As we’ve been preparing for our move to MN, we’ve been getting together with some friends for final farewells. I had borrowed this book from one of those couples and had actually forgotten that I still had it. So when I found it while packing I decided to give this book a review before it was gone forever =( I absolutely loved this book!
This is primarily a “missions oriented” book that helps prepare people who are planning to work with cultures that aren’t their own, but the implications of what this book communicates go way beyond just a “missionary’s paradigm” as I will explain later.
The author breaks all cultures down into what she calls
- Hot Climate Cultures (which are relationship-based)
- Cold Climate Cultures (which are task-oriented based)
The idea is that neither culture is “better” than the other, but that if the goal is working together, there must be a respect and understanding of the opposite culture. This book is a REALLY QUICK READ. I read it in an hour. After reading it I realized that this book isn’t only helpful for people interested in missions work, but would be a great pre-marital counseling book for two people coming from different cultures…like my wife and I.
For instance, I am a Hot Climate culture and Leona is Cold climate.
Phil (Hot climate): “Let’s go over to our friends house and say hi!”
Leona (Cold climate): “We need to call first.”
Phil (Hot climate) : “Call? Why call? It’s our friend right? You don’t need to call to visit a friend!”
Leona (Cold climate): “It’s impolite to come over unannounced.”
Phil (Hot climate): “It’s rude to not go over to a friends house when it popped into your mind!”
I think you get the picture.
This is a really great book. Pick it up! It’s short and you can get it really cheap here at amazon.com
Funny! This conversation sounds EXACTLY like one David and I have had so many times!