Economic-shock Books

I really enjoyed reading this book, it gives a good insight of the Japanese society from a foreigner's point of view, who lived and worked in Japan for several years.
This only problem is that it's from the early 1990's and some things have changed since...

No Elbow Room is a quick and informative read into the Cultural mind set of Japanese relationships. It opens up for examination a world of contradicting correctness and sheds light on some of my own experiences in Japan. You will read it from cover to cover enjoying the wonderful illustrations and lighthearted humor.

Fun, Fun, Fun. A funny and informative documentary of first-hand experiences in Japan. A must if you are considering working for a few years for a company in Tokyo. Also a must if you want to get insight into the workings of a culture totally different from American and European cultures. The illustrations are hilarious. The book is precise with marvelous drawings. There are informative comments on improving the lot of women in Japan. Be prepared for a fun ride!

Kenneth writes a detailed and fascinating read. What an experience. Having stayed in Japan myself for a while, I found No Elbow Room to confirm some things I had suspected about living in Japan. Great book!

Do you ever find yourself in a large bookstore overwhelmed by the sheer number of titles, and wonder how so many new ideas continue to emerge in such mass quantity? Well, this is one of those books that keep us returning to bookstores with faith in the fact that we will not always leave disappointed! This book is unique in its perspective on a subject I am interested in as a professor of international business (Zicklin School of Business; Baruch College, City University of New York) - cross cultural understanding. Written in a pen indicative of ample experience in Japan's corporate world, yet from an outside Western perspective, it reveals nuances of Japanese business culture that only an expatriate can easily discern. "No Elbow Room" is blunt to a pain yet carefully objective and fair in its exposé of little known tidbits of Japanese culture and business protocol outside of the Island nation itself. Yet while set in Japan, I found myself easily adapting lessons learned to virtually any cross-cultural setting, prompting me to list this book as required reading in my "Foreign Markets, Cultures, Regimes" class. This is a self-authored text, that no doubt a large publishing house will soon discover and market to the masses. The book is short (179 pages) and a quick yet informative read. I recommend it for not just international business scholars, but as an aid for sociology class discussions, gender-relations discussions, for anyone interested in international relations, and particularly for anyone wishing to travel to Japan, particularly from the West. And if you think you're well traveled and immune to culture shock, you must pick up this book!

"El libro de Pablo L. Belly, ve la luz en un momento crítico de la comunidad científica internacional y en el que se están revisando los primeros planteamientos de lo que se entendió como Knowledge Management y el "barbarismo lingüístico y teórico" de gestión del Conocimiento. El efecto del "Shock del Management" se ha justificado y este libro lo consigue".

Eduardo Bueno Campos
Catedrático de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (España)
Director del Centro de Investigación sobre la Sociedad del Conocimiento (CIC) del Parque Científico de Madrid
España

"Un libro estimulante que aborda la Gestión del Conocimiento y el Capital Intelectual con un enfoque claro y ameno. Pablo L. Belly, presenta una rica y profunda visión sobre el tema y muestra las iniciativas que toda empresa debería adoptar para transformar con éxito la propia organización y convertir el conocimiento en su principal ventaja competitiva."

Daniel Martí Lluch
Presidente
Fundación Iberoamericana del Conocimiento
España

"Hablar de la gestión del conocimiento es hablar de la gestión del cambio en el cambio mismo y, por ende, ahondar en aspectos poco conocidos. Pablo L. Belly se desenvuelve en su libro con soltura y sencillez, explicitando los temas con locuacidad y espontaneidad. Excelente obra !!!".

Carlos Tomassino
Presidente de la Fundación para el Desarrollo del Conocimiento (FUNDESCO) y
Director de Ingeniería en Sistemas de Información (UTN, Facultad Buenos Aires.)
Argentina

"En este maravilloso libro el lector encontrará, con una lectura fácil, sencilla, muy ilustrativa y totalmente práctica, información sobre qué es "el conocimiento" y como conseguir "gestionarlo". Pablo L. Belly logra transportar al lector a este mundo aparentemente complicado, pero que en el fondo es sencillo y apasionante".

Beatriz Abascal García
Deloitte.
Directora Centro de Documentación y Gestión del Conocimiento
España

"El libro de Pablo L. Belly es un magnífico ejemplo de lo que se podría denominar "narrativa del conocimiento" en el que un lenguaje y desarrollo sencillo nos introduce en las cuestiones clave que se desprenden de la gestión de los intangibles organizativos".

Carlos Merino
Gerente
IADE.
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
España

Most books on cultural stereotypes try to be funny. Often jokes work only for those already in the know, or worse, they are misleading to those who aren't.
Aimed at expats and others working with the Dutch, Mr Vossestein has written a serious book. The goal is to inform, not to get cheap laughs (though many of the anecdotes from foreigners interacting with the Dutch are quite entertaining).
Perhaps the greatest value of this book is as a mirror for Dutch travelling abroad. After all, understanding other people's culture starts with understanding your own. This book should be compulsory reading for all Dutch expats.

As a Dutch-American cross-cultural trainer I have read the gamut of literature dealing with this subject. Mr. Vossestein's 'Dealing with the Dutch' is the most concise, clearly written book on the subject. The book's non-judgemental approach gives future immigrants to the Netherlands a thorough understanding of and a simple guide line to life in this fascinating land by the sea.

This is the best introduction to Dutch business culture available. It is uncluttered, and makes connections between different aspects of Dutch behaviour to develop a broad picture suitable for business people from any background.

Very rare do I acquire or read books that are designed to provide a myriad of latest DEGEST (demographic, economic, government, environmental, social & technological) perspectives about Asia &/or the world in general.

Obsolescence is one prime factor.

In keeping abreast of such specific information, I normally go for my regularly updated diet from Straits Times' economic analyses/political commentaries/business insights pages, supplemented by watching those timely broadcasts from Channel News Asia, as well as CNN. I read occasionally the Business Times.

A good case in point is the recent two transcripts (in the Straits Times) of MM Lee Kuan Yew's dialogue with 200 diplomats & academics during his visit to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London last week.

The only occasional deviation from my self-imposed rule is that I would sometimes acquire or read books that paint probable long-term DEGEST scenarios by global futurists, like 'The Extreme Future: The Top Trends That Will Reshape the World for the Next 5, 10, and 20 Years', by James Canton.

I have recently made an exception - partly attracted by the intriguing title, & partly, by the offer of a 20% store discount - by acquiring a copy of 'Asia Future Shock: Business Crisis & Opportunity in the Coming Years', by Michael Backman.

In the first instance, the author's credentials & track record in churning out earlier books in the genre seem impeccable to me.

Upon perusal, I am glad that the book has given me a quick & pretty comprehensive coverage of the region, particularly China, India, the two Koreas, Vietnam, Burma, & snippets of stuff about Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia.

Frankly speaking, I have been quite captivated by the story of the author's search of a school in London for his son in the Introduction. I thought that was a pretty smart way to start off his book.

I am rather pleased to add that his resultant remark about the aptness of his book as ". . . a tool for small boys & girls, or at least their parents" is valid.

As an avid reader, I certainly have enjoyed reading the whole stuff in the book, especially about the risks & opportunities in the coming years, in one single collection.

There are 25 chapters, each offering a quick roundup of strategic insights, with suggestions for business strategists & scenario developers. Each chapter is also prefaced with a brief preamble with staggering statistics to tease reader's attention.

For me, the analyses are seemingly broad-based, but nonetheless, considering the size of the Asian region under coverage, the information given is adequate enough to give, in particular business readers, a good solid brush about the impact of China, India & the rest of Asia.

Not surprisingly, I haved noted that much of the author's sources have been international newspapers & broadcasted news. The Economist Intelligence Unit has also been cited as a source. During my corporate days, published reports from the latter were my regular intellectual companions.

This is another book I would keep at my bedside at least for the moment.

This short book offers a concise, comprehensive survey of political, economic and social opportunities and challenges in Asia. Michael Backman does a solid job of aggregating information about the most important countries in this vast region, especially information that challenges conventional wisdom. At a time when numerous books prophesy China's unstoppable ascent, getAbstract recommends this refreshingly frank look at an alternative future - a future of problems in China so daunting as to seem almost insoluble. Asia's future, it seems, will be at least as complex and difficult as its past.

This book can assist any catering department in planning successful and profitable banquets and events. It has been the most comprehensive book I have found on the subject.

This book is easy to read and follow, and perfect for a flight between Dallas and California. The "mistakes" included are humorous but true, and the book ends with an extremely helpful workbook so that anyone can use the step-by-step plan and create their own project to improve or reinvigorate their company's culture.

I got hooked on the BBC TV series "Changing Rooms" when it began showing on BBCA.

This is a great book in that it takes the reader one step further than the show - it actually shows Handy Andy at work instead of in the background.

He shows how to do various projects such as wallpapering, putting up shelves and even unblocking drains (which I needed last weekend), with step-by-step illustrations. He also advises on the various tools you should own (or use) with instructions on using them, some pitfalls you might encounter on your DIY and even some dangers with DIY by showing what can happen if you do it wrong.

In all, I recommend this book to the American reader. Long live Handy Andy

This is an excellent history book. The author, Eric Hobsbaum has a keen eye for the truth.

Anyone interested in a starting point for getting familiar with events leading up to and following the various revolutions in Eastern Europe would do well to look here. Feffer provides a country by counrty analysis that is accessible to a very wide audience. His writing style is extremely engaging and will definintely inspire more in-depth research in your particular area of interest.

This is an excellent summary of the basics of building business relations in Taiwan. It can be read on the airplane on the way to Taiwan, or at home while you are planning the trip. Foreigners would be greatly benefited by taking the helpful hints that Kevin Chambers provides in this fact filled little book.