Beyond Culture
by Edward T. Hall
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Beyond Culture is a proud celebration of human capacities. For too long, people have taken their own ways of life for granted, ignoring the vast, international cultural community that surrounds them. Humankind must now embark on the difficult journey beyond culture, to the discovery of a lost self and a sense of perspective. By holding up a mirror, Hall permits us to see the awesome grip of unconscious culture. With concrete examples ranging from James Joyceʼs Finnegans Wake to the mating show more habits of the bowerbird of New Guinea, Hall shows us ourselves. Beyond Culture is a book about self-discovery; it is a voyage we all must embark on if mankind is to survive. Also includes information on aggression, bureaucracy, communication, crisis of culture, the cultural unconscious, education, language, linear vs. comprehensive thinking, situational behavior, synchrony, time, American culture, American Indian subculture, black American subculture, Anglo-American (white) subculture, Spanish-American subculture, French culture, Japanese culture, Middle East, non-verbal communication, space, etc. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
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"Brilliant book. Thoroughly enjoyed it and want more. This is the one who created the theory of 'high context' vx 'low context' cultures.
Hall was one of the sources my Cross-Cultural Communications professor at AGSIM drew on, and I've always wanted to read him. In this book, Hall discusses the concept of context as an human behavioral influence. A high-context situation is one in which much of the communication is non-verbal or understood because of the shared context. He characterizes societies as being typically low-context, which are typical of northern Europe, and high-context, most dramatically represented by Japan. Context even affects language, and human speech patterns will change, depending upon who they are speaking to show more and the context of the communication. I liked the idea of ‘action chains,’ which is a sequence of events in which two or more individuals participate. Shaking hands is a simple chain, becoming engaged is a more complex one. Again, different cultures vary in their emphasis on completing action chains. An American may be very casual about dropping an ongoing chain, which may be very negatively received in other cultures.
His chapter “Culture as an Irrational Force” is full of good common-sense advice on getting along with other people. Hall has provided advice to diplomats and corporate executives, and his book is very practical. While it delves into theory, it always has a concrete application.
He has some very strong political opinions on human institutions and the state of academia. “Bureaucracies have no soul, no memory, and no conscience.”" show less
"Brilliant book. Thoroughly enjoyed it and want more. This is the one who created the theory of 'high context' vx 'low context' cultures.
Hall was one of the sources my Cross-Cultural Communications professor at AGSIM drew on, and I've always wanted to read him. In this book, Hall discusses the concept of context as an human behavioral influence. A high-context situation is one in which much of the communication is non-verbal or understood because of the shared context. He characterizes societies as being typically low-context, which are typical of northern Europe, and high-context, most dramatically represented by Japan. Context even affects language, and human speech patterns will change, depending upon who they are speaking to show more and the context of the communication. I liked the idea of ‘action chains,’ which is a sequence of events in which two or more individuals participate. Shaking hands is a simple chain, becoming engaged is a more complex one. Again, different cultures vary in their emphasis on completing action chains. An American may be very casual about dropping an ongoing chain, which may be very negatively received in other cultures.
His chapter “Culture as an Irrational Force” is full of good common-sense advice on getting along with other people. Hall has provided advice to diplomats and corporate executives, and his book is very practical. While it delves into theory, it always has a concrete application.
He has some very strong political opinions on human institutions and the state of academia. “Bureaucracies have no soul, no memory, and no conscience.”" show less
"A fascinating book that no one should do 'himself' the disservice of failing to read. Beyond Culture not only will increase the reader's knowledge, but also will enlarge 'his' mind. Opening up new dimensions of understanding and equipping the reader with new capacities for perception, the book is an eye-opening experience that will reward the reader with high dividends...Hall's book helps us to rethink our values in these and so many other matters constructively. We come away from it exhilirated."
-Ashley Montagu
Chicago Daily News
-Ashley Montagu
Chicago Daily News
Everyone should read this book. I wish I'd read it when I was MUCH younger.
Everyone should read this book. I wish I'd read it when I was MUCH younger.
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Psicología - Clásicos
165 works; 2 members
Author Information
19+ Works 2,894 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Beyond Culture
- Original publication date
- 1976
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to three friends:
Winifred, Lawn, and Jay,
all physicians who are not made anxious
by their patients health - First words
- There are two related crises in today's world.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Man must now embark on the difficult journey beyond culture, because the greatest separation feat of all is when one manages to gradually free oneself from the grip of unconcious culture.
- Original language
- English
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Statistics
- Members
- 643
- Popularity
- 45,333
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (4.06)
- Languages
- English, French, Polish, Spanish
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 4
