American Ways: A Cultural Guide to the United States of America

by Gary Althern, Janet Bennett

This essential guide sheds light on the unique American psyche and national character, now in a third edition.



Whether you're a businessperson beginning to work in the United States or a foreign student visiting for a semester, this new edition of American Ways will help you navigate America's diverse and changing culture. From the deep-seated attitudes that mark the American character to customs and everyday activities, American Ways explores the tapestry of the country's life, providing invaluable information on cultural values, politics, education, religion, and relationships.

In this revised edition, Gary Althen and Janet Bennett have added material that reflects some of the important changes that have occurred over the last decade. This edition features new material on American politics, reflecting the impact of the Bush administration as well as the election of the nation's first black president, and an updated chapter on the effects of social networking sites on meeting people and creating friendships.

326 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is designed to help exchange students who are going to the United States to study. It provides a good overview of many of the cultural norms in our country, and it covers everything from interpersonal relationships to business meetings. If you're going to study abroad in the States, it's a great book to read. If you're a teacher, there's a nice section in the back of the book that provides assignments for anthropological observations of American behavior. The are given in the form of questions and could be used by students visiting other countries as well. These assignments might be really useful for teachers who are advising exchange students overseas.

[Rasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great starter kit for anyone who meets American culture. I have been living in the US for last 5 years and while reading the book I thought I wish I had read it earlier. Still I found some new things and it helped me understand them better.