Mexicans & Americans: Cracking the Culture Code (Reference Shelf) [Paperback]

Ned Crouch (Author)

Book Description

Series: Reference Shelf | Publication Date: May 14, 2004

Whether negotiating a delivery date, launching a local franchise, or renting a car in Mexico City, speaking the language and knowing the rules of business is not enough. In any culture where yes can mean no-or sometimes maybe-corporate giants, including Wal-Mart and IBM, can make costly mistakes. Mexicans and Americans: Cracking the Cultural Code gets to the heart of our differences and lays the groundwork for cultural fluency. Here is a humorous and insightful firsthand look at how to succeed in working with Mexicans on either side of the border. Steeped in the richness of Mexican culture and history, Ned Crouch helps us understand the most critical elements that determine what works and what doesn't when Mexicans and Americans come together in business: our different views of time and space, and our construction and use of language. He debunks the manana stereotype and offers specific advice on how to cross the cultural divide that separates our views on hierarchy, authority, class and gender. Real business examples and dozens of personal dialogues from a range of professions-like waiters, cab drivers, lawyers, engineers and CEOs-demonstrate common Mexican and American mindsets. Ned Crouch draws on a lifetime of experience to show how Mexicans and American gringos can engage with and enrich each other.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I wish I had known all this stuff when I was working in Mexico." -- Gary Simon, President of Sigma Group and Former Executive with El Paso Energy

"This should be a textbook worth credit hours...it reads like an adventure novel." -- Peter D. Olsen, Ford Motor Company

"Very well written, both as prose and from the ripening of long experience." -- Doug Stuart, Ph.D.,Training Manager USA, IOR Global Services

"You’ve got a hit on your hands. It should be required reading for all MBAs at Harvard Business School." -- I.C. Bupp, Ph.D., former professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and author of Energy Future and Light Water

With U.S. and Mexico business leaders interacting more, both need to better understand subtle and not-so-subtle cultural differences. -- Grand Rapids Press, September 15, 2004

From the Publisher

In any situation when such fundamental concepts as time, space, and language are open to various interpretations, conflicts can arise, misunderstandings occur, and social, economic, and political rifts often result. Author Ned Crouch tackles these critical differences between Mexicans and Americans head-on in MEXICANS & AMERICANS: Cracking the Cultural Code.

Steeped in the richness of Mexican culture and history, Ned goes head-to-head against the argument that America should try to recapture its Anglocentric core. He argues, instead, for working together to bridge the gap between Hispanics and Americans. He explores the three most critical elements that determine what works and what doesn’t when Mexicans and Americans come together: our different views of time, of space, and our construction and use of language. He debunks the mañana stereotype. And he shows how the patterns, sounds, and construction of English and Spanish shape cultural attitudes that drive specific behaviors and our differing ideas of hierarchy, authority, class, and gender.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing (May 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185788342X
• ISBN-13: 978-1857883428
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable to those doing business in Mexico, July 10, 2004

By 

fm (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mexicans & Americans: Cracking the Culture Code (Reference Shelf) (Paperback)

Ned Crouch gives us a great book, full of practical advice and interesting anecdotes. His love for Mexico and its people shines through. His goal is to make sure you gain, personally and professionally, from your travels in Mexico. This is a must read for those who do business in Mexico and want to learn more about how to walk in the shoes, as well as embrace the hearts and minds, of their Mexican hosts and future compañeros.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The User's Manual for Being a Human Being, July 22, 2004

By 

Kitty Crouch (Plattsburg, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mexicans & Americans: Cracking the Culture Code (Reference Shelf) (Paperback)

While this book may seem to appeal most strongly to those who are working in or with Mexico, its charm extends to all sorts of human endeavor. The author not only reveals his total immersion into the culture of Mexico but also his understanding of how people work. Many of the points of emphasis could be applied to understanding the foibles of those with whom we work and play, regardless of geography. But, the specifics are uniquely those of Mexico and they are illuminating, touching and often delightful to read and to learn. This is such a useful book to enlarge the reader's awareness, not only of others, but also of himself.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Latin American Studies Major, May 3, 2005

By 

W. Hageness (WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mexicans & Americans: Cracking the Culture Code (Reference Shelf) (Paperback)

I would highly recommend this book to every business man. So much of the information presented in this book hits every cultural misconception on the head. I have had the pleasure to travel to Mexico for the past 12 years and experienced much of the culture and practices that are so misunderstood here in the United States. I would also recommend this book to the average joe who is looking to expand their scope on human behavior and intercultural relationships. This book will be an excellence resource to my library as I continue my education in Latin American Studies.