Book reviews
Intercultural Understanding - Book review
Written by Matthew Hill, SIETAR and dialogin.com member
Patrick Schmidt has set himself an ambitious goal of conveying the essence of intercultural theory and best practice to the "average" person. Additionally he offers to throw in, at no extra charge, details of American, German and Chinese culture. He knows that this will have to condense and present the work of the fathers of culture - Hofstede, Hall and Bennett. His succinct summary and explanation of Hofstede's original dimensions of difference is to the point and refreshing. It is delivered in a way suitable both for the novice and as a reminder for the seasoned academic or professional who has perhaps deviated from the original message.
Schmidt gives us welcome contrast, from high culture to real business and political episodes adding visual reinforcement of the key learning points in the form of paintings, engravings, photographs and cartoons. Perhaps for the first time we have an accessible book than informs and entertains while it propels the reader from unconscious incompetence to conscious intercultural competence in less than 150 pages. Quizzes are placed at the end of the chapters to embed learning, measure progress and stimulate thought.
