Product Description: The ultimate guide to international behavior…now completely updated and expanded! Do’s and Taboos Around the World 3rd Edition "Roger Axtell is an international Emily Post." —The New Yorker "Can help you make friends [and] avoid travel trouble." —BusinessWeek "Helpful…fun to read…" —Steve Birnbaum The first two editions of Do’s and Taboos Around the World helped thousands of high-powered executives and tourists avoid the missteps and misunderstandings that plague the world traveler. This updated and expanded Third Edition provides even more facts, tips, and cautionary tales—gleaned from the experiences of more than five hundred international business travelers—as well as:
Information on protocol, customs, and etiquette; hand gestures and body language; tipping; American jargon; and the international communications crisis
Up-to-date advice on dealing with the monumental changes in Russia, Germany, Eastern Europe, the People’s Republic of China, and other locales
A new chapter on business gift-giving and gift-receiving customs, with country-by-country gift suggestions and precautions
A special quick reference guide to customs and mores in 96 countries, including revisions and updates from foreign embassies and consulates
Importance of Knowing Your "Audience" The book was in good shape just as advertised, and I received it in a timely manner.
With the demographics changing in America, it's no longer just good enough to understand different cultures in our travels, but right here at home. As we continue to see more immigrants from all over the world coming to our country we must understand their customs and communication style to be effective business people and friends.
not well researched I am from Prague, Czech Republic, Europe. In the books it says that our country lacks common things and that people will be grateful even for small gifts, such as ball-point pens etc since it is hard to get here. I could not believe it when I have read it ! Did the author mix up Czech Republic with war-battered Cecnia or something ??? What a nonsence the statement in the book, even if it is from 1993 or whatever. You would look utterly ridiculous giving someone a pen. We actually have a subway, cars, shopping malls....its not like we live up in trees. The author made CZ look like some third-world hunger stricken country. I do not trust him owith other countries since my country is so mis-judgingly described in the book.
Lots of fun and guidance There is so much data stuffed into this book about so many cultures that its almost overwhelming! This is an impressive book covering many countries and most of the information is still current, despite the fact the last version was copywrited back in the 1990s.
I'd recommend this book for culture buffs as well as for general writers. A great source of ideas.
A Great Resource for International Travelers The basis of this wonderful book is to show the customs, protocol and laws in societies that may be vastly different from the society in which you live.
The book is categorized according to country, and includes cartoon type illustrations of face gestures, hand and arm gestures, and what they mean. In some countries the same gesture has a completely different meaning, which anyone who uses a lot of body language would do well to learn.
The section on Graceful Gift Giving brings valuable insight so as not to insult anyone from different lands, as gift giving is viewed in different ways according to different cultures.
Whether you are going on a business trip, or are traveling for academics or adventure overseas, it is important to learn the customs of each country.
On a personal note, if you ever go to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, do NOT sit on the rock from which Mohammed Ascended (as I innocently did to pray for world peace) because you can be murdered or jailed for that alone - unless you happen to have a professor who is fluent in Arabic that saves you from harsh penalties, which I was fortunate enough to have. ASK about the Sacred sites in Sacred lands BEFORE you attempt to touch or sit on anything.
Do's and Taboos also provides commonly used terms spelled out phonetically from many lands, so that you can converse among the locals graciously.
Highly recommended for all international travelers.
Barbara Rose, Ph.D. author of Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE and If God Was Like Man Editor, inspire! magazine
advice for the business traveler, tourist, or EFL teacher Do�s and Taboos Around the World was written in the mid-eighties for American businessmen who regularly traveled abroad meeting foreign clients. I bought this book to help teach culture shock to my Japanese EFL students, and, by and large, I am quite pleased that I have it on my shelf. Even though there is a lot less information about women than men, and some information, such as gift giving, appears to be specifically for business people, there is enough general information about many different countries� cultures to make interesting reading. The chapter on body language and gestures appeared to be well researched, and my students were able to learn many things from teaching material that I made using the book as a reference. There may be some people who would read Do�s and Taboos and say that the author has distilled a nation�s people to a simple stereotype, and to a point I wouldn�t be able to disagree with that. However, if I ever found myself in the company of people whose culture I were ignorant of, it would be nice to be able to scan this book for do�s, taboos, likes and dislikes, and give myself a reasonable introduction on what I might be likely to encounter. This book is most useful for business travelers, but it is also useful for tourists and travelers, or anyone living in a culture other than their own.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
