without the rest of the series and arguably is a good one to introduce people to the series.