When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures

This well written informative book is a must for anyone interested in why cultures as a whole function in a specific manner and provides insight for how very different cultures can lean how to better deal with each other.

I read the first edition during college and fell in love with this book. Should be required reading for all students and everyday people even. It is very informative and everything is so true. I have been in over 40 countries, and this is so right on. Yes, stereotypes exist, but they are all based on truths! The book expalins it all. This new edition covers many new countries in a great easy read. Highly recommended to understand other cultures. We would all get along if we read this book.

Well written and articulated, the book is very interesting to read. however, the amount of information provided is sometimes more than what you would really need. the book is divided in a general part, dedicated to the subject of cross cultural issues, and a specific presentation of each country peculiarities. The latter, unless you are supposed to expatriate in a particular country (but in that case you buy additional books)is a little hard to stay focused on. however, this book is a comprehensive manual on cross cultural communication, management and leadership. I recommend it to whomever likes the subject.

Amidst the plethora of business books out there, here's one that is likely to remain in print for many years without ending up in the $1.98 bargain table at your local Borders Books. Lewis's tract covers over 60 different countries and virtually every major region in the world. New chapters in this Third Edition include information on doing business in Iraq, Pakistan, Serbia, Columbia and Venezuela.

"When Cultures Collide" is more than just a book on doing business internationally; it is guide to communicating effectively with the individuals of these diverse and emerging markets across the global marketplace.

Divided among the "Lewis Model," the author examines and divides cultural types through what he calls "linear-active, multi-active, and reactive variations." For example, the Germans and the Swiss are considered "linear-actives" as they thoughtfully plan, schedule, organize, doing one thing at a time; in contrast, the Chinese, Japanese, and Finns tend to be "reactives" since they value and priortize courtesy and respect, as they listen quietly and react carefully to another's proposal.

The book has been tremendeously helpful to me in negotiating deals foreign clients allowing me to avoid the faux pas we Americans erroneously commit while doing business with our international customers.

In a nutshell, the author examines how the mind--any mind is conditioned even at an early age. As a result, the irreversible nature of this childhood training establishes a relationship between langauge, action and thought.

For anyone who does business internationally, or simply wishes to find out more about the other cultures on this ever-shrinking planet we share and inhabit, Lewis's book is a must read.

Great resource to help you understand the cultures you'll encounter when working abroad. The first half provides an overview of cultures and how they are formed, etc. The second half is full of short 5 page overviews of cultures by country. A great combination of background (1st half) and country specifics (2nd ahlf) that you can reference as necessary depending on where business takes you.

Working only in the USA? Well this is a good resource to understand some of the folks you'll manage or work with from other cultures.