Foreign to Familiar is a splendidly written, well researched work on cultures. Anyone traveling abroad should not leave home without this valuable resource! Sarah's love and sensitivity for people of all nations will touch your heart. This book creates within us a greater appreciation for our extended families around the world and an increased desire to better understand them.
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Sarah Lanier is not only a perceptive author, but she has also lived and worked cross culturally worldwide. I have observed Sarah professionally, as a teacher and consultant, on six continents. She has character, insight and experience that qualify her to share intercultural wisdom that will be live-changing for her readers. --Loren cunningham, President University of the Nations --Loren Cunningham
The "Foreign" in the title of this most-helpful book once meant people and culters "overseas". Today that has all changed. Sarah Lanier has captured the keys to understanding our own--and other's--way of doing and saying things. I guarantee that if you follow the principles in this book that the boundaries of your world view will expand. --Peter Jordon
The "Foreign" in the title of this most-helpful book once meant people and culters "overseas". Today that has all changed. Sarah Lanier has captured the keys to understanding our own--and other's--way of doing and saying things. I guarantee that if you follow the principles in this book that the boundaries of your world view will expand. --Peter Jordon
The "Foreign" in the title of this most-helpful book once meant people and culters "overseas". Today that has all changed. Sarah Lanier has captured the keys to understanding our own--and other's--way of doing and saying things. I guarantee that if you follow the principles in this book that the boundaries of your world view will expand. --Peter Jordon
The "Foreign" in the title of this most-helpful book once meant people and culters "overseas". Today that has all changed. Sarah Lanier has captured the keys to understanding our own--and other's--way of doing and saying things. I guarantee that if you follow the principles in this book that the boundaries of your world view will expand. --Peter Jordon
About the Author
Sarah A Lanier was born in Georgia USA and moved with her family to the Middle East at the age of nine. Since 1980 she has worked with an international and interdenominational organization and its university system. Her expertise is in the field of leadership and personnel development.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By Russ Reaves
Format:Paperback
Sarah A. Lanier, Foreign to Familiar (Hagerstown, MD: McDougal Publishing,
2000), 128pp.
In her book Foreign to Familiar, Sarah Lanier seeks to aid the reader in
cross-cultural communication and relationships by highlighting the differences
between hot- and cold-climate cultures. While these concepts are unfamiliar to
most readers, Lanier quickly introduces and defines the categories before
discussing them in detail. Having lived in the Middle East, South America, Africa,
Europe, and New Zealand, Lanier (who is American) is certainly qualified to
address the issue. The reader gets the impression while reading that this book is
the fruit of her own experiences and frequent lectures on the subject in
different settings.
According to Lanier, "the population of the entire world can roughly be
divided into two parts. The two groups represented are 'hot-climate'
(relationship-based) cultures and 'cold-climate' (task-oriented) cultures" (15-16). Lanier
recognizes there may some overlap in the two categories, and cites one unnamed
person who suggested that she use the terms "hot/tribal" and "cold/urban"
(127). She also recognizes that personalities differ within each culture (128).
The primary distinction between the two cultures is that of relational focus as
opposed to task focus. Those in the warm-climates tend to emphasize the
relationships involved between individuals while those in cold-climates focus on the
efficient performance of tasks.
After defining the groups and explaining the primary relationship/task
distinction, Lanier spends the next six chapters explaining further manifestations
of the cultural differences. In Chapter Three, the focus is on direct versus
indirect communication. Chapter Four emphasizes the individualism of the
cold-climates over against the group-identity of the hot-climates. Privacy, highly
valued in the cold, is contrasted with inclusion as the norm in the cold-climate
in Chapter Five.
Chapters Six and Eight discuss two elements of society in which the
differences between hot- and cold-climates are very evident: hospitality and time.
Those with international travel experience will find themselves laughing with
familiarity as they read of Lanier's experiences. Of course, the hot-climates
demonstrate much more warm hospitality, while the cold-climates are extremely
conscious of time and planning.
In Chapter Seven, Lanier introduces a different distinction between cultures
which sometimes clouds the distinction between hot- and cold-climate cultures.
This distinction is between high- and low-context cultures. Drawing from
Edward T. Hall's Beyond Culture, Lanier defines the high-context culture as the
one which has a long history wherein traditions have become very formalized.
Low-context cultures are those whose history is briefer, whose population is more
diverse, and in which very few traditions have developed.
Some of the strongest points of Lanier's book are its brevity, clarity, and
engaging tone of Lanier's style. The reader is aware that Lanier is not writing
an academic treatise. Her aim is pragmatic. She delivers fully in Chapter
Nine, entitled "Practical Next Steps". Here simple steps are outlined to aid the
international traveler or other person who finds himself or herself developing
cross-cultural relationships. Perhaps the most beneficial element of the book
(whether Lanier or her publisher deserves this praise, the reviewer is not
sure) is the summary found at the end of each chapter. It is not as if the
chapters are so lengthy that this is a necessity, but the brief outline form of the
summaries makes relocating information very easy.
Unfortunately, Lanier does not point the reader to further information with
the exception of the brief mention of two sources. This is partly
understandable, in that the bulk of the book's content is based on lessons learned through
Lanier's experiences. Certainly since the time that she developed her ideas on
this subject, she has found other sources to which she could point those with
a hunger for further study. An annotated bibliography would be extremely
helpful in future editions.
This shortcoming notwithstanding, the book has made a positive contribution
to the field of cross-cultural communication. In Foreign to Familiar, Sarah
Lanier has provided a clear, brief, practical introduction to several key issues.
The book is written on the popular level, making it accessible to a wide
audience. This reviewer enjoyed the book and recommends it as a primer for anyone
involved in cross-cultural communication.
2000), 128pp.
In her book Foreign to Familiar, Sarah Lanier seeks to aid the reader in
cross-cultural communication and relationships by highlighting the differences
between hot- and cold-climate cultures. While these concepts are unfamiliar to
most readers, Lanier quickly introduces and defines the categories before
discussing them in detail. Having lived in the Middle East, South America, Africa,
Europe, and New Zealand, Lanier (who is American) is certainly qualified to
address the issue. The reader gets the impression while reading that this book is
the fruit of her own experiences and frequent lectures on the subject in
different settings.
According to Lanier, "the population of the entire world can roughly be
divided into two parts. The two groups represented are 'hot-climate'
(relationship-based) cultures and 'cold-climate' (task-oriented) cultures" (15-16). Lanier
recognizes there may some overlap in the two categories, and cites one unnamed
person who suggested that she use the terms "hot/tribal" and "cold/urban"
(127). She also recognizes that personalities differ within each culture (128).
The primary distinction between the two cultures is that of relational focus as
opposed to task focus. Those in the warm-climates tend to emphasize the
relationships involved between individuals while those in cold-climates focus on the
efficient performance of tasks.
After defining the groups and explaining the primary relationship/task
distinction, Lanier spends the next six chapters explaining further manifestations
of the cultural differences. In Chapter Three, the focus is on direct versus
indirect communication. Chapter Four emphasizes the individualism of the
cold-climates over against the group-identity of the hot-climates. Privacy, highly
valued in the cold, is contrasted with inclusion as the norm in the cold-climate
in Chapter Five.
Chapters Six and Eight discuss two elements of society in which the
differences between hot- and cold-climates are very evident: hospitality and time.
Those with international travel experience will find themselves laughing with
familiarity as they read of Lanier's experiences. Of course, the hot-climates
demonstrate much more warm hospitality, while the cold-climates are extremely
conscious of time and planning.
In Chapter Seven, Lanier introduces a different distinction between cultures
which sometimes clouds the distinction between hot- and cold-climate cultures.
This distinction is between high- and low-context cultures. Drawing from
Edward T. Hall's Beyond Culture, Lanier defines the high-context culture as the
one which has a long history wherein traditions have become very formalized.
Low-context cultures are those whose history is briefer, whose population is more
diverse, and in which very few traditions have developed.
Some of the strongest points of Lanier's book are its brevity, clarity, and
engaging tone of Lanier's style. The reader is aware that Lanier is not writing
an academic treatise. Her aim is pragmatic. She delivers fully in Chapter
Nine, entitled "Practical Next Steps". Here simple steps are outlined to aid the
international traveler or other person who finds himself or herself developing
cross-cultural relationships. Perhaps the most beneficial element of the book
(whether Lanier or her publisher deserves this praise, the reviewer is not
sure) is the summary found at the end of each chapter. It is not as if the
chapters are so lengthy that this is a necessity, but the brief outline form of the
summaries makes relocating information very easy.
Unfortunately, Lanier does not point the reader to further information with
the exception of the brief mention of two sources. This is partly
understandable, in that the bulk of the book's content is based on lessons learned through
Lanier's experiences. Certainly since the time that she developed her ideas on
this subject, she has found other sources to which she could point those with
a hunger for further study. An annotated bibliography would be extremely
helpful in future editions.
This shortcoming notwithstanding, the book has made a positive contribution
to the field of cross-cultural communication. In Foreign to Familiar, Sarah
Lanier has provided a clear, brief, practical introduction to several key issues.
The book is written on the popular level, making it accessible to a wide
audience. This reviewer enjoyed the book and recommends it as a primer for anyone
involved in cross-cultural communication.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
"Foreign to Familiar" is a short very easy to read book that really is far more helpful than I could have ever imagined. As an anglo who has had relationships with hispanics my entire life I thought I understood hispanic people pretty well. After reading the book I now understand why some of the most important people in my life have made such stinging criticisms of me. They believe I am selfish and egotistical, I believed that they couldn't make decisions, were foolish with thier money, and let their family take advantage of them. I now understand why my friends act the way they do and can begin to see myself through their eyes. I wish someone could have taught me this stuff 20 years ago.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a college Professor, I have been using this book as a textbook to help my students learn how to communicate cross-culturally for almost 2 years now. It is a real eye openner both for students from Mid-America and for students from Latin America and Asia. It is so easy to be mis-understood. This study can heal the wounds and rejection that many people feel when they try to relate at work and in the community. Better yet, it can help us to prevent the hurts in the first place. I give it an A+.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy read, good introduction to concepts
I like this book because I easily read it one afternoon. Sometimes concepts are oversimplified, but it's a good introduction to trying to understand how people in different... Read more
Published 1 month ago by j
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
The book is in very good shape and arrived in good time. I am still in process of using it for a discussion guide with others.
Published 1 month ago by LeRoy G. Christoffels
5.0 out of 5 stars
Concise book to help with intercultural encounters
Lanier's book is a very simple read that should be required reading for anyone going overseas or dealing with people from another culture. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dr Deb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Insight
This book is a short, 2 hour read but well worth it. The stories are fascinating from a cultural perspective and if you EVER plan to travel somewhere outside your climate then you... Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. M. Spencer
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must for all MissionTeams
I train short-term missions teams and this is required reading for each team. We read each chapter and then discuss as a group. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Shriver
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for anyone preparing for missions
Sarah Laniers insights into hot and cold cultural climates was immensely valuable in preparing our team for missions to a warm culture people group! I highly recommend it!
Published 4 months ago by A-Langseth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful for ALL to read this book
When my son graduated from high school, he bought copies of this book as a gift for several of his friends. Curious at his selection, I inquired why this book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by P. Caven
4.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended by One of my Students
One of my students in a corporate training class recommended this book to me. I had never read a comparison of hot and cold climate cultures. Read more
Published 6 months ago by L M Farley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent for new world travelers
Outstanding book on culture differences, yet a simple, quick read. This is especially helpful if you are new to traveling in the world. Read more
Published 9 months ago by FaceofFriendship
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good but could be better.
While I enjoyed reading this, I read this as part of a cultural studies class. Since I was preparing to travel to Eastern Europe, I found it very disappointing that she only... Read more
Published 17 months ago by T. Woodward
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