Brit-Think, Ameri-Think: A Transatlantic Survival Guide
Jane WalmsleyHilariously apt look at two nations divided by a common language.
Understanding Europeans
Stuart Miller
Miller maintains Europeans are the way they are due to their many centuries of rigid class structure, as well as an incredibly violent and hate-filled history, while Americans are an unusual people, molded by a Puritan ethic that all people are friends before God.
Cultural misunderstandings: the French-American experienceRaymonde Carroll
Excellent look at difference in U.S. and French conversation styles.
Shogun: A Novel of JapanJames Clavell
Considered to be one of the finest works about cross-cultural encounters.
Dave Barry Does JapanDave Barry
Filled with a Regular Joe's bafflement, yet hilarious and deceptively insightful.
Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam
Frances Fitzgerald
Opening chapter on "States of Mind" examines the linguistic and cultural differences that led to U.S. woe in Vietnam. Much of the information is broadly applicable to Asia and even small villages everywhere.
Do's & Taboos Around the WorldRoger E. Axtell
Helps executives and tourists avoid missteps and misunderstandings. Terrific analysis of weaknesses of American English, including the seven deadliest sins:
- local color
- jargon
- slang
- officialese
- humor
- vocabulary
- grammar
Gestures: The Do's & Taboos of Body Language around the World
Do's & Taboos of Using English Around the World
Do's & Taboos of Preparing for Your Trip Abroad
Do's & Taboos Around the World for Women in Business
Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: How to Do Business in Sixty Countries
Terri Morrison
Written by executives who prepare other executives for international travel. The introduction discusses cognitive styles, value systems and negotiation strategies in different cultures, explaining how delicate they make the process of intercultural relations.
A Journey of One's Own (Second Edition): Uncommon Advice for the Independent Woman Traveler
Thalia Zepatos
Excellent practical advice in chapter called "Getting to know new cultures."
Gender and DiscourseDeborah Tannen
Scholarly guide that looks at differences in how men and women communicate in many cultures, including Greece, Japan, Madagascar and United States. Makes point that most people communicate indirectly.
The Travelers' Guide series
Good basic information on how to converse, dine, tip, drive, bargain, dress, make friends and conduct business. Titles available:
The Traveler's Guide to Asian Customs and Manners: How to Converse, Dine, Tip, Drive, Bargain, Dress, Make Friends, and Conduct Business While Asia
The Traveler's Guide to Latin American Customs and Manners
European Customs and Manners
The Travelers' Guide to African Customs & Manners: How to converse, dine, tip, drive, bargain, dress, make friends, and conduct business while in sub-Saharan Africa
"Way" books
The German Way and additional Passport titles look at behavior, food, etc.
The Hispanic Way
The German Way
The Italian Way
The Japanese Way
The Russian Way: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes, and Customs of the Russians (Language - Russian)
Lonely Planet guidebooks
Each of nearly 200 guidebooks contains "Facts about the Country: Culture" with useful information.
The Culture Shock! series
55 titles examining in depth customs, business practices, meals and driving.
The Trans-Cultural Study Guide
Hundreds of thought-provoking questions designed to help the reader systematically study a foreign culture.
