Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World

by Roger E. Axtell

As featured in the New York Times and Reader's Digest "An eye-opener into the pitfalls awaiting the unaware traveler." -Washington Post "Can save the innocent abroad from great gobs of serious trouble." -Chicago Tribune Before you raise your hand to signal the waiter, extend your thumb to hitchhike, or flash the "O.K." sign with thumb and forefinger, Stop! Think of where you are and exactly what you are trying to say-otherwise you could create an international incident. Remember when President Bush thought he was flashing the "V" for Victory sign to cheering Australians? (See inside.) Exploring the ins and outs of body language from head to toe, this newly revised and expanded edition of Roger Axtell's indispensable guide takes you all around the world of gestures-what they mean, how to use them, and when to avoid them. This latest edition
* Updates about the 200 most popular gestures and signals-and dozens of new examples
* New sections covering special gestures-from American Sign Language and tai chi to flirting and kissing
* Information to guide you through gestures country by country-from Switzerland to Japan, Nigeria to the Netherlands
* Amusing anecdotes and helpful hypothetical scenarios

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Psychology, Business, Reference, Language, Education

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know there was 6 ways to cross your arms? Or giving the hitch hiker's thumb in Nigeria could potentially mean physical harm to you? This is the power of gestures and it can convey meanings of insults or greetings. Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World by Roger E. Axtell will guide you through the international greetings, beckonings and farewells.

I liked this book very much because I never knew that the same gestures in America could convey such vastly different meanings in a different country. I recommend this book to those who might be traveling out of the country over the summer, or even to those traveling this memorial weekend! Or to those who just want to learn about the do's and taboos of body language around the world!

[Samuel R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one some time ago and forgot to review.

Wonderful primer to understanding the little parts of communication that we might misinterpret.

Quick and easy read when you really do not want to have to sit and think much about WHAT you are reading... but then... some of the info sticks with you. So when you give the "Thumbs-up" sign to someone and they look angry at you, you will know why.

[Augusto Gordillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

El lenguaje de los gestos corporales: lo que significan para cada cultura. Algunos ya conocidos y otros con significados totalmente distintos para otras sociedades. No deja de ser interesante para tener cuidado cuando se viaja.

[Nayden Kostov · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a bit outdated, this compilation entertains and educates. Recommended!

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Some information might be outdated or not fully current. However, the author makes it clear this is rather an orientation. Interesting although quite repetitive towards the end.

[Sara Ellie MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, concise, detailed and sometimes funny!

[Lectus · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is interesting and the information useful, but the quality of the book is really horrible. This books needs a major editing. It needs MORE, and I mean MORE images. How can you talk about gestures and don't SHOW us the gesture? Am I to just guess from the description what it is? That'd work if I was reading a novel which this is not.

So mainly, I'm giving it two stars because I am having a hard time trying to imagine what some of the gestures are; I'm having a hard time trying te read the fonts; the color of the paper doesn't help; and the lack of space either.

I open up the book, and I don't know where to start reading because eveything is kind of scrambled together.

The book would be wonderful with a major editing, more images, and better paper quality.

[Katie]

For work.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and instructive.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book, but fairly repetitive.

[Edwin Sirait · Rating 4 out of 5]

i want to read this book. :)

[Congchuasuplo]

good

[Sara]

fun, entertaining, yet not quite true on all occasions