American Ways : A Cultural Guide to the United States of America

Whether you're a foreign student visiting for a semester or a business person visiting for a week, American Ways,Third Edition covers all your basic needs from the trends and customs of day-to-day activities to the more esoteric customs regarding cultural values, politics, education, religion and relationships. In this revised edition, Gary Althen and Janet Bennett have added material that provides the clearest insights yet into the American psyche and culture, reflecting many of the monumental changes that have occurred since the previous edition's publication. Examples include a rewritten chapter on politics that d iscusses Bush-administration policies and controversies and the election of th e nation's first black president, as well as an updated chapter on social rela tionships and the effect that networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook ha ve had on meeting people and creating friendships. This essential guide sheds light on the unique American psyche and national character, now in a third edition. Whether you're a businessperson beginning to work in the United States or a foreign student visiting for a semester, this new edition of American Ways will help you navigate America's diverse and changing culture. From the deep-seated attitudes that mark the American character to customs and everyday activities, American Ways explores the tapestry of the country's life, providing invaluable information on cultural values, politics, education, religion, and relationships. In this revised edition, Gary Althen and Janet Bennett have added material that reflects some of the important changes that have occurred over the last decade. This edition features new material on American politics, reflecting the impact of the Bush administration as well as the election of the nation's first black president, and an updated chapter on the effects of social networking sites on meeting people and creating friendships. Whether you're a business person visiting for a week or a foreign student visiting for a semester, American Ways, A Cultural Guide to the United States covers all your basic needs - from the trends and customs of day-to-day activities to the more esoteric customs regarding cultural values, politics, education, religion and relationships