Cultural Diversity in the Workplace

Rating:
Summary: Pretty harsh about the white
Review: I was assigned this book for a class, and I must admit, I was interested in the topic. Finding ways to promote cultural diversity is a must in the business setting, and with that in mind, I dove into the book.

I was surprised at how viciously anti-white-male the first few chapters of this book were. By the time the topic moved from ethnic minorities and women to people with disabilities, the attitude toned down somewhat, but I considered the first two chapters provocative and hostile.

It's a shame that a fine text about cultural diversity begins with such a high degree of discontent and anger. Once the tone of anger subsided, the book was a worthwhile read.

I think the merits of the book, promoting understanding and non-discriminatory and non-stereotyped attitudes and actions in the workplace, were overshadowed by the *very* discriminatory and stereotyped view of the white male worker.

(I am not a white male)

Rating:
Summary: Starts divisive, gets better
Review: My initial response to the first two chapters of the book was "bunk!" As a member of a "minority" group, I protest the characterizations made about how we "minorities" feel we are treated... Once the book moved on to workers with disabilities, older workers, and foreign workers, I think the focus went off trying to rile up the potentially disgruntled workers, and the second half the book was well worth reading. As a manager, I found the exercises and self-scoring evaluations valuable.

I would recommend the book to others, but I might also recommend that in future editions, it would be worthwhile to tone down the aggressiveness against white men in the first two chapters.