I found this book useful as a homeschooling mother attempting to expose my children to classical music and make sense, for myself, of a wide world for which I haven't (up till now) been able to find a decent map. I had eight years (years ago) of piano lessons, very little listening experience during the time I took them, and definitely nobody ever sat down and said things like "listen how the piano comes in here, plays for a few bars, and then you expect it to break into the second major theme of this piece--but Mozart plays a little joke here, he starts out playing it in such-and-such a minor key which isn't really substantial enough to go on for too long, so then he gets down to business and changes it back into a major key."  (I'm paraphrasing Harris here.)  Could I say I've been listening-challenged most of my life and I really do need someone to spoon-feed me with some of those details?  Mozart, for me, was nice to listen to and got me through eight hours of labour, but I've never seen one of his concertos written out blow-by-blow.

I also like this book as an introduction to listening to classical music in general.  What to listen for, as the title says.  Why on earth this concerto is supposed to be better than that one.  Why Mozart decided to do this for twenty bars instead of something completely different.  I liked Harris's comment that the Piano Concerto #21 would give you--if you listen carefully enough--enough listening for a whole lifetime.  (The same idea as being able to read Jane Austen repeatedly and enjoy her books more each time even though you already know what happens.)

Maybe some *would* find Harris's descriptions either overly technical (I didn't think so, though I do know some terminology from music theory, like "dominant" and "tonic" which does help with what he's saying) or patronizing (if you naturally know how to listen to what he's doing) as the review says.  However, for me (as the mom and rather ignorant "teacher" here), he seemed to hit the right note.

P.S.  I think the Kirkus Review should have said Harris worked for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), not for CBS.

Here are some of the MOST OBJECTIONABLE texts in this book on India -

India: Geography, Government, and People (adapted with permission from Venturing Abroad in Asia by Robert T. Moran International Management)

Page 444 - 8th paragraph

"There is not enough work for all their people, so poverty is prevalent. With an adult population of 326 million and official unemployment rate of 15 million, the last thing India needs is labor-saving modern equipment. Over the years, India has implemented intensive population control programs but none were successful. The high birth rate has been attributed to early marriage, the emphasis on bearing sons by the Hindu religion, the security of having children to take care of parents in old age, and the low level of education achieved by the rural masses.

Climate and culture contribute to the high incidence of disease and influence the patterns of work. The hot weather season brings constant dust, which results in various infections~ and eye irritations and also limits the outdoor physical activity. The cold, damp rainy season brings on colds, malaria and rheumatism. Their practice of vegetarianism contributes to malnutrition and protein deficiencies. The people of India have a general syndrome known as "weakness" brought on by their constant exposure to epidemic diseases such as cholera and typhus, and the malnutrition factor.

CORRECTION: This are very UNHEALTHY comments and illustrate pure ARROGANCE and IGNORANCE on the authors' part. They have NO MORAL right to blame India's culture and climate for its problems. Like everywhere else, people get used and adapted to the climate. And if they endure more, they should be stronger as they tend to develop immunity! Now, it has been proved that Vegetarian diet is as healthy (if not, more) as meat. For more info, please visit the link below -

[local website]STRANGE and INCORRECT!! - Why would the wealthy and educated with more resources suffer more often with malnutrition and the so called 'Weakness Syndrome' ?? ILLOGICAL!!

Page 445 - 5th paragraph

"Astrologers play an important role in India, as the people believe that nothing is accidental and the universe and all living components have a fundamental order."

Page 446 - 3rd - 4th paragraph

"It can be said that traditional Hindus are a nation of water drinkers"
"Western food is available in all the good hotels."

CORRECTION: Except health harming drinks, Hindus drink every good drink. Again, PURE ARROGANCE and IGNORANCE - good hotel does not mean Western food!!-

Professor Moran's class at the American Gaduate School of International Management is one of the more memorable experiences at that unique multinational training institution. While the school draws students from throughout the world, as an American, I feel justified in admitting that those who grow up in the United States are generally poorly prepared for cross-cultural relationships. Although the lessons I learned in that course have held me in good stead throughout my career and personal life, parts of it were a struggle. So is it with the latest edition of the course's text book.

A clue to this can be found on the title page which, in place of an editor, lists an "Editorial Coordinator." This book could benefit from some serious editorial rigor. It is marred by many typos, including such unfortunate ones as, "the Qur'an, the scared book of Muslims." Virtually every page has a totally useless pullout, quoting some profound phrase from that page. Selectively used, pullouts are supposed to increase the reader's interest in the material, but when it is carried to this extreme, it just wastes margin space that could otherwise be used for jotting down notes. One short but deadly paragraph manages to use the buzzwords 'empowered,' 'actualize, 'synergy,' and 'connect', which a good editor would have surgically removed. In spite of these execution flaws, I do feel that the book has merit, and recommend it for those who are interested in being more effective in cross-cultural situations.

The book is divided into three units. Curiously enough, the first two units both have the same title, "Cultural Impacts on Global Management." The first cultural impacts unit begins with an introduction building the case for greater cross-cultural skills on the part of managers. It concentrates on the particular problems that American managers have working outside of their culture. The chapter on communications starts getting into some real meat, introducing concepts such as communication context. Anthropologist Edward Hall's illuminating concept of high -- context vs. low -- context communications is described here, and used throughout the book. (This concept was particularly significant to me, and I have also reviewed Hall's book, "Beyond Culture," on Amazon.) The chapter continues with descriptions of important communication conventions that differ between cultures, and concludes with a set of practical guidelines on how best to make yourself understood when speaking with people whose native language is not your own. The unit continues with some management cultural ideas that are not necessarily limited to multi-ethnic situations, but are applicable to any large organization. This was interesting to me, although it is oriented specifically towards managers who have direct reports.

The second cultural impacts unit begins with a section on common characteristics that typically vary from culture to culture, such as appearance, food, sense of self, beliefs, and time of consciousness. The concepts discussed here are applied in the final section of book, so this provides important background information. The unit includes a section on culture shock, and re-entry shock, which should be mandatory reading for all overseas assignees and their managers. I found a checklist of desirable characteristics for foreign employment candidates especially useful, and several of the expatriates I work with agreed that it was consistent with what they had observed. This is followed by a very nuts and bolts section on preparing people for international assignments. The next chapter is entitled "Managing Diversity in the Global Work Culture." I have to say that I found the book to have a persistent politically correct theme, and I'm not sure that it is necessary to constantly harp on the value of diversity. This was a very popular HR activity at the time this book was written, but I found it distracting.

The final unit, which at 200 pages amounts to one-half of the book, is entitled "Culture Specifics and Business/Service Abroad." Choosing several representative cultures in each continent, it provides detailed discussions on their unique characteristics, along with helpful tips on dealing with people within that culture. This is similar to those books you may have read on "how to deal with X," but unlike those books, it is built on a strong foundation of sociological, anthropological, and organizational behavior disciplines that are introduced in the first two units.

Interestingly, the first chapter is on doing business with North Americans, which through self reflection, can help American readers better understand what it is like to look at a culture from the outside. I'm sure the chapter would also be helpful to non-American readers, but the book is generally aimed at North Americans. While constantly pointing out how important it is to avoid generalizations, each one of the individual cultural studies contains information on the people within those cultures that could be considered just that. One of the balances that I was never able to manage in professor Moran's class, was maintaining a safe distance between sensitivity and prejudice. Attempting to apply these lessons over 15 years, I've learned that cultural sensitivity can help you understand why someone acts in a particular way, and it can also help you anticipate their feelings or reactions, allowing you to better connect with them. The trick is in avoiding either value judgments, or in assuming that cultural guidelines will always be predictive. This helps explain why it is difficult in a book like this to highlight cultural characteristics that may be considered negative. Continuing their politically correct agenda, the authors identify several cultures as being "hard working." No culture was identified as being lazy, so presumably everyone is above average. A difficult balance, but a necessary one.

Such a whirlwind tour really obviously can't do justice to an entire world. It isn't meant to cover the entire world--it is meant to help you apply the lessons in the book yourself, and it succeeds. Although the treatment of various cultures is somewhat uneven, I did find this a very useful and helpful unit, and I will keep if for reference. I do think there are many flaws in this book, and I don't find it particularly easy to read, but in spite of that, I strongly recommend it for everyone who finds themselves in a multi-cultural situation. If you will be dealing with a multi-cultural environment, I recommend reading this book first, and then finding several books on the specific culture you will be exposed to. I highly recommend also finding the time to read Edward Hall. He's entertaining and enlightening.

These book will help the executives of your company or under your command to climb cultural walls and make successful negotiations with businessman's overseas. Also it will help understanding other cultures and becoming more culturally humble: much of the problems we have today as humans rely on the egocentric way we see the world, a lot of problems would disappear if we could just sit on a table and learn the way others think. A most read for international sales managers and embassy personal. Enjoy.

This is a book for an Engineer, Chemist, or Scientist, who knows a great deal about chemistry. It is very technical, and the ordinary reader would put it down quickly. It is very informative for the one who knows chemistry, mining, and geology.

one star is too much, the book doesn't do anything tern RFK?s legacy. the arguments are false, and the book is boring.
DONT SPEND EVEN ONE CENT ON THIS BOOK.

As an Irish Catholic from the city of Boston, I have grown up with the Kennedy's and their mystique. I have never been a fan of either Jack or Teddy, or their father, Joe, for that matter. However, I can honestly say that I have always respected and admired Bobby. I grew up in the 70's and 80's. I only know of Teddy's escapades first hand. Even so, I always felt that it was rather obvious that Bobby was the worker/brains of the family. This book went a long way in firming up that notion.

I must say I am always amused by the Kennedy supporter who simply refuses to see that family for what it was/is. C. David Heyman's book shows us the Good, the Bad, and, the UGLY. Yes, Bobby did a lot of good, but unfortunately, he did some self serving bad too. He, like the rest of his family was human. He had his weaknesses. This book gave me a greater understanding of the inner battles that Bobby waged within himself. In my view this helps to augment Bobby's stature for it is reality not some ridiculously held to notion by individuals who cling to a fantasy. A myth that was never close to the reality of this world.

Bobby Kennedy was a decent man who attempted to do decent things for people he would never know or meet. He had a real developed sense of justice and the greatness of this country. However, he was a weak man when it came to controling his darker self. He helped to create a myth that became larger than life and at the same time create a permissivesness that led to the weakening of his principles by those that would carry the banner after him. His family's sense of entitlement is his greatest failing. C. David Heyman wasn't afraid to get the information that runs counter to the majority of information out there that the gatekeepers of the Kennedy Legacy don't want you to see.

Heyman does a wonderful job in researching all the family histories that would help to shape Bobby's world and the Kennedy Family as it exists today. You'll learn not only about the Kennedys but the Skakels, the Shrivers and the rest of the extended family. This I found to be fascinating.

I applaud Heyman's efforts and add his work to the other biographies I own on one of the most enigmatic figures of the 2nd half of the 20th century.

Heymann blows the cover off of the Kennedy mystique, while at the same time exposing the human side of the family. Their very deep flaws as well as the more admirable qualities of RFK, (the true leader of the family) and his slow, painful and heroic evolution into a populist. Heymann unblinkingly provides inside dirt on the more evil aspects of the JFK administration, including connections to the mob, dirty power politics, and flagrant sexual adventuring. Assassination buffs should find ample material to back up conspiracies behind both JFK and RFK executions. One gripe: this book completely glosses over the RFK assassination, which was even more obviously a conspiracy.

Did we really need another revisionist history written with the sole purpose of showing that everything European and "Colonial" is bad and all native peoples are good, virtuous, etc., etc?

Given the current standards for degree granting(that work must break new ground to be worth an advanced degree)the academic community has been gleefully re-writing history for years to fit their fantasy scenarios and strange political/ social theories.

It is a pity that these authors could not be using their academic skills for something better than pandering to the new political and social powers of South Africa, and to the PC pirates and thought control police of the rest of the world.