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

A book to bring people together

Misunderstanding or Misinterpretation is the main perpetrator in our struggles as humanity in this modern world. We do not appreciate someone's lack of attention when we feel very emotional about something... and we judge them for that. We don't appreciate that different cultures bring different behaviors and priorities.

This book is on the top of my recommended book list (out of the 200 titles I have in my library) and I urge all readers to listen to it because, from the fact of being muslim, understanding where different cultures come from and how we think is the key to living together and learning to appreciate each other.

Informative and useful

Would you listen to Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are again? Why?

If a traveled a lot in my job, I think, I might.

What did you like best about this story?

I found most interesting the way he describes the background for different behaviours. I knew about many of those particularities but not the background or reason.

Become a better person

Living in Houston, TX one of my favorite things to experience has been meeting people from all over the world. This book has helped me to better understand everyone I encounter and work with so that I can be more compassionate and effective. Excellent course!!!

Very interesting

Good things to know for every day encounters and travel abroad. Especially enjoyed the dinning cultures of the world along with why some cultures exist.

Very insightful and informative.

I really learned a lot and it helped me understand my I ternational.students in a deeper way.

I Learned So Much!

This was one of the best great courses I have ever listened to! The content was excellent and original. I learned a lot and was not bored for even an instant. Professor Livermore was a great speaker and it was very easy to listen to. I will be referring to this excellent resource time and time again. Highly recommend!

Avoid being the ugly American by reading this

We travel so much yet know so little about others. It is always a good idea to learn a little about the language and customs of your destination. This book is a must read, even if you don't have a passport. Well researched and well presented.

Wide breadth of material, yet lacking depth

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to most people as a primer to various cultures around the world and familiarise them to the various dimensions that are used to measure differences between cultures.While it serves as a useful index of cultural norms and practices, it does suffer from broad generalised claims. The writer did admit that not all members of a certain culture would behave as he described, he did not try to investigate too deeply upon the internal differences of cultures.There is also a missed opportunity to address the effects of variables such as economic, religious and other factors that might affects how a group of people manifest their practices as a culture.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I wish that the writer would address how socio-economic, religious and other factors affect cultures, and also the malleability of members of certain cultures to new practices. The audiobook resembles a travel guide more than a rigorous study of culture.I am sure that this book could've benefited from incorporating the latest literature on behavioral economics and anthropology.

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

I think his reading is personable and I can't find discernible flaw throughout the audiobook.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I have the opportunity to, maybe I will listen to it in one sitting, but some parts made me cringe too much. It is usually the part where the culture I am familiar with is described to be an unrecognisable caricature.

Informative and well presented

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?

Having had a lifelong interest in diversity and the ways of other cultures, I found this lecture series to impart a wealth of information. The professor was engaging and extremely well-traveled and informed. He shared a personal and valuable insight into the patterns of other cultures and how they think and act, offering many illustrations. Having recently traveled to SE Asia for the first time, it shed light on some of my perceptions and experiences, and encouraged me to appreciate even more all the fascinating and wonderful people who share the world. I especially appreciated his discussion of the importance of being open to experiencing new foods, music, religious beliefs, and etiquette in order to fully engage and benefit from the beauty and wonder of those less familiar to me.

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

The discussion of how the importance of family, food, and religious beliefs color customs and culture in various groups.

Have you listened to any of Professor David Livermore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I'd like to hear more of his insights.

What insight do you think you’ll apply from Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are?

The importance of one being respectful, accepting, and open to the different customs of the world's inhabitants to fully be a member of the human race in all its diversity.

Provides a great framework

I found the theme of repeatedly going through the exercise of first trying to frame an action in the cultural context before jumping to conclusions or judgement very effective