No. 355, October 20, 1997

The review

A Good Book

read by Jonas Himmelstrand

When Cultures Collide

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We all know that people from different cultures see reality differently. Some of us experience this directly in daily life when we receive people from other cultures.

Richard D. Lewis, author of the book When Cultures Collide, has worked in many different countries during his 30 years of work. He gives a clear portrait of the culture of twenty of those countries, and helps us to understand their behaviours, ways of thinking and, not the least, the historical roots of the culture.

Among other things we read about the individualistic French, the direct Americans, the lively Italians and the very different Japanese. He also gives a sympathetic understanding of the Swedes and their behaviours. Lewis describes how one succeeds in a business meeting in the different cultures.

According to Lewis it is language which creates our picture of the world. The Zulus in South Africa, for example, have 39 different words for green, and the Eskimos 42 words for snow. Different languages describe reality in different ways and shape our lives accordingly.

The author divides the cultures of the world into three main groups: the linear-active (for example, the British and the Germans) who do one thing at a time according to a prepared plan, and who carefully observe schedules and deadlines; the multi-active (for example, the Spaniards and the Arabs) who do several things at a the same time, seldom worry about schedules and often change the plans; and the reactive (for example, the Finns and the Japanese), who are laconic, respectful and good listeners.

Who might find this book useful? Well, almost everyone, I want to say – whether one works with other cultures or only reads about them in the newspaper. After reading this book one becomes more understanding of other cultures, and inspired to want to meet them and learn even more.

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When Cultures Collide, by Richard D. Lewis.
Nicholas Brealey 1996. ISBN 1857880862. 500 pages.

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© 1997 Strategies to Learn & Grow Newsletter • Printable version