American Cultural Patterns: A Cross-Cultural Perspective Paperback – April 26, 2005

I slogged through the first 25 pages stating obvious assumptions then WHAM! I could not read it fast enough. This book should be required reading for anyone attempting to understand American Cultural Patterns invisible to Americans belonging to the dominant culture. In other words, if you were born in another culture or belong to a subculture in the U.S. this book will explain why it is so hard to communicate with "rational white managers who have been in the same business for decades". It is a book full of examples, easy to read and understand. Even if the reader does not agree with the generalizations, the categories to understand culture are enlightening. "Rational white men" have a particular view of facts as if enough of them will lead to truth. Individualism keeps the sense of future limited to one lifetime (or the next quarter earnings). Linguistic features of English lead toward linear chains of cause, effect and outcomes. Other cultures experience relationships as community, time as seasonal or celestial, truth as intuitive, The authors do a better job than I can in describing without judgment. The idea is to celebrate American Cultural Patterns by understanding them better and thereby open the door to appreciating other cultures as just as valid. I will read this book several times and keep it as a primary reference. It is worth the fifteen cents a page I paid for it.

American Cultural Patterns - A Cross-Culture Prospective is a very broad but in depth study of this title subject. Exactly the type information that answers long-time questions of mine. What about cultural patterns in the western society as we become more integrated (or not) as neighbors, co-workers, commercial/retail buyers and sellers? What are we doing about integration? Why is the western society so greedy and selfish? This perspective is a must read to even begin discussing the patterns and changing our attitudes.

Still the most coherent and accessible description of American culture available. I recommend it as a textbook as well as a good guide for foreign students, faculty, even travellers preparing to come to US for more than tourism.

Excellent book! Recommend it to anyone who wishes to get a better understand of the people around them, in their community and around the world.

A fantastic book for understanding how much our culture defines us. The authors do explain that they are addressing the main American culture (versus our rich group of subcultures). Additionally, they do not privilege one culture over another (as one reviewer stated). Their goal is to (1) explain how deeply our cultural responses are ingrained and (2)to help us recognize that our American outlook is not universal--amazingly there are other ways of perceiving the world than the way most Americans do. The book is not a quick, easy read--both authors are university professors (who probably use their book as one of their required readings ;D) Academics & those used to scholarly texts will get the most out of, everyone else will need to be patient and take it slow.

GREAT

Perfect book for someone who works with people internationally, or simply people from another culture. I am reading it for school and am already applying it to my everyday interactions.

This book seeks to look at American cultural patterns within a cross-cultural perspective. A number of cultural stereotypes are compared with the American stereotype, particularly Japan. I say "cultural stereotypes" because this is what is primarily used. At times, I have to disagree completely with the authors' interpretation of the meaning behind the actions of the cross-cultural experience. For example they give some examples of difficulties the author(s) had in Japan and then they explain why this occurred, always giving the benefit of the doubt to the Japanese culture. However, if that same action would be seen as an insult by a Japanese person I really see no reason for the authors to explain it away using a Japanese cultural value. In other words, they fail to critically analyse different cultures either from within or from an American perspective. The end result is that you are to assume that other cultures always treat people with respect and it is only an American-centric view that would think otherwise. I am not American and can claim something of a dispassionate view on the subject.At first glance this book appears to be a useful, quick read for those going overseas but in reality it is a tough slog through some unanalysed stereotypes. This book fails to get past surface meanings to the deeper reality of the cross-cultures with which it contrasts American culture.

Great!