Rating:  Summary: Great Stuff Review: A must have for any International manager. A one of its kind book. If you work for a multinational and interact with different nationalities, this book will do you good like no other. Meeting a French colleague, Japanese client, Indian customer? Just give the relevant chapter a read and you will be three steps ahead in forming and cementing the relationship.
Rating:  Summary: Essential for any international business person Review: At first glance, you might think that a book that offers advice on business protocol in 60 countries would be superficial in its advice on each one. But this is a great "read" and browsing from country to country can emphasize the key cultural differences when you are visiting just one country. There's even a section on the US, and it's good to learn that we are almost the only country in the world where strangers get straight down to business (Ever asked a visitor:"How was your flight?" then realized you didn't even listen to the answer before launching into business.)This book contains both the important practical matters (bring a gift, wrap it in certain colors, don't expect it to be opened in front of you) and also some interesting academic issues: "Locus of control" and "sources of anxiety reduction." You'll be pleased to know that Americans don't worry about anxiety much--except about deadlines at work.
Rating:  Summary: Essential for any international business person Review: At first glance, you might think that a book that offers advice on business protocol in 60 countries would be superficial in its advice on each one. But this is a great "read" and browsing from country to country can emphasize the key cultural differences when you are visiting just one country. There's even a section on the US, and it's good to learn that we are almost the only country in the world where strangers get straight down to business (Ever asked a visitor:"How was your flight?" then realized you didn't even listen to the answer before launching into business.) This book contains both the important practical matters (bring a gift, wrap it in certain colors, don't expect it to be opened in front of you) and also some interesting academic issues: "Locus of control" and "sources of anxiety reduction." You'll be pleased to know that Americans don't worry about anxiety much--except about deadlines at work.
Rating:  Summary: Essential book if you work with people from other Countries Review: Fantastic book, I've been referring to this for nearly 10 years now since it first came out. Working as I do with many different cultures, and given the track record of my American Colleagues who don't know where Canada is (joke!) I've always found it ironic that it was an American team who wrote this book! Anyone who is ever sceptical about the value of its content, I show them the pages for their Country, and within minutes they're sold on its value, even if there's something minor in there they can quibble about. I especially rely on this book for the Business Practices (Appointments, Negotiating & Entertaining) and the Protocol (Greetings) sections. I've worked in over 30 Countries, and this book has never let me down. The only times I've needed a Country that wasn't in the book was for Austria & Croatia, but you can't have everything!
Rating:  Summary: Well-intentioned but unreliable..... Review: I am a technical translator and localization project manager, and recently purchased "Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands" as a reference. When I received the book, my first instinct was to turn to see the section on the UK to see what was written about the customs and traditions of my native country. The problem was, I couldn't find it. First, I searched under "United Kingdom". Then I tried "Great Britain", and in desperation, "Britain". I was dismayed (to say the least) when I eventually found it under "England". As a very small Cultural Note on the third page of the section explains, "England" is but one country in a group of three that make up Great Britain, one of four that comprise the United Kingdom, and one of five that form the British Isles. I have no objection to descriptions of the customs, traditions, and history of England. My objection is to the fact that the terms England, the UK, and Great Britain are used interchangeably on the first three pages of this section, before the aforementioned note explains that this is not accurate. Referring to "England's" educational and belief systems when those of the UK are meant, and "the English" when "the British" are meant is completely erroneous - and even offensive. It is tantamount to confusing the USA and Canada, a mistake that very few people would make. Having lived in the USA for some time, I have come to realize that there is a common misconception in America that England and the UK are one and the same country. As it is clear to me from the Cultural Note that the authors of this book are fully aware of the difference, I am disappointed that a book aimed at promoting cultural awareness does nothing to clear up this misconception. The fact that the Cultural Note explaining this difference does not occur until the middle of the section even suggests that it is unimportant...... The inaccuracy of the information in the UK section of this book would lead me to doubt the accuracy of the information in the other sections. I am seriously reconsidering the suitability of the entire book as a work of reference for our project.
Rating:  Summary: Misleading and imprecise Review: I compared the information in this book about my own country and the one I'm living and it is almost correct; at least, if you follow what it says, you would not have problems when dealing with people from those places. I have met people from several countries and so I know much of the information in the book is right and useful, as well. In 4 to 10 pages per country, you'll learn the basis of history, language, people's way to handle information, and so on. It's a very good starting point. Moreover, I liked very much the political correctness of this book: The style is very respectful of cultures and people (in most cases). Two problems: 1) It should include more countries. It would be a nice resource of data about the places the people you meet come from. 2) The information should be updated, let's say, in a web page, since the world changes continuosly. However, you'll get a very nice picture about the places and people described in the book.
Rating:  Summary: Good guide for international businesmen/women! Review: If one has a desire or is currently working for a company that does business with foreign companies, then this book, i.e., Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: How to Do Business in 60 Countries by Terri Morrison, et al, should be required; since it teaches Businessmen/women how to deal with and ultimately understandother peoples cultures, business practices and protocols.
Rating:  Summary: Country-surfing can hurt Review: Not a bad idea, but this kind of superficial info can hurt you as much as it can help you - maybe a regional focus would be good?
Rating:  Summary: Good guide for international businesmen/women! Review: This book had come highly recommended, so I had hoped to be able to read it without finding numerous errors, but I was very disapointed. Not only were there entire countries missing but there was one piece of erroneous information which was repeated throughout the book in various chapters. A few of the countries I was not able to find were Austria, Cuba, Lebanon and Morocco. Austria may not be the biggest nation in the world, but that does not mean businesses do not exist there, and just because the US has an embargo against Cuba doesn't mean other English reading countries cannot do business there. Many European nations have open relations with Cuba that do not prevent them from business communications. In regards to the piece of erroneous information repeated throughout the book, in Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Spain, and Venezuela, the book claims that Hispanic women change their last names when they get married. (This information may have been repeated in other Hispanic nations, but those were the only ones I read.) Hispanic women do NOT change their last names at any point in their lives. A Hispanic woman can be married half a dozen times and the last names she dies with are the same ones she was born with. Had it not been for the missing countries and repeatedly incorrect information I would have enjoyed this as a better resource.
Rating:  Summary: 60 Mistakes Review: This book had come highly recommended, so I had hoped to be able to read it without finding numerous errors, but I was very disapointed. Not only were there entire countries missing but there was one piece of erroneous information which was repeated throughout the book in various chapters. A few of the countries I was not able to find were Austria, Cuba, Lebanon and Morocco. Austria may not be the biggest nation in the world, but that does not mean businesses do not exist there, and just because the US has an embargo against Cuba doesn't mean other English reading countries cannot do business there. Many European nations have open relations with Cuba that do not prevent them from business communications. In regards to the piece of erroneous information repeated throughout the book, in Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Spain, and Venezuela, the book claims that Hispanic women change their last names when they get married. (This information may have been repeated in other Hispanic nations, but those were the only ones I read.) Hispanic women do NOT change their last names at any point in their lives. A Hispanic woman can be married half a dozen times and the last names she dies with are the same ones she was born with. Had it not been for the missing countries and repeatedly incorrect information I would have enjoyed this as a better resource.
|