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This book is an utter puppet show.

Erin Meyer has made a fascinating classification of the various ways cultures vary in international communication (for which I will give her a star). From there, she proceeds to pepper the reader with anekdote after anekdote that show that yes, this model is unequivocally and completely true.

The content of this book is borderline offensive. Meyer fails to (a) discuss the history of cultural anthropology and reflect on her model, (b) convey how she acquired her data and (c) explore anything that might be missing out, (d) consider applications of the model in practice, etc.

Instead, the book is akin to a puppet show. Meyer briefly introduces a concept, such as 'indirect versus direct communication' and proceeds to introduce cartoon characters (that can't possibly be real) only to hammer her points home. It is not so much the content, but the tone of these anekdotes that are so asinine. A quote from page 58:

"The tendency to put everything in writing [...] may suggest to high-context colleagues that you don't trust them to follow through on their verbal commitments.
'This happened to me!' Bethari Syamsudin, an Indonesian manager [...] told me."

Stylistically, this makes me sick to my stomach. In my head, I hear:
Erin: "Indonesians are waaaay different from Germans, right, Bethari?"
Bethari hand-puppet: "Wow, you're so right, Erin!"

I have never read an author that managed to make a point and then have one of her own introduced characters back her up... incredible.

I couldn't finish this one. I feel dumber for the 1/3rd I did read.