Includes bibliographical references (p. 289-294).

Machine generated contents note: Preface to the Second Edition -- Acknowledgments -- Introducion -- On Understanding -- How Much Generalizing Is Acceptable? -- On Asking 'Why?" -- How Americans See Themselves -- How Americans See Foreigners -- On Describing Americans --Part I. General Ideas about American Culture --Chapter 1: American Values and Assumptions -- Individualism, Freedom, Competitiveness, and Privacy -- Equality -- AMERICAN WAYS -- Informality -- The Future, Change, and Progress -- Goodness of Humanity -- Time -- Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism -- Directness and Assertiveness --Chapter 2: The Communicative Style of Americans -- Preferred Discussion Topics -- Favorite Forms of Interaction -- Depth of Involvement Sought -- Channels Preferred -- Level of Meaning Emphasized --Chapter 3: Ways of Reasoning -- The Context -- The Point -- The Organization -- The Evidence -- The Cause --Chapter 4: Differences in Customs --Part II Specific Aspects of American Life --Chapter 5: Politics -- The Rule of Law -- The Ideal of Compromise -- Politics Apart --Chapter 6: Family Life -- What Foreigners Notice -- The Changing Family -- Raising Children -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 7: Education -- Guiding Ideals -- Social Forces Affecting American Education -- Issues Facing American Schools -- Advantages and Disadvantages -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 8: Religion -- The General Context -- Religion and Individual Americans -- Exceptions -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 9: The Media -- What Is American about the American Media? -- Americans' Views of Their Media -- Misconceptions the Media Promote -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 10: Social Relationships -- Meeting New People -- The American Concept of Friendship -- Relationships Prescribed by Roles -- Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 11: Racial and Ethnic Diversity -- What Foreign Visitors See -- How Americans View Race and Ethnic Relations -- Austin, Texas: A Case Study -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 12: Male-Female Relationships -- Influences on Male-Female Relationships -- Male-Female Relationships in Various Settings -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 13: Sports and Recreation -- Sports -- Recreation -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 14: Driving -- General Information -- Traffic Laws -- Attitudes about Driving -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 15: Shopping -- Advertising -- Pricing -- Customer-Clerk Relationships -- Sales Tactics -- Procedures for Returning and Exchanging -- Private Sales -- Precautions for Shoppers from Abroad --Chapter 16: Personal Hygiene -- The Basics -- Variations -- Other Issues Concerning Hygiene -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 17: Getting Things Done in Organizations -- Misconceptions -- Characteristics of U.S. Organizations -- Suggestions for Dealing with U.S. Organizations --Chapter 18: Behavior in Public Places -- Rules for Behavior in Public Places -- Communication Behaviors -- Suggestions for Foreign Visitors --Chapter 19: Studying -- Assumptions Underlying the Higher -- Education System -- Student-Student Relationships -- Student-Professor Relationships -- Roommate Relationships -- Plagiarism -- Suggestions for Foreign Students --Chapter 20: Business -- Doing Business in the United States -- The Global Economy -- Suggestions for Foreign Businesspeople -- and Future Businesspeople --Part III Coping with Cultural Differences --Chapter 21: Some Helpful Ideas -- Expectations -- Personality Characteristics -- Traits and Situations -- Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustment -- D-I-E --Chapter 22: Activities for Learning about -- American Culture -- Ask Questions -- Learn and Practice Local English -- Take Field Trips -- Talk with Experienced Foreigners -- Keep a Journal -- Learn the Names of Local and Institutional VIPs -- Read, Reflect -- View Yourself as a Teacher -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- About the Author.