Scan barcode
oswindler's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
kfolezzz's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
read this cos i thought it could help me at work. interesting ideas! but it *is* 10 years old at this point. also def written for americans specifically.
polw's review against another edition
2.5
Some interesting concepts, although I felt as though it leaned into reinforcing stereotypes quite heavily in some points. It could have stressed a bit more that as the same as all generic communication books, concepts should still be applied within context.
mmanuelap's review against another edition
2.0
This book provides a valuable perspective on understanding cultural differences by comparing major countries across various scales. These scales include Communication (low context vs high context), Feedback (direct vs indirect negative feedback), Persuasion (principles-first vs application-first), Leadership (egalitarian vs hierarchical), Trust (task-based vs relationship-based), Disagreement (confrontational vs avoids confrontation), and Scheduling (linear vs flexible time). By placing countries on these scales, the book facilitates easy comparison and sheds light on where cultural differences may arise.
While the concept itself is insightful in comprehending diverse cultures, the book falls short in terms of supporting data and studies. Although the author occasionally mentions the origins of these scales, there is a lack of concrete data explaining why they were chosen in the first place and how the countries were placed along the scale.
Moreover, the author heavily relies on personal anecdotes from her professional experience, which slows down the book's progress without adding substantial new information. In fact, the entire content and meaning of the book could easily be condensed into an article without losing its intended message.
Ultimately, this book serves as a useful resource for gaining a broad understanding of different thought patterns encountered when working with people from different cultures. However, if you are not new to the topic, the book lacks the depth required for a comprehensive "culture map" that delves into the intricacies of each culture.
While the concept itself is insightful in comprehending diverse cultures, the book falls short in terms of supporting data and studies. Although the author occasionally mentions the origins of these scales, there is a lack of concrete data explaining why they were chosen in the first place and how the countries were placed along the scale.
Moreover, the author heavily relies on personal anecdotes from her professional experience, which slows down the book's progress without adding substantial new information. In fact, the entire content and meaning of the book could easily be condensed into an article without losing its intended message.
Ultimately, this book serves as a useful resource for gaining a broad understanding of different thought patterns encountered when working with people from different cultures. However, if you are not new to the topic, the book lacks the depth required for a comprehensive "culture map" that delves into the intricacies of each culture.