American ways : a guide for foreigners in the United States

In clear language and with numerous examples, this book describes the basic characteristics of American culture: values, style of communication, patterns of thinking, customary behaviours, and underlines how they are different from the ways of other cultures. It then shows how these characteristics are reflected in the many aspects of American life which the foreigner encounters (including politics, social relations, personal hygiene, public behaviour, studying and business). The book also offers concrete suggestions on how to learn more about American culture and how to respond most effectively to the Americans one meets.

Preface to the Second Edition	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
Introduction	p. xix
On Understanding	p. xx
How Much Generalizing Is Acceptable?	p. xxii
On Asking "Why?"	p. xxvi
How Americans See Themselves	p. xxvii
How Americans See Foreigners	p. xxix
On Describing Americans	p. xxxi
Part I General Ideas about American Culture	p. 1
Chapter 1 American Values and Assumptions	p. 3
Individualism, Freedom, Competitiveness, and Privacy	p. 5
Equality	p. 14
Informality	p. 16
The Future, Change, and Progress	p. 18
Goodness of Humanity	p. 19
Time	p. 22
Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism	p. 24
Directness and Assertiveness	p. 27
Chapter 2 The Communicative Style of Americans	p. 33
Preferred Discussion Topics	p. 34
Favorite Forms of Interaction	p. 37
Depth of Involvement Sought	p. 40
Channels Preferred	p. 42
Level of Meaning Emphasized	p. 53
Chapter 3 Ways of Reasoning	p. 55
The Context	p. 56
The Point	p. 58
The Organization	p. 60
The Evidence	p. 61
The Cause	p. 65
Chapter 4 Differences in Customs	p. 67
Part II Specific Aspects of American Life	p. 75
Chapter 5 Politics	p. 77
The Rule of Law	p. 80
The Ideal of Compromise	p. 81
Politics Apart	p. 82
Chapter 6 Family Life	p. 85
What Foreigners Notice	p. 86
The Changing Family	p. 88
Raising Children	p. 90
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 98
Chapter 7 Education	p. 101
Guiding Ideals	p. 102
Social Forces Affecting American Education	p. 110
Issues Facing American Schools	p. 113
Advantages and Disadvantages	p. 115
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 117
Chapter 8 Religion	p. 119
The General Context	p. 120
Religion and Individual Americans	p. 124
Exceptions	p. 125
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 127
Chapter 9 The Media	p. 129
What Is American about the American Media?	p. 130
Americans' Views of Their Media	p. 133
Misconceptions the Media Promote	p. 136
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 139
Chapter 10 Social Relationships	p. 141
Meeting New People	p. 143
The American Concept of Friendship	p. 145
Relationships Prescribed by Roles	p. 148
Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts	p. 150
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 153
Chapter 11 Racial and Ethnic Diversity	p. 155
What Foreign Visitors See	p. 156
How Americans View Race and Ethnic Relations	p. 162
Austin, Texas: A Case Study	p. 167
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 169
Chapter 12 Male-Female Relationships	p. 173
Influences on Male-Female Relationships	p. 174
Male-Female Relationships in Various Settings	p. 179
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 186
Chapter 13 Sports and Recreation	p. 187
Sports	p. 188
Recreation	p. 191
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 193
Chapter 14 Driving	p. 195
General Information	p. 196
Traffic Laws	p. 197
Attitudes about Driving	p. 198
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 201
Chapter 15 Shopping	p. 203
Advertising	p. 204
Pricing	p. 206
Customer-Clerk Relationships	p. 206
Sales Tactics	p. 208
Procedures for Returning and Exchanging	p. 209
Private Sales	p. 210
Precautions for Shoppers from Abroad	p. 210
Chapter 16 Personal Hygiene	p. 213
The Basics	p. 214
Variations	p. 217
Other Issues Concerning Hygiene	p. 218
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 219
Chapter 17 Getting Things Done in Organizations	p. 221
Misconceptions	p. 222
Characteristics of U.S. Organizations	p. 224
Suggestions for Dealing with U.S. Organizations	p. 226
Chapter 18 Behavior in Public Places	p. 229
Rules for Behavior in Public Places	p. 229
Communication Behaviors	p. 232
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors	p. 234
Chapter 19 Studying	p. 235
Assumptions Underlying the Higher Education System	p. 236
Student-Student Relationships	p. 237
Student-Professor Relationships	p. 239
Roommate Relationships	p. 241
Plagiarism	p. 244
Suggestions for Foreign Students	p. 245
Chapter 20 Business	p. 247
Doing Business in the United States	p. 250
The Global Economy	p. 256
Suggestions for Foreign Businesspeople and Future Businesspeople	p. 257
Part III Coping with Cultural Differences	p. 259
Chapter 21 Some Helpful Ideas	p. 261
Expectations	p. 262
Personality Characteristics	p. 262
Traits and Situations	p. 264
Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustment	p. 265
D-I-E	p. 267
Chapter 22 Activities for Learning about American Culture	p. 271
Ask Questions	p. 272
Learn and Practice Local English	p. 273
Take Field Trips	p. 274
Talk with Experienced Foreigners	p. 280
Keep a Journal	p. 281
Learn the Names of Local and Institutional VIPs	p. 281
Read, Reflect	p. 282
View Yourself as a Teacher	p. 284
Conclusion	p. 285
Bibliography	p. 289
About the Author	p. 295

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