Beyond Culture (Paperback)

by Edward T. Hall (Author) "Two widely divergent but interrelated experiences, psychoanalysis and work as an anthropologist, have led me to the belief that in his strivings for order, Western..." (more)
Key Phrases: extension transference, situational frames, covert culture, United States, New Mexico, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A fascinating book." -- Ashley Montag,  Chicago Daily News -- Review

Review
"A fascinating book." -- Ashley Montag,  Chicago Daily News

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Anchor Books; Anchor Books ed. edition (December 7, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385124740
• ISBN-13: 978-0385124744
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,197 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for everyone, February 24, 2001

By A Customer

It's amazing to me that the (brilliantly simple) ideas found in this book aren't more a part of public consciousness and discussion, especially 25 years after its publication. These aren't high-flying concepts. They're experimentally proven and frighteningly basic revelations about how humans function, and the fact that they were never a part of my curriculum in one of the best prep schools in the country and then a top Ivy League school simply drives home Hall's point about the state of academia. My only complaint is that the book jumps around quickly and doesn't always spend as much time as I'd like on particular threads. It also isn't particularly actionable, but given its conclusions this is not surprising. I recommend Maps of Meaning by Jordan Peterson for another fascinating look at how the cross-cultural human psyche is configured. It's a powerful counterpoint to the fashionable but vacuous idea that everything in culture is an arbitrary construct, unconnected to millions of years of evolution of the human organism.

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and inciteful book, and an exciting read, November 25, 2000

By	J. G. Heiser (Sunninghill, Berks) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a brilliant book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of Hall.

Hall was one of the influences on Robert Moran, a professor who teaches Cross-Cultural Communications at the American Graduate School of International Management (see his book "Managing Cultural Differences"). Although Moran and his co-authors draw on dozens of sources, somehow Hall and his concept of Low-Context and High-Context cultures made a big impression on me in Moran's class. My only regret is having waited so long to actually read this classic.

Hall introduces the concept of context as an human behavioral influence. A high-context situation is one in which much of the communication is non-verbal or understood because of the shared context. He characterizes societies as being either low-context, which are typical of northern Europe, or high-context, most dramatically represented by Japan. Context even affects language, and human speech patterns will change, depending upon who they are speaking to and the context of the communication.

I also thought that his concept of `action chains' was perceptive. An AC is a sequence of events in which two or more individuals participate. Shaking hands is a simple chain; becoming engaged is a more complex one. Again, different cultures vary in their emphasis on completing action chains. An American may be very casual about dropping an ongoing chain, which may be very negatively received in other cultures.

His chapter "Culture as an Irrational Force" is full of good common-sense advice on getting along with other people. Hall has provided advice to diplomats and corporate executives, and his book reflects this practical experience. While it delves into theory, his concepts always have a concrete application.

I found his next-to-last chapter, "Culture as an Irrational Force," entertaining, but I had to agree with much of its overt overt political agenda. He has some very strong political opinions on human institutions and the declining state of academia. According to Hall, "Bureacracies have no soul, no memory, and no conscience."

Certainly, anyone interested in cross-cultural communications would benefit from this book. At a time when both America and Europe are dealing with immigration issues, this is also an helpful text to help build an awareness of cultural underpinnings that can otherwise be negatively interpreted, leading to misunderstanding and prejudice.

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Culture's influence on Behavior and Communication, August 31, 1996

By A Customer

Hall provides us with simple but logical comments on culture and its influence on behavior. Leading us from his first experiences as anthropologist to the creation of his well- known communication theory (high- & low-context communication). What does culture do for us in our daily-lifes? Do we have to look at it from a neutral point of view or is it just one more issues we should feel guilty about? His journey through culture helps us identifying key-issues that all of us should care about in general. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.