Customer Reviews

Working with Americans

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been traveling to the US for most of my career, and really wish I'd read this at the beginning. Some of the tips about the American values, how they conduct business, negotiate, look at the world was so insightful. My favourite chapter is "Who's the Boss?" which described our American managing director perfectly... hats off to these two authors who have written a great, friendly and very usable reference book -- certain chapters are getting so worn I may need to buy another copy.

This book has helped many of us at American Express in Europe and the US -- it's well-written, informative and has lots of very practical advice for how to understand the American psyche in the business context.
Don't leave home without it!

The book is a great collection of practical advice from two experienced authors. Unlike some business books, this one is written by people who understand both Americans and non-Americans that do business with them. As an American, I learned valuable information about how we are seen by others, especially Europeans. This knowledge will help in my international business and cultural interactions. I highly recommend the book for Americans and for those doing business with Americans--even those with years of this international experience will benefit from the book's insights.

It's surprising how many of us interact regularly with Americans, but don't stop to ponder the differences in business culture until it's almost too late. In principle these differences are small, but have a very significant impact on the success of a relationship.

Co-authored by an American who's lived abroad long enough to have an unbaised view on the country of her birth, 'Working with Americans' provides a series of practical insights and helpful tips to ensure effective understanding, personal interactins, and results! It's a straightforward read, uncluttered by the conceptual abstractions that hinder some other books on this subject.

A valuable read for those who (intend to) work alongside colleagues or business partners from this 'youthful land of plenty,' delivered with the wit and wisdom of authors who demonstrate broad understanding of their own culture as seen from the outside. Interestingly, I've found the book is not misplaced amongst Americans themselves, who are curious to better understand how they are perceived on a worldwide basis.

A five star read.

I thought this was a great read -- good facts, scary statistics about how few have passports, why the business culture is so different from those in Europe -- and really how to play off these differences. It's an easy read -- great for my recent trans-Atlantic flight, and their tone and style is relaxed, approachable and friendly. I'd recommend this not only to anyone you know who needs to work with businesses or bosses in the USA, but give it as a gift (it's going to all my staff as their Christmas present this year!)... fab!

This is a must for anyone wanting to expand their business within the US. In fact I am sure it would be of massive benefit for US business people to understand how they come across outside their own county.

I had the privilege of seeing Allyson in action and now have read the book; this has opened up my eyes to the opportunities in the US when we sell castle experiences.

Allyson and Lanie pick up on the detail, explain the culture and guide your through dealing with both USA inc. and everyday Americans.

Humorous, full of relevant quotes and of course the extended reading list, which is extensive. This has to be the first book on your reading list. I certainly feel much better informed.

As an American having lived overseas for a number of years, I can say there is a lot here that will gives key insight into how non-Americans view business dealings and other cross-cultural interactions. The info in this book should be required reading for ALL Americans - not just foreign nationals. It would greatly increase understanding of the American people overseas and help Americans understand why we see the reactions we do to our policies and behavior.It is also organized in such a way as to make it very accessible. Each chapter has tips and information that can be used immediately, but also gives background. Bravo!

As someone who set up a business in the mid 1990s in New York, I would have loved to have had this book then. It is full of really pertinent advice, a lot of which it took me years of actually doing business with Americans to find out for myself. Well done to the authors for bringing all this information together in one place. The quotes and the cartoons help put the whole thing into context, revealing much about the American mindset. The chatty tone makes the book a very easy read, but the informality does not mean that the authors sacrifice any of the substance - there's loads in here, and it's important stuff. Their advice is concrete and practical, and, in my experience, pretty much spot on. I see the book was written in 2002, and like the reviewer below I would like to see a newer edition tackling the recent developments in the Special Relationship under Bush and Blair, and what that means for businesses.

Three cheers for these authors who reflect the true habits of American businesspeople, from their transactional-tendencies to their obsession with time and process. The cartoons are great, the humor is light, the whole book can be devoured in about 2 hours tops. Hope to see a newer version soon with their takes on globalization and Mr. Bush's effect on the view around the world of Americans, whose enthusiasm and entrepreneurialsim are infectious but whose geographic awareness is severely lacking. A great book for every road warrior.

A must-read for anyone wanting to do business in the States. I have been doing so for over 20 years and still learned a huge amount from this book.