Before purchasing a book I suggest that you visit the publisher’s website to find the latest edition of that book. But often it’s best to purchase books from Amazon.com, e.g. because some of these websites can’t accept foreign credit cards.
Traveling
Magazines
Books
Cross-cultural understanding
Books
| Cultural Impact on Service Quality, Hospitality Tips for Effective Communication with Tourists by Margrét Reynisdóttir, 2019. ISBN 978-9935-9459-0-7. The author is Icelandic and the aim of this book is to help professionals working with foreign tourists effectively meet diverse cultural expectations by providing detailed hospitality tips based mainly on hundreds of stories from professionals working in the travel service and foreigners living in Iceland. The book is about Icelanders, Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, British, Germans, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italians, Spanish, Italians, Russians, Israelis, Americans, Canadians, Chinese and Japanese tourists. I think the book is also useful for tourists from these countries so they know how other nationalities view them. What is polite in one country can be rude in another. How to behave and understand different cultures and religion should be part of compulsory education in Iceland. When I was a bit younger the schools were called Gagnfræðaskólar which emphasized on useful knowledge like the name implied. At that time the fishing industry was most important for the economy so I learned many practical things which I enjoyed very much like how to make nets, navigation, cooking and carpentry beside the usual stuff we learned like languages and mathematics. Today such schools are called Grunnskóli which means basic school and I don´t know if something useful is taught there. Tourism is now very important for the economy so I think practical advice about how to behave towards people of different cultures and religions should be taught. There are some multicultural themes days but I am thinking about more important knowledge like in this book. – The book can be ordered from the author by her e-mail: margret@gerumbetur.is. She also have this web: http://www.gerumbetur.is/
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| One World: Bridging the Communication by Zhao Qizheng. Publisher: China Intercontinental Press 2008. ISBN: 978-7-5085-1406-2. – The author’s thoughtful and humorous explanations uncover the ordinary motivations behind what often seems like bizarre behavior on both sides of the cultural gulf. He graduated in nuclear physics from the University of Science and Technology of China, worked in nuclear research and became a professor. He was Vice Mayor of Shanghai and Director of the Shanghai Pudong New Area Administration. Director of the State Council Information Office of China. Chairman of the CPPCC Foreign Affairs Committee. Dean of the China People´s University School of Journalism and Ph.D. supervisor at two universities. – Contents includes e.g.: A Smile – The Language That Needs No Translation, Don’t All Chinese Know Kung Fu?, Patience Is Another Form of Respect, It Is Impolite Not to Return Thanks for Help Received, An Apple Tastes Better Than Vitamin C, When You Speak to a Reporter, You Are Speaking to the Public, A Chinese Romeo and Juliet, Friendship First and Competition Second, Getting Revenge and Wiping out the Troops, From Eyeglasses to Nuclear Bombs, Unforgettable Tour Guides, Taxi Drivers – Spokespeople for a City, Mind Your Own Business, Why Doesn’t He Look at Me, Sorry: Not an Easy Word, Asians Are Loud When They Call? and The Art of Cheering. |
| It’s All Chinese to Me: An Overview of Culture & Etiquette in China by Pierre Ostrowski and Gwen Penner. Publisher: Tuttle Publishing 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0-8048-4079-8. – Introduction to basic Chinese culture and rules for politeness are shown with funny cartoons.The book is about major influences and historical events that guide Chinese behavior, key concepts crucial to interacting with Chinese people, culture shock and peculiarities of Chinese business culture. The advice ranges from common faux pas to avoid like never give clocks or cut flowers as a gift because they symbolize death, importance of allowing others to “save face” and how one should behave when invited to a home. |
| Understanding Korea 7 Folklore. Publisher: Foreign Languages Publishing House, Pyongyang, Korea Juche 106 (2017). – I bought it in North Korea but you can also get it for free here as a pdf-file. The book provide information e.g. about clothes, food, drinks, table manners, family life, marriage, birthday, memorial services, folk games, physical training games, dance, etiquette of salutation, dance and music. Pdf file: North Korean folklore |
| Korea Unmasked: In Search of the Country, the Society and the People by Won-bok Rhie. Publisher: Gimm-Young International 2005. ISBN-13: 978-89-349-1771-7. – This book helped me to understand Koreans after I was in North and South Korea. It is an illustrated book that presents a hilarious and often unflattering look at Korean society and its people. It brings the reader a fascinating exploration of the Korean mindset and weaves together history, sociology and cultural anthropology. The book introduces an insight in subjects like; Korean history, traditions, culture, food, life, economy, tension between South and N. Korea. Also differences and similarities with China and Japan. After achieved , Won-bok Rhie has a bachelor’s degree in architecture at Seoul National University, studied graphic design in Germany and obtained a degree of Dipl. Designer. He is the author of numerous comic books e.g. about about several European countries, Korea and Japan. He is a professor of graphic design in University in Seoul and served as the president of the Korean Society of Cartoon and Animation Studies. |
| Don’t They Know It’s Friday? Cross-Cultural Considerations for Business and Life in the Gulf by Jeremy Williams. Publisher: Motivate Publishing, 1998. ISBN-13: 978-1860630743. – Jeremy Williams, OBE, has more than 20 years´ experience of the Gulf region as former British Defense-Attaché to the UAE and Bahrain. His company, Handshaikh Ltd, conducts seminars, briefing programmes and negotiation training for organisations with Gulf business connections. This handbook is an essential guide for anyone wishing to do business in the Gulf, but also helpful for travelers. It not only focuses on Gulf business practices, Arab culture and behavior patterns, but also prepares the reader for the many life-style changes which may be experienced. It includes a comprehensive section of Islam and discusses its effect on daily life in the Gulf, thus dispelling many of the myths associated with the region. The book is recommended by Dr Obaid Ali Bin Butti, Director Gulf Section, Juma al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage in Dubai, and Abdullah bin Eisa al Serkal, Director, The Shaikh Mohammad Centre of Cultural Understanding, Dubai. |
Safety and security
Books
