"Eastern and Western Daily Culture" will help readers gain more knowledge in the differences between Chinese and American daily culture. This knowledge will help readers overcome faux pas so that they can successfully converse, do business, make friends, and even marry a Chinese person in China or in the United States. Subjects covered include: food and drink, love and marriage, masculinity versus femininity, kinship, raising children, education, individualism versus collectivism, modernization and the information age, physical contact, gift giving, shining cultural examples, public behavior, mythology and superstition, symbolism, traffic, flexible planning, friendship, entertainment, games and sports, religion, festivals and holidays, the environment, and health care.
A “landmark book” (Robert J. Sternberg, president of the American Psychological Association) by one of the world's preeminent psychologists that proves human behavior is not “hard-wired” but a function of culture. Everyone knows that while different cultures think about the world differently, they use the same equipment for doing their thinking. But what if everyone is wrong? The Geography of Thought documents Richard Nisbett's groundbreaking international research in cultural psychology and shows that people actually think about—and even see—the world differently because of differing ecologies, social structures, philosophies, and educational systems that date back to ancient Greece and China. As a result, East Asian thought is “holistic”—drawn to the perceptual field as a whole and to relations among objects and events within that field. By contrast, Westerners focus on salient objects or people, use attributes to assign them to categories, and apply rules of formal logic to understand their behavior. From feng shui to metaphysics, from comparative linguistics to economic history, a gulf separates the children of Aristotle from the descendants of Confucius. At a moment in history when the need for cross-cultural understanding and collaboration have never been more important, The Geography of Thought offers both a map to that gulf and a blueprint for a bridge that will span it.
The Cold War was not only about the imperial ambitions of the super powers, their military strategies, and antagonistic ideologies. It was also about conflicting worldviews and their correlates in the daily life of the societies involved. The term “Cold War Culture” is often used in a broad sense to describe media influences, social practices, and symbolic representations as they shape, and are shaped by, international relations. Yet, it remains in question whether — or to what extent — the Cold War Culture model can be applied to European societies, both in the East and the West. While every European country had to adapt to the constraints imposed by the Cold War, individual development was affected by specific conditions as detailed in these chapters. This volume offers an important contribution to the international debate on this issue of the Cold War impact on everyday life by providing a better understanding of its history and legacy in Eastern and Western Europe.
In today's interconnected world, bridging the gap between cultures is not just a challenge, but a necessity for success. In "Understanding Cultural Differences Between the Middle East and the West," Kizzi Nkwocha offers a compelling exploration into the intricate tapestry of cultural diversity that defines these two regions. As an esteemed online English tutor, personal development coach, and the visionary behind Business Game Changer Magazine, Nkwocha brings a wealth of experience and insight to this vital conversation. Why is understanding cultural differences between the Middle East and the West so crucial? The answer lies in the potential for transformative collaboration, innovation, and growth that arises when we embrace diversity. Whether you're a business professional, educator, diplomat, or simply an individual seeking to navigate the complexities of our global society, this book serves as a beacon of enlightenment and empowerment. Through a combination of meticulous research, real-world anecdotes, and practical strategies, Nkwocha illuminates the cultural nuances that shape interactions between the Middle East and the West. From communication styles and business practices to social customs and values, each chapter offers a deeper understanding of the factors driving cross-cultural dynamics. But "Understanding Cultural Differences Between the Middle East and the West" is more than just a guidebook—it's a call to action. It challenges readers to transcend stereotypes, biases, and preconceptions, and to embrace empathy, curiosity, and respect as the cornerstones of meaningful intercultural exchange. In a world often marred by division and misunderstanding, this book stands as a testament to the transformative power of knowledge and empathy. It empowers readers to build bridges of understanding, forge meaningful connections, and pave the way for a future defined by cooperation and mutual respect. Whether you're embarking on a business venture, engaging in diplomatic negotiations, or simply seeking to expand your horizons, "Understanding Cultural Differences Between the Middle East and the West" is an indispensable companion on your journey towards cultural proficiency and global citizenship. Let it be your guide as you embark on a path towards a more interconnected, harmonious world.
Western civilization is becoming increasingly pluralistic,secularized, and biblically illiterate. Many people todayhave little sense of how their lives have benefited fromChristianity’s influence, often viewing the church withhostility or resentment.How Christianity Changed the World is a topicallyarranged Christian history for Christians and non-Christians. Grounded in solid research and written in apopular style, this book is both a helpful apologetic toolin talking with unbelievers and a source of evidence forwhy Christianity deserves credit for many of thehumane, social, scientific, and cultural advances in theWestern world in the last two thousand years.Photographs, timelines, and charts enhance eachchapter.This edition features questions for reflection anddiscussion for each chapter.
This first volume in Yang Liu's infographic series explores the range of differences between Eastern and Western experience through her signature graphic simplicity.
"Few psychology books capture the reader through their table of contents like this one. The book contrasts dominant ideas from Eastern and Western psychology and, in doing so, challenges one's own assumptions ... perhaps the book's greatest strength is the holistic focus on life as a lived experience, which also makes it fun to read."--The Psychologist.
Foods are changed not only by those who produce and supply them, but also by those who consume them. Analyzing food without considering changes over time and across space is less meaningful than analyzing it in a global context where tastes, lifestyles, and imaginations cross boundaries and blend with each other, challenging the idea of authenticity. A dish that originated in Beijing and is recreated in New York is not necessarily the same, because although authenticity is often claimed, the form, ingredients, or taste may have changed. The contributors of this volume have expanded the discussion of food to include its social and cultural meanings and functions, thereby using it as a way to explain a culture and its changes.
The concept of ‘cultural heritage’ has acquired increasing currency in culture, politics and societies in East Asia. However, in spite of a number of research projects in this field, our understanding of how the past and its material expressions have been perceived, conceptualised and experienced in this part of the world, and how these views affect contemporary local practices and notions of identity, particularly in a period of rapid economic development and increasing globalisation, is still very unclear. Preoccupation with cultural heritage - expressed in the rapid growth of national and private museums, the expansion of the antiquities’ market, revitalisation of local traditions, focus on ‘intangible cultural heritage’ and the development of cultural tourism - is something that directly or indirectly affects national policies and international relations. An investigation of how the concept of ‘cultural heritage’ has been and continues to be constructed in East Asia, drawing on several case studies taken from China, Japan and Korea, is thus timely and worthwhile.
The Silk Road and Cultural Exchanges Between East and West, originally written in Chinese by Rong Xinjiang and now translated into English, provides insights into previously unresolved issues concerning the interactions among the societies, economies, religions and cultures of the “Western Regions”, and beyond, during the first millennium.
