Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: How to Do Business in Sixty Countries

Rating:
Summary: An invaluable and well-written guide
Review: This is an essential in both the briefcase of the international business traveller and the suitcase of the more casual tourist. Failure to observe local custom could, at best, render you a laughing stock, and at worse cause serious offence; remember - cultural sensitivity is both common courtesy and sound business sense. The information contained in the book is spot on, at least for the places I have first hand experience of. Don't even think about nailing the deal in Finland unless you first spend 9 hours in a melancholic, sullen and punishing drinking binge with your host; the book even gives you the translation of "You're here to drink, not to enjoy yourself" in the unlikely event that your host attempts some banter. Tourists to England would also be well advised to bear in mind that over one in five of the men you will meet will be either repressed butlers or caddish rascals with an eye to world domination, and when in France, dress for business success: most anything is acceptable as long as it says about you "well-groomed lothario".