Managers' Forum ~ Book Reviews
 

With lighthearted touch and tone, Axtell take us around the world illustrating each culture with witty anecdotes. After 30  years of travelling and living abroad, Mr. Axtell is well qualified to explain and advise in communicating with what he calls: "shipmates on spaceship earth". In his book he is trying to "Create awareness of, or sensitivity to, behavior when one is travelling outside the United States", and he really does. In the first chapter: "Protocol, Customs and Etiquette" he explains the very basic rules of behavior and good manners. He remind us that when we travel to a different country we are ambassadors not only of our companies but  of  our country too. " How you behave in other people's countries reflects on more than you alone".  A little common sense and pinch of
humility would help any traveller to understand and respect a different culture.  The chapter on body language, although brief, is accurate and useful. With some of the hand gestures, if you are not aware of their meaning,  it can be detrimental to your visit and sometimes outright dangerous.  The "Special Section: A Quick Guide to the Ways of the world" is a little week and general. It reminds me of "Kiss Bow or Shake Hands". In some of the countries even inaccurate.

Chapters 3 and 4 are very good. When it comes to gifts you really have to know the protocol. Mr. Axtell does a very good job in pointing out the different customs around the world. In Chapter 4, "The American Jargon", Mr. Axtell brings back memories from my first experiences in the U.S.  When my new boss told me I had to touch base with somebody, I had absolutely no clue on what I suppose to do.

Closing the book he remind us of a very simple fact: "There is one universal action, one signal, one form of communication that is used and understood by every culture and in every country, no matter how remote. It can help you with every relationship- business or personal- and become the single most useful form of communication.  It is... the smile".
 

Axtell, Roger E.  II. Parker Penn Company. Do's and Taboos Around The World.
A Benjamin Book. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1993. ISBN:  0-471-59528-4

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