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Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: Asia - How to Do Business in 12 Asian Countries
Kiss, Bow, or Shake Asia reveals the subtleties of interaction, negotiation strategies, and professional skills you need to keep poised for success in your business travels. This comprehensive guide to Asia contains up-to-date information to lead you through social situations, business meetings, and understanding local culture. Americans must now consider how economies are continuously shifting all over Asia, and how Asian countries interact with the West and each other. Learn about business practices, cognitive styles, negotiation techniques, and social customs. Give the right gift; make the right gesture.
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 1, 2012
KISS, BOW, OR SHAKE HANDS: ASIA is full of DOs and DONTs and cultural overviews about selected Asian countries. I appreciated it; however, if you live in Asia and you know and love your own culture and heritage, you will find some of the books factual err. Specifically when I was reading the part where they are introducing and giving a brief overview of the Philippines, I found myself laughing and raging at the same time. So I have divided the pieces of information and facts I classified as foul or inaccurate and true (but also insulting). And yet again, I was irked, a lot.
Here are some of the books err about the Philippines:
1. 'Bogoong' - I asked myself, what is a bogoong? And then it was followed by a description: 'A traditional delicacy.....the foul-smelling shrimp paste called "bogoong"...' [page 94]
And I was like, OH! so it's the famous bagoong that this book is talking about. haha.
--I might consider this as a typographical error.
2. 'Groups of Filipinos do not arrange themselves in neat lines. Instead, they form a pushing, shoving crowd, with each person out for him- or herself. (This part of the paragraph is true but not all the time). The only times that Filipinos have queued in neat lined was under the gun of armed soldiers (such as during the Japanese occupation army in World War II).' [page 95]
-- whoa! whoa! whoa! What was that about! They could just have cited different example. For me, that was a serious and sensitive part of Philippine history that's needed not to become a subject of irony or a sample of "HOW TO ASSEMBLE and ARRANGE NEAT LINES?".
3. Contradictory statements:
'Beware the Filipino bearing gifts-a simple "thank you' will not suffice.' [page 102] and 'A thank you is enough and appropriate afterwards; some people also send small gifts' [108]
-- I think this just prove to show that they aren't sure of what they're saying.
4. 'Neither men nor women should wear shorts or sandals in public' [page 109]
-- But i wear shorts or sandals in public. Am I not a Filipino if I do that?
5. 'Titles are important to Filipinos- so important that many employees are rewarded with impressive-sounding titles (and little else). Address an executive by his or her title or surname, but do not expect to be able to tell much about a person's importance from the title.'
--This is just insulting. I know many companies reward employees with simple titles because of their hard work and perseverance and that they prove themselves worth the reward.
Numerous elementary factual errors + silly sentences = a bad book.
Here are some of the books err about the Philippines:
1. 'Bogoong' - I asked myself, what is a bogoong? And then it was followed by a description: 'A traditional delicacy.....the foul-smelling shrimp paste called "bogoong"...' [page 94]
And I was like, OH! so it's the famous bagoong that this book is talking about. haha.
--I might consider this as a typographical error.
2. 'Groups of Filipinos do not arrange themselves in neat lines. Instead, they form a pushing, shoving crowd, with each person out for him- or herself. (This part of the paragraph is true but not all the time). The only times that Filipinos have queued in neat lined was under the gun of armed soldiers (such as during the Japanese occupation army in World War II).' [page 95]
-- whoa! whoa! whoa! What was that about! They could just have cited different example. For me, that was a serious and sensitive part of Philippine history that's needed not to become a subject of irony or a sample of "HOW TO ASSEMBLE and ARRANGE NEAT LINES?".
3. Contradictory statements:
'Beware the Filipino bearing gifts-a simple "thank you' will not suffice.' [page 102] and 'A thank you is enough and appropriate afterwards; some people also send small gifts' [108]
-- I think this just prove to show that they aren't sure of what they're saying.
4. 'Neither men nor women should wear shorts or sandals in public' [page 109]
-- But i wear shorts or sandals in public. Am I not a Filipino if I do that?
5. 'Titles are important to Filipinos- so important that many employees are rewarded with impressive-sounding titles (and little else). Address an executive by his or her title or surname, but do not expect to be able to tell much about a person's importance from the title.'
--This is just insulting. I know many companies reward employees with simple titles because of their hard work and perseverance and that they prove themselves worth the reward.
Numerous elementary factual errors + silly sentences = a bad book.
November 5, 2024
Each country’s section on Negotiations provide specific, actionable guidelines for closing deals and represent the strongest value add beyond what Lonely Planet gives you.
November 7, 2024
Lots and lots of stupid stereotypes. Really redundant book. But at the end I learned a couple things, read it if you’d like. Quick read as well
September 6, 2007
I am currently reading about South Korea and China in this book. it definitely helps understand various aspects of another culture...of course, some statements are sterotypes.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews