It is a splendidly written, well researched work on cultures. Anyone traveling abroad should not leave home without this valuable resource! I highly recommend it as a required reading for cross-cultural workers. Sarah Lanier's love and sensitivity for people of all nations will touch your heart.This accessible, breezy, and clear primer summarizes both the author's intense personal experiences and significant amounts of "conventional sociological wisdom." College students, international aid workers, English teachers-along with international students, global trekkers, and world citizens-would benefit from investing an hour or two reading this fine, satisfying guide to understanding human beings born and raised thousands of miles from our hometowns.