The books listed in this bibliography are organized according to the three following categories:

Management / Cross-cultural International Mobility France

These books are proposed to you in partnership with In Association with Amazon.com

NB: for each author, the list proposed is not-exhaustive. For the books in French, see the page in French.

 

Management / Cross-cultural topics

"Gurus" of the Cross-cultural field:

ADLER, Nancy: International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior (1991, last ed. 2002), Women in Management Worldwide (1988)

BENNETT, Milton and Janet: Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication: Selected Readings (1998)

CARROLL, Raymonde: Cultural Misunderstandings: the French-American Experience (1987), Evidences Invisibles: Américains et Français au quotidien (1987)

CONDON, Jack: Introduction for Intercultural Communication (1975), With Respect to the Japanese (1984), Good Neighbors: Communicating with the Mexicans (1985)

COPELAND, Lennie and GRIGGS, Lewis: The “Going International” Series. eg. Going International, How to Make Friends and Deal Effectively in the Global Marketplace (1985)

CORNES, Alan: Culture from the Inside Out: Travel and Meet Yourself (2004)

DAHLEN, Tommy: Among the Interculturalists. An Emergent Profession and its Packaging of Knowledge (1997)

GUDYKUNST, William B.: Bridging Differences. Effective Intergroup Communication, (3rd ed. 1998)

HALL, Edward T.: The Silent Language (1959, last ed. 1973), Beyond Cultures (1976), The Hidden Dimension (1969) etc.

HOFSTEDE, Geert: Culture's consequences: International differences in work-related values (1980), Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind (1991, last ed. 2004), Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviours, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations (2001)

KOHLS, Robert D.: Developing Intercultural Awareness: A Cross-Cultural Training Handbook (1981), Survival Kit for Overseas Living, Developing Intercultural Awareness (1996)

LAURENT, André: Human Resource Management in International Firms: Change, Globalization, Innovation (2002)

LEDERER, William: The Ugly American (1958)

MATTOCK, John and GUY, Vincent: The new international manager (1993), The International Business Book (1999, last ed. 2003)

MOLE, John: Mind your Manners (1992, 3rd ed. 2003)

POLLOCK, David C. and Van REKEN, Ruth E.: Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing up Among Worlds (1999, last ed. 2001)

SAITO, Mitsuko and CONDON, Jack: Intercultural Encounters with Japan: Communication, Contact and Conflict (1974)

SAMOVAR, Larry A.: Intercultural communication: A reader (1972, last ed. 2005), Communication Between Cultures (last ed. 2003)

SCHEIN, Edgar: Organisational Culture and Leadership (1985)

SEGALLA, Michael: European Cases of Organisational Behaviour and Change (1996)

TOOMEY, Ting and GUDYKUNST, William: Communication in Personal Relationships Across Cultures

TRIANDIS, Harry: Handbook of Cross-cultural Psychology (1962), The Analysis of Subjective Culture (1972), Culture and Social Behavior (1994)

TROMPENAARS, Fons and HAMPDEN TURNER, C.: Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business (1993), L’Entreprise multiculturelle (1993), Building Cross-cultural Competence (2000) etc.

WASILEWSKI, Jacqueline H.: Between Cultures, Developing Self Identity in a World of Diversity (1996)

ZACHARY, G. Pascal: The Global Me (2000)

 

Other books based on approaches developed by others:

5th SIETAR SYMPOSIUM: Uniqueness in Unity, The Significance of Cultural Identity in European Cooperation (1995)

COPELAND, Lennie and GRIGGS, Lewis: Going International, How to Make Friends and Deal Effectively in the Global Marketplace (1985)

COULSON-THOMAS, Colin: Creating the Global Company (1992)

DRESSER, Norine: Multicultural Manners (1996)

HAMPDEN-TURNER, Charles: Corporate Culture, From Vicious to Virtuous Circles (1990)

HARRIS, Marvin: Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches, The Riddles of Culture (1974)

HATELAY, Barbara, and SCHMIDT, Warren H.: A Peacock in the Land of Penguins (1995)

HLODRIDGE, Barbara and DICKINSON, Emily: I’m nobody, Who Are You ? (1989)

KOTTER, John P. and HESKETT, James L.: Corporate Culture and Performance (1992)

LANE, Henry W. and DISTEFANO, Joseph: International Management Behavior (1993)

LEAPTROTT, Nan: Rules of the Game: Global Business Protocol (1996)

LEWIS, Richard D.: When Cultures Collide, Managing Successfully Across Cultures (1996)

MEYERSON, Debra E.: Tempered Radicals, How People Use Difference to Inspire Change at Work (2001)

MOSS KANTER, Kate: World Class, Thriving Locally in the Global Economy (1995)

MUTAZABI, Evalde, ALTMAN, Yochanan, KLESTA, Audrey, POIRSON, Philippe and PASCOE, Robin: Living and Working Abroad (1994)

PUCIK, Vladimir, TICHY, Noel M. and BARNETT, Carole K.: Globalizing Management, Creating and Leading the Competitive Organization (1993)

ROSEN, Robert: Global Literacies, Lessons on Business Leadership and National Cultures (2000)

TAYLOR, C. and WEBBER, Alan M.: Going Global, Four Entrepreneurs Map the New World Marketplace (1996)

TROUT, Jack: The New Positioning (1996)

The McDONALD Series: The McDonald Guide to Communication Across Cultures

URBAIN, Sabine: Management International (1993)

WEATHERFORD, Jack: Savages and Civilization, Who will survive ? (1994)

Top of page

 

International Mobility

BELL, Linda: Legacies of Growing up Abroad (1997)

KLEINSCHMIT, Nathalie and BOURLET, Françoise: Roots and Wings, My Adventure Roadbook (2000)

POLLOCK, David C. and VAN REKEN, Ruth E.: The Third Culture Kid Experience (1999) reprinted as Third Culture Kids, The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds (2001)

Top of page

 

France

While numerous books about France have been published, most have been written for tourists and do not always offer the information a future expatriate really needs. The ones below stand out as fun books to read as you prepare to move to France.

AAWE - Association of American Wives of Europeans: Guide to Education
This is a complete and comprehensive guide published in English by the Association of American Wives of Europeans (AAWE). It explains in detail, various aspects of the French educational system, with helpful advice for raising a child in a bilingual and bicultural family. There is a very complete listing of bilingual schools in Paris and the provinces, each with a full-page description, a list of summer-school programs, activities in English, useful addresses and publications with information on different aspects of educating a child in France. To order, write or call the AAWE:
AAWE, 34 avenue de New York, 75016 Paris, Telephone: +33 1 40 70 11 80 19
Website: www.aaweparis.org

ASSELIN, Gilles and MASTRON, Ruth: Au contraire ! - Figuring Out the French (2001)
This book offers a satisfying alternative to other books written by “intercultural experts”. Indeed, the two authors strive to be objective and while they do not always manage to avoid stereotyping or judging, they do offer insight into French lifestyle or business choices that may baffle expatriate managers arriving to France. Expatriates whose work will bring them to interact and deal with the French on a regular basis will probably find this book a worthwhile read.

BRAME, Geneviève: Chez Vous en France: Living and Working in France
Genevieve Brame is French and an expert on international mobility. Her book aims to help new expatriates adapt to living in France and working with the French and it succeeds by presenting practical and up-to-date information about French lifestyle, the school system, health care and work environment.

CORDER, Colin: Some of my best friends are French (1992)

CARROLL, Raymonde: Cultural Misunderstandings – The French-American Experience (1990)
Raymonde Carroll is a French woman who spent 20 years in the USA before writing her admittedly “unscientific” Cultural Misunderstandings, based on her observations as a spouse, a mother, a woman and a friend. The result is a delightful and unpretentious book that leads the reader to look at life in France with interest and greater understanding. Though the content is somewhat dated, it can still serve as a starting point for a conversation on the way we raise our children, how we deal with conflict, what our priorities are as friends and partners. A worthwhile read for those interested in exploring cross-cultural issues or simply looking for another way of learning about French choices.

JOHNSON, Michael: French Resistance, Individuals versus the Company in French Corporate Life (1996)

LEBEDEL, Claude: History of France from its origin to our days (2001)

MAYLE, Peter: A year in Provence (1989)
Though his book was published almost 15 years ago, Peter Mayle’s wit and keen observations bring the French Provincial characters to life for the reader. It is not surprising that this autobiographical novel was a best-seller in many countries and continues to delight the reader - even if, to be fair, Provence has changed over the past decade!

ROCHEFORT, Harriet Welty: French Toast (1999), French Fried (2001)
For a light and fun read that is often right on target, Harriet Welty Rochefort’s books offer a change from dry facts and statistics. For a preview of her style, you can visit her website (references below). She brings her own dose of enthusiasm and caustic humor to the choice of being an expatriate in France. Some may not appreciate her exaggerations and blatant stereotyping: her reviews on Amazon were either highly complimentary or extremely critical.

TAYLOR, Sally Adamson: Culture Shock: France! (1997)
The Culture Shock series offer tips for readers traveling or living in different countries. Sally Adamson Taylor’s Culture Shock: France is true to the format and she offers practical advice on driving, money, religion, entertaining, etiquette, etc., as well as work-related topics such as getting a job, building business relationships, setting up an office.

Women of the American Church in Paris: Bloom Where You’re Planted - How to Live in France
Published by the Women of the American Church for the annual October “Bloom Where You are Planted” event (information sessions and workshops for new expatriates offered every Tuesday of the month at the American Church in Paris), this is probably the most complete and up-to-date book on living in France in print. It has been written with Americans expatriates in mind and offers conversion charts, language guides and detailed information on every facet of settling in. Some future expatriates might find that it takes away some of the fun of discovering a new country. However, if you are in any way worried about moving to France, you will find it reassuring to have at hand.
Published every year by the Women of the American Church, 65, quai d’Orsay, 75007 Paris Telephone +33 1 40 62 05 00
Website: www.woac.net
Usually available in English-language bookshops in Paris.

Top of page