Full of sage advice. - Blair A. Ruble, Director, Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for ScholarsThe fourth edition of Yale Richmond's From Nyet to Da: Understanding the New Russia is now available! This classic guide illuminates the dynamics of traditional Russian culture in the framework of contemporary events. Yale Richmond enlightens readers about virtually every aspect of Russian life, covering social and interpersonal skills as well as the underlying cultural assumptions and values of the Russian people. Fully revised and updated, the fourth edition of From Nyet to Da is contemporary and up-to-date with pertinent information about the political, social and economic situations in the New Russia. Business executives, educators, students and government officials alike will gain new insights from this even-handed treatment of the Russian people. Weaving Russian cultural behavior with historical references and modern-day anecdotes, From Nyet to Da, Fourth Edition makes learning about these interesting and passionate people a fascinating experience. Yale Richmond has assembled a remarkable series of insights, based on decades of intimate personal work with Russians.... Extraordinarily useful to anyone seeking work, negotiations or any kind of productive, sympathetic contact with the enormous and profound culture that is Russia. He also knows how to tell a fascinating story.- Irwin Weil, Professor of Russian and Russian Literature, Northwestern University Usefully sums up age-old assessments of Russian character in lively and anecdote-filled prose; these are the basis for practical suggestions meant for student, business person and tourist alike.- David Engerman, Associate Professor of History, Brandeis University Contents Preface to the Fourth Edition Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Welcome to Moscow 2 Geography and Culture 3 Culture and Character 4 State and Society 5 Personal Encounters 6 Negotiating with Russians 7 Seeing the Real Russia 8 Whither Russia? Afterword Recommended Readings Endnotes Index
Yale Richmond, a specialist in intercultural communication, served 30 years in the U.S. Foreign Service with postings abroad as a cultural or information officer in Germany, Laos, Poland, Austria, and the Soviet Union. During the detente years of the 1970s, he was Director of the Office of Soviet and East European Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. He retired in 1979 as a Deputy Assistant Director for Europe, U.S. Information Agency.
After retirement, he served three years as a Staff Consultant to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Congress), and eight years as a Senior Program Officer with the National Endowment for Democracy which gives grants to non-governmental organization around the world in support of democracy. In 1983, he was a member of the U.S. delegation to the Madrid review meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Mr. Richmond is a graduate of Boston College from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1943; Syracuse University, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, magna cum laude, in 1947; and Columbia University, Master of Arts in History (East European), in 1957.
He now spends most of his time writing, and is the author of 12 books.
