Lag

Since other reviewers have summarized this book, my suggestion is to read it with present-day work environments in mind. There is an increasing emphasis of Diversity and Globalization in the workplace. This book can be difficult to wade through, but the concepts stick with you. It was very easy to take the concepts and compare them to the daily situations of working in a multi-cultural corporate environment. Sometimes the best information, is from an original source or work. I would suggest reading this, just because Hall's premises still bear the brunt of time and provide that "ah-ha" awareness to an experience.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE READ THE BOOK. THE LAST TIME WAS A 110 YEARS AGO IN COLLEGE. MR. HALL MAKES US THINK ABOUT OTHER CULTURES AND ESPECIALLY OUR OWN CULTURE. IN THESE AWFUL TIMES IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER. MR HALL'S BOOKS HELP WITH THIS. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND A CULTURE'S LANGUAGE AND DRESS. TIME, SPACE, AND OTHER CONTINGENTS ARE JUST OR MORE IMPORTANT.

I read this book for the first time over 20 years ago after I graduated from college with an unrelated science major which I found loathesome and never used. I had already read "The Hidden Dimension" when working with an architect. I am not about to read this one again due to its complexity and the fact it "sunk in" then. Here are some of Hall's highlights:

Ch. 1 (The Paradox of Culture): "One wonders how many individuals who have been forced to adjust to eight-hour, nine-to-five schedules have sacrificed their creativity, and what the social and human cost of this sacrifice has been."

Ch. 3 (Consistency and Life): "He is forced into the position of thinking and feeling that anyone whose behavior is not predictable or is peculiar in any way is slightly out of his mind, improperly brought up, irresponsible, psychopathic, politically motivated to a point beyond all redemption, or just plain inferior."

Ch. 7 (Contexts, High and Low): "... in high context systems, people in places of authority are personally and truly (not just in theory) responsible for the actions of subordinates down to the lowest man. In low context systems, responsibility is diffused throughout the system and difficult to pin down ..."

Ch. 11 (Covert Culture and Action Chains): "The investigation of out-of-awareness culture can be accomplished only by actual observation of real events in normal settings and contexts. ... Culture is therefore very closely related to if not synonymous with what has been defined as "mind".

Ch. 12 (Imagery and Memory): "Our problems in education are exacerbated by eductional systems and philosophies that stress verbal facility at the expense of other important parts of man's mind ..."

Ch. 13 (Cultural and Primate Bases of Education): "One reason psychotherapy is so slow is that in order to change one thing it is necessary to alter the entire psyche, because the different parts of the psyche are functionally interrelated."

Ch. 13: Over bureaucratization: "The problem with bureaucracies is that they have to work hard and long to keep from substituting self-serving survival and growth for their original primary objective. ... Bureaucracies have no soul, no memory and no conscience."

Ch. 14 (Culture as an Irrational Force): "Since the men and women responsible for these [anthropological] studies for the most part are both well trained in Anglo-American social science methodology and well motivated, one can only assume that there is something basically wrong with the way in which social science research is often conducted."

Alexander analyses the way in which liberalisation of global finance and trade is increasing economic insecurity and environmental pressures. In many countries this is producing a protectionist backlash and ethnic conflict which has disturbing parallels with the evolution of apartheid in South Africa. The book describes the complex process which brought apartheid to an end in South Africa, drawing hopeful lessons for overcoming global inequality. At a time when economic and ethnic conflict is increasing, this book warns of the dangers of sectional solutions and offers creative political strategies for a more just, democratic system of global governance. This book attempts to go to the heart of the matter. It is a sweeping, provocative, fact-filled overview of world economics, politics, governance, poverty and inequality. As a source of ideas, references, the most improbable of quotations, and signposts to further reading, it is an invaluable reference work for educators. As a source of inspiration, it is an epic antidote to little Englanders, or indeed, little Westerners of any kind. As a source of solutions, I'm not so sure. The question of how to mobilise on a global scale the sort of movement that was needed to defeat apartheid in South Africa is not convincingly answered. But maybe I'm just an old fashioned trade unionist. Decide for yourself!

More than other books which have covered the same ground, this one offers a powerful metaphor to understand the impact of complicated economic processes. The book explains that deepening inequality between rich and poor nations is a form of separate development comparable to apartheid in South Africa. The result could be a world in which small numbers of metrapolitan, wealthy elites enjoy thr fruits of modern technology while the vast majority are lucky to have a job or are excluded and marginalised. The hope in this book comes from the analysis of the process which brought apartheid to an end in South Africa, to suggest that there are many ways for us to take part in creating a more just, democratic system of global governance. Andrew Simms, Christian Aid News

I've used the system in this book for several years, and I have found it very effective, including for time changes of 8 or 12 hours. I am able to sleep through the night and to work without feeling like a zombie. It does require some discipline and the willingness to look a bit silly by wearing dark glasses at odd times(which once led to an incident in the Moscow subway when someone obviously thought I was blind). But it really does work.

I used this book for a report on the effects of sleeplessness on the waking person. Instead of just skimming it, I ended up reading it cover-to-cover, and not only is it informative but it also doubles as a self-help book! Wonderful read for the weary.

As someone who has appreciated Ven. Thubten Chodron's many introductory books on Buddhism, I was very excited to hear about this book when first came out. Upon my first reading, I thought that perhaps I had bitten off more than I could chew!

However, as I've continued in my Buddhist studies and continued to study the Lamrim, this book has become a source of joy and clarity. It is a commentary on a particular text, "The Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas"; but in a more general way, it is a wonderful commentary on the gradual path to enlightenment in the Tibetan tradition. I have been pleasantly surprised at how accessible the teachings in this book are to a Western student of the dharma, with examples given that most of us can readily relate to our daily lives.

Ven. Chodron's introductory section on the Buddhist World View is a very readable and useful encapsulation of basic dharma teachings for new students, and a wonderfully concise review for those who have studied the dharma for some time. It puts the remainder of the book into perspective, making reading the book all the more meaningful and relevant.

The book continues to follow progressively along the path: appreciating our precious and advantageous life circumstances; studying and listening to teachings; creating a conducive environment for study and meditation; working with impermanence; relating to teachers; understanding the concept of "refuge," karma (cause and effect) and the Four Noble Truths; generating bodhicitta (the altruistic mind of great compassion); transforming difficulties so that they enhance our practice rather than discouraging practice.

The book ends with a detailed section on wisdom and emptiness and a final chapter on bringing our practice into our daily lives through the practices of the six far-reaching attitudes (or six perfections, "paramita") of generosity, patience, ethics, joyous effort, concentration and wisdom.

Dear friends, I highly recommend this book. I also highly recommend a visit to Ven. Chodron's web site (www.thubtenchodron.com).

Most people who wrestle with getting to sleep on a regular basis are totally unaware that they are not really "insomniacs" at all! They just need to "adjust their internal clock." In Wide Awake at 3am, Dr Coleman brings real scientific research to bear on the twin problems of insomnia and sleep-deprivation. Bottom line... The book is extremely informative and entertaining. But the most thrilling part is this: 1)The descriptions of the problems caused by insomnia are exact, 2) the diagnoses put forth by Dr. Coleman make sense, and 3) the treatments proposed in the book really work! I would suggest this book to anyone who has problems with sleep or fatigue, even on an irregular basis.

I've followed the advice in this book for numerous trips to Japan and Korea. It really works - I rarely have trouble with jet lag. The advice they give is not gimmicky or based on folklore. It's a matter of changing your behavior and diet a few days before you leave, and during the initial adjustment. Especially important is start acting like you're on destination time as soon as you get on the plane - just the opposite of what the airlines do. The authors explain about what is actually going on it your body as it tries to adjust. I've found their method is simple, easy and understandable.

This scientifically proven "recipe" for smooth and successful adjustment when traveling between Time Zones may not work-- completely-- for all destinations, but it surely will work for 98 percent of the rest of your prospective travel plans.

I've had this little book in my hands since its first publishing and have given countless copies to others along the way. Professionals have been using it for years. From White House summits overseas to professional athletes competing abroad-- this little book has been their answer for enhancing the quality of their trips with optimum mental and physical performance.

For some years this little gem was "Hard to Find," but I never gave up trying to locate a copy. Now it's reprint can once again benefit everyone to be side effects free. It worked for me so well that I still follow the diet to maintain a healthy even weight. This little book is GREAT and one of my most very favorite. Go for it.

Having used this for a round trip of UK to Australia and back via Bangkok (out) and Hong Kong (back)all the space of 12 days, I can promise you it works. My son, travelling with me, didn't follow it properly and suffered but I arrived back in the UK at 6:00am and was in the office, alert, later the same day.

I love to fly--choosing a four-hour flight with a two hours of airport time over a six hour drive is a no-brainer for me. I find airports and airlines fascinating, and I picked this book to learn more about the ins-and-outs of flight itself, not to resolve any fears of flying.

There is a good bit of decent information contained within The Backseat Flyer; after all, Ms. Anderson has extensive experience as a pilot. The "survival guide" portion does contain good ideas for those fearful of or even just unsure about what to do to make one's flight the safest and best experience possible, and I found it fascinating to read a pilot's take on passenger travel.

However, the book also contains items of questionable value (and information that at times is flat-out wrong). For instance, Ms. Anderson addresses the idea of catching colds or other illnesses from fellow passengers and says that airlines have gone from bringing in fresh air to recirculating the same stale air repeatedly "to save costs," which is simply incorrect; modern turbofan (jet) aircraft change their air completely out as frequently as every two to three minutes--so in reality you are not at risk of catching a cold, the flu, or SARS from anyone but perhaps the passengers seated directly beside you. She also advocates pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo like "elemental diodes" to reduce jet lag and fatigue, something akin to wearing magnets for join pain (which sometimes "works" due to the placebo effect).

The book is also rather spare; I had hoped for something longer. Yet the illustrations are funny (if not terribly reassuring to the fearful flier!) and the text engaging. I would recommend "The Flying Book" or "From Takeoff to Landing" perhaps as better books of a similar vein, but you may still wish to give this one a read.

A group from our local school is flying across the US soon and one member of the team is afraid of the flight. This book helped everyone understand the training pilots received, the safety precautions taken and that "the more you know, the less you fear..." and, the illustrations are sure to put a smile on your face. There is also great info on how to deal with air sickness.

I would have to say that until reading this book I had appropriately earned the title of Ms. Most Fearful of Flying. Every noise I heard, every slight bump I felt and every single unknown event that occured while in a plane made me have a full blown panic attack. I had decided not to fly any more and had even boycotted vacations with my family that involved airplanes. Finally my friend decided to purchase this book for me -- what a difference! I officially made a flight from New York to Colorado without the slightest hint of fear. This book tells you everything that you need to know about flying. I even know what's going on in the cockpit. The description is correct you go from backseat driver to backseat flyer, without any fear. I'm so glad that this book was written.

Iyer is an entertaining writer. That's why I read him. This book, although not excellent, is good (I like "The Lady and the Monk" better though). I really enjoyed the last chapter of the book about his experiences as a foreigner in Japan. I could relate because I too, lived as a foreigner in Japan. But the remainder of the book came across to me as a little bit too much. In other words - exaggerated and overdone. But this is not a worthless book. It's merit comes in remembering that these are the author's ideas and experiences - not everyone else's.

I had already begun reading this book (have read only a/b the first 50 pages), when I logged on to Amazon, with a view to e-mailing a friend a link to the book. Started browsing through the editorial and customer reviews -- all the editorial reviews v. positive, but majority of the customer reviews quite negative.

My bias is gen. towards the customers (and esp. in this case, since they seem to be more actual travellers, vs. editors who merely review travel writing). Yet, and I find this odd, I actually like what I've read so far (caveat: haven't read it all), though I would agree, to a degree, with some of the negative comments.

Perhaps it's because I can relate. Work in finance. Born & raised in Bombay, studied in the US, lived in China learning Mandarin, now in Toronto and a soon-to-be Canadian citizen. No family, no strong ties to anywhere. Perhaps some those readers who dislike the book can't relate.

Some of the comments I agree with. There is repetition. Tone can sometimes be "whiny", as a few readers note. Iyer should pick up some language skills - I can feel at ease in Bombay or Beijing in large part because I have speak both Hindi and Mandarin.

Other criticisms I don't agree with. E.g., some have commented that Iyer's "global soul" relates to a v. small number of people. Well, that's the going-in position. The book is made of observations about being raised, living and working in multiple cultures/geographies. By definition, it's not going to be relevant for most of the 6 bn + people on the planet. They're not the target audience.

I love this book. I'm sending it to all my relatives who, like the author, are modern post-ethnics with no true sense of ethnic allegiance. His insights are quite droll: a person with no deep national loyalty may be staunchly loyal to one airline. And some huge portion of all airmiles are earned on the ground! He captures the absurd, the sad, the hopeful aspects of being a bourgeois post-ethnic in today's climate. I take my hat off to this man for writing a book that can be said to speak for an entire generation. That may sound audacious but those are the feelings he inspires in one reader! The book is not only about travel. You can be a reluctant traveller (like me) and still enjoy his narrative.

The great thing about this book -- it can be read out of order. I read the Toronto chapter first. I read the Empire chapter next. I read the first chapter last. It works. This is a book I will re-read. It has some errors, which other reviews here have rightly pointed out, but in total it's a...good read and its insights are substantial.