This is a review for those who want to read it in Japanese!
Reading by yourself・・・ Above N1 level Reading with teachers or friends・・・Proficient in reading at the N2 level.
Recommended Points for Japanese Learners: ・From the perspective of a neuroscientist, it provides some insight into questions like 'Why do Japanese people almost never say “no”? ・It makes you think about the benefits of not expressing things too directly. ・Of course, there are individual differences, but it provides a logical perspective on 'Japanese communication styles.
Challenging Points: ・It’s hard to read without an understanding of the stereotypes like 'That’s just how people from Kyoto are. ・As it’s an explanatory text, it can be challenging in terms of vocabulary. Reading one section at a time or focusing on areas of interest might be a good approach.
Since I’m from the Kansai region but not from Kyoto, I couldn’t quite relate to the portrayal in this book that 'people from Kanto are direct, while people from Kansai are more indirect.' When I moved to Kanto, I actually felt that 'people here don’t express themselves very clearly, so it’s hard to know what they’re thinking.' It could be that Kyoto and other areas in Kansai have distinct cultural differences.