Publishing February 10, 2026 | Jacketed Hardcover, Paperback, and E-book | 478 pages
In the mid-1990s Czech Republic, no means yes, cows live in houses, and pivo is always a good idea.
Chicken in a Strange Way: A SoCal Beach Girl Takes on Communism is a hilarious fish-out-of-water tale unlike anything you've read before. Melanie Thomas Armstrong, a 25-year-old accountant, arrives in Prague with the noble goal of assisting the country in its economic transition from communism to capitalism. Little can she expect the stark differences in culture and logic that await her. Over the next two years, Melanie undertakes an eye-opening journey as she attempts to understand a system that, through a capitalist lens, simply does not compute.
Packed with witty anecdotes and sharp insights, Melanie's story offers a fresh perspective on life in a newly post-communist country during a moment in history that has gone largely unwritten. Alongside her, you will learn that the truth about communism is not to be found in some abstract textbook but in the accounting ledgers of cement factories deep inside the Czech Republic.
Melanie shows us how two peoples struggled to understand each other after history got in the way. Whether you're a traveler, an expat, a history buff, or someone who loves to laugh, Chicken in a Strange Way might be one of the most playful takes on the clash of capitalism and communism you'll ever read.
Melanie Thomas Armstrong is a retired PwC partner and senior executive with 18 years of experience at the partner and C-suite level. She began her career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen and spent two years in the Czech Republic during its transition from communism to capitalism. She went on to lead global social impact work for PwC with clients such as the United States Agency of International Development and the United Nations. Today, she is a founder and owner of ThroughLine Consultants, where she uses genetic genealogy to help solve cold cases, and serves on several nonprofit boards, including Mercy Corps. A certified public accountant, she holds a degree in psychology from UCLA, has two children in college, and lives in Virginia with her two dogs.