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A review by ben_smitty
Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are by David Livermore
5.0
Instead of preparing for my own wedding today, I've decided to write a review of Livermore's lectures on cultural intelligence. I guess doing reviews on goodreads is kind of cathartic in a sense, and I'm hoping it would somehow calm my nerves for the upcoming event. First off, this is an audiobook. Yes, I do feel torn every time I do a review of the Great Courses because I always feel like I'm cheating. But at the same time, I felt it important enough to recommend it to everyone, and also because there is a book version that is very similar to this one (so I've heard).
Customs of the World was one of those very important books that are helpful for navigating through 21st century America and its hodgepodge of cultures. Livermore walks the audience through each cultural dimension, explaining why your friend Santiago is always late to meetings, why your friend Kim eats with chopsticks, and what Ubuntu (I am because we are) means to Africans. The chapters include power distance, time, low vs. high context, particularism vs. universalism, uncertainty avoidance, cooperation vs. competition, and many more fascinating looks at how each culture functions within these colors.
The second part of the book deals with specific regions of the world (Ango cultures, Arab world, Sub saharan Africa, South Asia, Confucius Asia, etc.) and their own customs. Livermore's assessment of each region was very respectful, and I felt like he represented each country very well, albeit our differences.
Because of my own unique background in being mingled up with two completely different cultures (Anglo and south Asia), I am unsure of what to do on this important day of my life. So I decided to go swimming because it was both something I could do and something I could relax while I'm doing (doing vs. being). Turns out the pool was closed today and I guess I had enough time to write a review in honor of goodreads because of its significance in my own life (and also because I needed a distraction, a product of the Anglo influence). Anyways, I'm sure I've got stuff to do, and it's inevitable that I will forget something on my way over. I was hoping that forgetfulness would be a cultural trait, and it was nothing short of a disappointment to find out that I only have myself to blame.
Customs of the World was one of those very important books that are helpful for navigating through 21st century America and its hodgepodge of cultures. Livermore walks the audience through each cultural dimension, explaining why your friend Santiago is always late to meetings, why your friend Kim eats with chopsticks, and what Ubuntu (I am because we are) means to Africans. The chapters include power distance, time, low vs. high context, particularism vs. universalism, uncertainty avoidance, cooperation vs. competition, and many more fascinating looks at how each culture functions within these colors.
The second part of the book deals with specific regions of the world (Ango cultures, Arab world, Sub saharan Africa, South Asia, Confucius Asia, etc.) and their own customs. Livermore's assessment of each region was very respectful, and I felt like he represented each country very well, albeit our differences.
Because of my own unique background in being mingled up with two completely different cultures (Anglo and south Asia), I am unsure of what to do on this important day of my life. So I decided to go swimming because it was both something I could do and something I could relax while I'm doing (doing vs. being). Turns out the pool was closed today and I guess I had enough time to write a review in honor of goodreads because of its significance in my own life (and also because I needed a distraction, a product of the Anglo influence). Anyways, I'm sure I've got stuff to do, and it's inevitable that I will forget something on my way over. I was hoping that forgetfulness would be a cultural trait, and it was nothing short of a disappointment to find out that I only have myself to blame.