Loved the book because it is a compelling and insightful exploration of global business practice through the lens of cultural intelligence. Drawing on decades of first-hand experience across more than 100 countries, Foster blends vivid storytelling with practical lessons that resonate with both seasoned executives and emerging leaders. The book goes beyond surface-level etiquette, revealing how subtle cultural cues, values, and unspoken norms shape negotiation, collaboration, and trust in international contexts. Each chapter delivers an engaging mix of personal anecdotes and actionable insights, making complex cross-cultural concepts immediately applicable. Foster’s deep expertise ensures the narrative remains both accessible and authoritative. This advanced reader copy showcases a rare combination of entertainment and education, offering a rich resource for anyone seeking to navigate today’s interconnected world with confidence, adaptability, and genuine cultural respect.

This started out with a thoughtful introduction, but the first chapter immediately felt flippant and on the verge of disrespectful. While I do understand this writing style is intended to be approachable, I did find a glaring lack of acknowledgement of global systems of colonization that are in large part why some countries are the way they are now. Describing the resulting melding of cultures as “schizoid” is dismissive and unhelpful. Endings of chapters list suggestions for etiquette and cultural norms to keep in mind, as well as countries listed as having similar or different approaches than the culture described in the chapter. There is a good amount of information that is useful when visiting other countries, like aspects of etiquette or communication that might not be immediately apparent. I am of two minds about this book, because while I found much of it practical and easy to follow, that abrupt discomfort of the first chapter really weighed on my thoughts overall. The final chapter was much more insightful and included some valuable reminders, including being humble and reflective as a guest in another culture.