Customer Reviews

When in Rome or Rio or Riyadh...: Cultural Q & As for Successful Business Behavior Around the World

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Written by the owner of an international training and consulting company, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh: Cultural Q & As For Successful Business Behavior Around The World is a comprehensive guide especially for international businesspeople, covering common cultural misunderstandings and gaffes that can plague one in nations ranging from Australia to Venezuela. From general information on how to make small talk safely and avoid common communication problems, to body language recommendations and warnings against inappropriate gestures in different nations (for example, a raised thumb is considered offensive in Australia and the Middle East), to countless case studies of problems and communication issues brought about by different cultural norms and expectations, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh is not only a "must-have" resource for globetrotters but also an engrossing to lay readers curious about the sharp differences in how folks from different nations relate. Extremely accessible and down-to-earth, When In Rome Or Rio Or Riyadh explores the fascinating variety of cultural differences from an emphatically practical perspective.

There were places in this book where I laughed out loud, usually at the real-life examples of "culture clashes." The letters also made me think about how my own behavior at work could be misunderstood by foreigners. I learned a lot!

I'm glad the first reviewer enjoyed my book. I've aimed to give readers information about working successfully with people from other cultures, but I also want to make them consider how our own cultures affect the ways we think and act.

This is a delightful, practical and amusing book providing helpful and insightful advice for the global (business) traveller; it covers a wide range of topics from business ethics to meal-time etiquette and how generally to avoid cultural gaffes; Ms Oloffson has covered all the angles

This book is a complete winner! All the the other intercultural books I`ve read have been BORING. This is a book for everybody working internationally...and it`s wise and amusing

An easy read with lots of useful nuggets of information. I'm not keen on the format where it uses letters, kind of like an agony aunt. However it works, so you can't really criticize it.
I like the summaries of a subject and the country by country comparisons. 8/10 on my scale.

I just started working in a large multi-national and have found this book invaluable in its advice about how to deal with people from other cultures. I particularly liked the Q&A format of much of the book when people wrote to Gwyneth Olofsson with questions about how to deal with tricky cross-cultural situations - the sort that can lead to "culture clash" if you're not careful. A big plus is that it's funny too!

Book arrived in excellent condition and quickly. The book is very informative and in a nice conversational, easy to grasp format.