What Foreigners Need to Know About America From A to Z: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More Paperback – June 3, 2012

Starts with a few chapters on US history. As it goes through the customs, it relates why we have them from the history chapters. At the end there’s questions that could help you get ready for the citizenship exam. I said helps, but you’ll be ahead of your class. I’m American born and raised, there was quite a bit I didn’t know why we do, just grew up doing it. Didn’t even think of them as customs. New brain twist. Anyway this was a good foreign friend of mine who sometimes is a bit off in Manners, giving a gift to the hostess, eating and running, thank you notes or at least email…certain phrases he can take literally, “ One horse town.” Said he didn’t see the horse. Charming really, but may be perceived as stupid to some non-empathic bozo. Anyway, it’s a good book.

This book begins with the thoughts of well respected reviewers here and abroad. The entire point of the book is to help foreigners understand and be successful in America. He hopes to reduce cultural misunderstandings with everyone. He is well traveled and has taught in foreign countries, and has friendships with people from other cultures. All of his experiences traveling in 49 states and 81 countries give him a wide perspective of this topic. It helps Americans understand foreigners, as well.I found it an informative read as an American. The facts and figures included were a good refresher for me and I did learn many things. Probably many people could review the citizenship test and find they might find they have forgotten a few things. He explained viewpoints both ways. He emphasizes the minority beliefs don’t represent the thoughts of the majority.I really like the hints as many were vignettes which drove home points the author was making. I enjoyed the stories, as I did the facts. It was like looking in a mirror about the USA and seeing ourselves. Quite an interesting experience. I have not read a similar book that examined our country in quite this way.The movie recommendations were good, and I think I’ll consult the book again and again when I can’t find a movie to watch. It is full of ideas.There is a book website, and there is information for purchasing quantity discounts if teaching an ESL class, perhaps.The chapters cover our history, grammar, how to improve English, linguistics, culture, and popular culture.Definitions and explanations within the text were helpful. The index was thorough. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was included. There were lists of colleges ranked different ways.He explains the spirit of America, our independence, the population in general, and specific age groups are described. Typical family life is described. Income levels are listed, and there are even trivia questions in this helpful book. I have purchased four copies myself!

Foreigners should not be subjected to clumsy style, cliches, and unsupported claims any more than Americans should. The author continually repeats hackneyed generalizations, saying that Americans are "independent," "casual," and "direct" compared to people from other cultures, even though this is not always the case. He picks out random words to spell out "phonetically" using a system that is only useful to those who are very familiar with English spelling. He states generalizations about Americans' politics in a way that does not admit for a variety of political opinions, and attributes government policies to public opinion as if there were a direct causal relationship. He ventures into the realm of English grammar even though he does not seem to be an expert on the subject. And most unfortunately, he does not always seem understanding of other cultures.Here are some real quotes from this book:"Customs are those behaviors we have had in the past and will most likely continue to have in the future.""So, for these and other reasons, it is in our best interest to learn more about the culture of other nations with which we deal, be it for personal or business matters.""We also react negatively towards foreigners with annoying habits, like those who noisily suck mucus down their throat and then spit it out or those who pick their noses in public.""Try to remember the equality word if you are dating an America." [sic]"As you have learned, Americans believe in fairness.""we have three levels of grammar: formal, general, and informal."On the plus side, the book includes a lot of data from national polls, and the anecdotes from the author's travels abroad are interesting. The book does include some useful tips such as the following:"If you arrive late, be sure to apologize, but not profusely, as is done in Japan where a late arriver must give a deep, ingratiating apology.""we routinely address one another by their first (given) name even if we have just been introduced.""If you are invited to an American's home and are comfortable with animals, make a big fuss over their pets (and their children).""Half of all Americans are convinced that UFOs (unidentified flying objects) have visited earth in some form"

I like the content of this book (as a generic cultural encyclopedia), but I feel like the information is presented in a somewhat confusing fashion. I also think that the use of bold-faced words as vocabulary items is a ineffective (and at times misleading) -- and think the last portion of the book (on language and grammar instruction) should be in a separate book. I am using this book as a personal resource while teaching an American Culture class to a group of low-level non-native English speakers. I'm still looking for the perfect book (either a textbook or simply a personal resource) -- this gets me part of the way there, but not all they way. I wouldn't recommend it to ESL students, unless you're highly proficient.I'll also add that the nature of a book like this is to become outdated fairly quickly. I hope the publisher plans to do another reprinting of this book, preferably with an extensive review to the text.

This is an extraordinary well presented summary of a country that leeds you to all aspects of state, geography, history, culture etc. Almost everything you want to know about a people and a country is there. What is more, Lance Johnson differentiates American culture, acknowledges immigrant cultures and compares it with other cultures in the world.

Als erklärter US-Fan wollte ich mir dieses Buch nicht entgehen lassen, habe bis jetzt etwa die Hälfte gelesen. Es ist informativ geschrieben, gut gegliedert in verschiedene Kapitel (z.B. Bildung, Geschichte, Sitten, ...)