USA - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture

Don't just see the sights―get to know the people. Who can afford not to understand the USA? Underneath the gleaming smile of American popular culture lies a rich and complex society that brims with contrasts and contradictions. It is a culture of rugged individualism, of go-getters, of high-tech high achievers. At the same time it is a deeply religious country with a quiet devotion to church and charitable works. This new edition of Culture Smart! USA reveals a society in transition. In an increasingly polarized political and cultural climate, and with an ever-widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, the rise of social media has given more Americans a voice. As Americans wake up to a changing world where their global economic dominance is no longer assured, attitudes and behaviors are being challenged and reassessed across the land. Culture Smart! USA takes you on a tour of the core influences and ideals that have shaped this great country and have driven the behavior and attitudes found on Main Street and in the workplace. It looks at Americans at work, at home, and at play, and provides the visitor with an up-to-date cultural road map of this dynamic, multifaceted society. Have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas. Front Cover Title Page About the Authors Contents Map of the USA Introduction Key Facts 1. Land and People • Climate • Regions • A Nation of Immigrants • Government • The USA: A Brief History • Covid-19 in America 2. Values and Attitudes • America—The Ideal • Equality of Opportunity • Individualism • Self-Reliance • That “Can Do” Spirit • Vox Populi • Egalitarianism • Work Ethic • Conservatism and Morality • Giving Back • Diversity • Patriotism 3. Customs and Traditions • Separation of Church and State • Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched • Holidays—What They Are and How Are They Celebrated 4. Making Friends • Friendship, American Style • Getting to Know You • Greetings • Come on Over! 5. At Home • America’s Homes, Sweet Homes • The Blended Family • Growing Up in the USA • Education • The Daily Grind 6. Time Out • Vacations • Shop Till They Drop • How to Pay • Sports—Play Ball! • Eating Out • Culture 7. Travel, Health and Safety • Arrival • Hitting the Road • Road Sense • Taking Flight • Riding the Rails • Get on the Bus • Local Public Transportation • Where to Stay • Health • Safety and Security • Batten Down the Hatches 8. Business Briefing • Snapshot of the American Workplace • The Bottom Line • Management Style • If You’re Standing Still, You’re Moving Backward • Working as a Unit • Meetings • Presentations • Negotiations • Women in Business • Business Entertaining 9. Communicating • Linguistic Traditions • Communication Style • Body Language • Humor • The News Media • Keeping in Touch • Conclusion Useful Apps Further Reading Picture Credits Copyright Index Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.