Culture Smart! Germany : The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Don’t just see the sights—get to know the people.

Germany powerhouse of Europe and pillar of the Eurozone feels reassuringly familiar. However, despite superficial appearances, this is a country that operates very differently from the USA and Britain. German history is more than a thousand years old and the relatively new German nation-state encompasses an astonishing variety of cultural and regional differences. German society is also in a state of flux, as people respond to immigration and a tough economic climate, and traditional attitudes such as formality and rigid protocol are softening as German business globalizes.

Culture Smart! Germany sets out to show you how to be a good and sensitive guest. With chapters on core values and attitudes, and a practical business briefing, it is a valuable introduction to the German way of life. It tells you what treatment to expect, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to build rapport and credibility with this culturally rich and inventive people at the heart of Europe.

Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

Barry Tomalin, is an English writer and teacher specializing in international communication and cultures. After graduating in Anthropology and Linguistics from the University of London, he worked as a consultant with German companies both in the UK and in Germany, in Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg. The author of many books on culture and cultural training he currently teachers at Birkbeck College, University of London, and at Glasgow Caledonian University London.