Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are

By: David Livermore, The Great Courses

Narrated by: David Livermore

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Taught by an international adviser to leaders of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and governments, this eye-opening course reveals how you can actively improve your cultural intelligence in an increasingly globalized world.

Based on groundbreaking research, these 24 lectures address dynamics and customs related to working, socializing, dining, marriage and family - all the areas necessary to help you function with a greater level of respect and effectiveness wherever you go. You'll also encounter practical tips and crucial context for greeting, interacting with, and even managing people from other parts of the world.

In the first half, you'll analyze 10 cultural value dimensions that researchers have identified as helpful for comparing cultures; and you'll see how these "archetypes" play out in day-to-day lives. In the second half, you'll look at 10 cultural clusters around the world that - when combined with your understanding of the 10 cultural dimensions - provide strategic insight into how to be more effective as you live, work, and travel in our globalized world.

Why do people from certain cultures have little regard for time? Why might working overtime reflect poorly on you in Scandinavia? Why should you avoid using your left hand when interacting with someone from the Arab world? You'll find out the answers to these and other intriguing questions in Customs of the World.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2013 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2013 The Great Courses

Well structured introduction with examples

Where does Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The quality of the lectures and lecturers in The Great Courses varies dramatically. This is one of the best ones I have listened to. The material is presented in a structured manner and follows the traditional "theory followed by example" approach.

What did you learn from Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are that you would use in your daily life?

As a teacher of domestic and international students it provided me with a structured understanding of the cultural differences that need to be catered for in a multi-cultural classroom. I now have an appreciation of why some international students don't turn up for meetings on time or at all.As a traveller it provided me with some insight into what to expect and a debrief of what I observed on a recent trip along part of the Silk Road.

Important, Fascinating and Useful

Prof. Livermore shows how different cultures place different values on things like personal vs. collective accomplishment, individual autonomy vs. rule-following, fairness to outsiders, work/life balance, individual space and punctuality. But even more importantly, his teaching allows us to better understand on how our culture conditions our expectations about these matters and helps us to see the range of values present in North American culture today. Very interesting. These lectures can transform how you see everyday life and the people you meet.

Step I the right direction

Found it informing and answers to a question. Why is my experience with visiting cultures/people so different? Answer, I de mistreat interest in their cultures, acknowledge my ignorance, and ask for help in saving face (asking fore guidance in manors and costumes). When corrected I always express my appreciation. I am never offended if laughed at something I say or do. But join in on the joke when I am corrected. Also when I do/say something inappropriate or embarrassing, I am careful with apology. I am a ware that my host may feel a sense of failure in mot informing me, thereby he will sharing the moment with me. Effort goes a long way in being forgiven for mistakes.

Interesting, but like homework

I got this book because I thought it might enlighten me in the ways of the world. It is good but not entertaining.

For anyone world traveller or global biz person, this is a must!

Absolutely loved this course. Learned hundreds of very practical tips on interacting with different cultures more elegantly. Thank you.

A must course for all international travelers

This course is extremely helpful in describing the nuisances of the many cultures and customs throughout the world. I’ve been lucky enough to visit, and live in, many of the countries mentioned throughout this course. As I listened to both the familiar and new (to me) information and insights I couldn’t help think of how valuable this course could have been to me before my travels. This course is a crash course that every international traveler should do, not only to enhance the travel experience, but to reduce the confusion of trying to properly adapt to your destination’s unique situations, customs and surroundings. This course provides everything you need to take the fear out of travel. Take this course, then book your flights!

Essential for building your cross-cultural effectiveness

This is a great course for anyone who interacts with others from outside of their own native cultural background. It will deepen your understanding of different cultural motivations and the underlying philosophies found in different regions to enrich the experience of interaction.

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent,

Great lecture series.

I was expecting to learn about communication with people in other countries, and I did.

What I wasn't expecting was to learn so much about myself, and those that I'm in contact with every day.
David Livermore discusses the various cultural clusters while noting that you will have variations within those clusters. The added bonus is in addition to seeing the variations within yourself, you will start to notice the variations in those around you. The benefit to this is that as your understanding grows, so does your patience. When your patience grows, your stress level goes down.

Knowledge is power. When gained and cultured, knowledge becomes wisdom.

First half kind of interesting, second half great!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are?

The most memorable moment was without a doubt when he spoke about my own culture, the Nordic cluster. Dead on! Made me realize that what I take for 'normal behavour' is normal mainly if you are Swedish. I have lived in several different cultures, mainly Latin and south Asian, and now I'm making my Latin boyfriend listen to the course, mainly to prove that I'm not weird, just Nordic.

What about Professor David Livermore’s performance did you like?

I loved how he didn't over compare to US culture, and didn't say US ways were superior.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Many, it mainly confirmed, and gave a reason for things I already kind of knew.

Any additional comments?

I could have skipped the first half of the course, or shorten it quite a bit, too much fluff for my liking. The second half is extremely interesting and useful. Well worth waiting for.

Costumsof the World

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