Do's and Taboos of Humor Around the World: Stories and Tips from Business and Life [Paperback]

Roger E. Axtell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 1998

The Do's and Taboos series: over 600,000 satisfied readers-and counting!

"Roger Axtell is an international Emily Post."-The New Yorker

Roger Axtell's latest eye-opening guide to the pitfalls awaiting the business and leisure traveler is his funniest and most useful yet. Building on two invaluable ideas-"laughter has no accent" and "no matter where you travel in our world, there is one form of communication that is understood-the smile"-Axtell expertly combines fascinating business and leisure lore, more than 300 hilarious anecdotes, and loads of entertaining, invaluable advice on proper etiquette in dozens of countries. From embarrassing dining debacles to unintentionally lewd gestures, this delightful guide shows how to avoid cultural faux pas as you sidestep potential misunderstandings. If all else fails, always be ready to laugh at yourself!

Includes 26 whimsical illustrations by the award-winning cartoonist Mel Casson
* Discusses the often comical gaffes arising from differences between American English and the English spoken in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada
* Features dozens of cunning cognates, misinterpreted signs, unknowingly funny gestures, and business blunders to watch out for
* Helps travelers recognize the where, when, and how of using humor abroad

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Roger Axtell's latest eye-opening guide to the pitfalls awaiting the North American traveler-for either business or pleasure-is his funniest and most useful yet. Building on the idea that "no matter where you travel in our world, there is one form of communication that is understood-the smile," Axtell expertly combines fascinating business lore, more than 300 hilarious anecdotes, and a charming international flair, all balanced by his trademark comic timing and entertaining, invaluable advice on etiquette. From embarrassing dining debacles to unintentionally lewd gestures, this delightful guide makes you laugh as you learn to avoid potential misunderstandings. If all else fails, always be ready to laugh at yourself!

From the Back Cover

The Do's and Taboos series: over 600,000 satisfied readers-and counting!

"Roger Axtell is an international Emily Post."-The New Yorker

Roger Axtell's latest eye-opening guide to the pitfalls awaiting the business and leisure traveler is his funniest and most useful yet. Building on two invaluable ideas-"laughter has no accent" and "no matter where you travel in our world, there is one form of communication that is understood-the smile"-Axtell expertly combines fascinating business and leisure lore, more than 300 hilarious anecdotes, and loads of entertaining, invaluable advice on proper etiquette in dozens of countries. From embarrassing dining debacles to unintentionally lewd gestures, this delightful guide shows how to avoid cultural faux pas as you sidestep potential misunderstandings. If all else fails, always be ready to laugh at yourself!

Includes 26 whimsical illustrations by the award-winning cartoonist Mel Casson
* Discusses the often comical gaffes arising from differences between American English and the English spoken in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada
* Features dozens of cunning cognates, misinterpreted signs, unknowingly funny gestures, and business blunders to watch out for
* Helps travelers recognize the where, when, and how of using humor abroad

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (November 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471254037
• ISBN-13: 978-0471254034
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Business Travel Humor by Roger E. Axtell, April 27, 2000

By 

Mr. Vesa Peltomaki (Finland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Do's and Taboos of Humor Around the World: Stories and Tips from Business and Life (Paperback)

I read Mr. Axtell's book on use of humor in the international business environment with great interest. I also had quite a few good laughs doing that. I must confess, however, that I was a little disappointed by the fact that such a great deal of the anecdotes presented in this book have been circulating on the internet for a long time already.

This book is written for the American business people, and Mr. Axtell makes it clear. However, from the point-of-view of a "non-American" reader, there is a drawback attached: some of the anecdotes do not open up unless English--American English to be precise--is the reader's native language. He is left wondering what the point of the story was. Fortunately there are not many such instances.

This is not to say that you should not read this book if you are not an American. On the contrary, Mr. Axtell reveals, perhaps unintentionally, a useful insight into the mind of the average American commercial traveler who might be sitting next to you on an airplane, or on the opposite side of the negotiating table. Also, most of the book's content is sound advice applicable to any cross-cultural business situations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Carry-On Item for Your Trips, November 9, 2006

By 

M. Wieting - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Do's and Taboos of Humor Around the World: Stories and Tips from Business and Life (Paperback)

A true must-have for international travelers or anyone venturing into a culture other than their own - the ultimate guide to leaving your "element" and environment - without forgoing your dignity. It is chock full of anecdotal, true stories of global business travelers and those on holiday. I literally laughed-out loud while reading this book. Passengers in my cabin scoffed at me in wonder, so I buried my face in the spine so the title could purposely be seen. Suffice to say, I may have boosted book sales from curiosity alone. I recommend this title for gifts, your library, or just to remain in your carry-on bag as it serves a great purpose for those perennially on the road. GET this book - available in softcover too!

4.0 out of 5 stars I found this to be an amusing book, April 3, 2011

By 

Pepperment "The Book Chick" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Do's and Taboos of Humor Around the World: Stories and Tips from Business and Life (Paperback)

This is an amusing light read. It helps you start to think like a Cultural Anthropologist. It is good for people to realize that there are more ways to do things than just the way their own country does it. If we can learn about other cultures, we can make our world a better place. Yes, that quote is cheesy but, it is also true. If you want to learn a little bit and have a chuckle while doing so, this is a good book!