As featured in the New York Times and Reader's Digest "An eye-opener into the pitfalls awaiting the unaware traveler." -Washington Post "Can save the innocent abroad from great gobs of serious trouble." -Chicago Tribune Before you raise your hand to signal the waiter, extend your thumb to hitchhike, or flash the "O.K." sign with thumb and forefinger, Stop! Think of where you are and exactly what you are trying to say-otherwise you could create an international incident. Remember when President Bush thought he was flashing the "V" for Victory sign to cheering Australians? (See inside.) Exploring the ins and outs of body language from head to toe, this newly revised and expanded edition of Roger Axtell's indispensable guide takes you all around the world of gestures-what they mean, how to use them, and when to avoid them. This latest edition includes:


• Updates about the 200 most popular gestures and signals-and dozens of new examples
• New sections covering special gestures-from American Sign Language and tai chi to flirting and kissing 

• Information to guide you through gestures country by country-from Switzerland to Japan, Nigeria to the Netherlands
• Amusing anecdotes and helpful hypothetical scenarios

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The Do's and Taboos of Hosting International Visitors

Avoid business blunders with… Do’s and Taboos of Hosting International Visitors "Roger Axtell is an international Emily Post." —The New Yorker America hosts some 41 million international visitors who spend $50 billion dollars each year while mixing trade and tourism. Do’s and Taboos of Hosting International Visitors offers hosts an indispensable guide to everything from entertaining and business protocol to the role of interpreters and corporate gift giving. You’ll find:

• List of tips by country on specific aspects of hosting and other valuable resources and references
• Guidance for doing business with special groups, such as the British and Japanese
• What foreign guests find peculiar about American dining, social drinking, and office protocol

With the information in Do’s and Taboos of Hosting International Visitors, you’ll make your clients and colleagues’ visits more pleasant and avoid social mistakes that could ruin a deal. Instead, you’ll gain a competitive edge by laying an important cornerstone of a good business relationship. "Hosting international visitors plays an essential part in successfully competing globally. This book provides most of the answers—and it’s entertaining besides." —Robert F. Froehlke, President & CEO IDS Mutual Fund Group

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Do's and Taboos of Humor around the World: Stories and Tips From Business and Life

The Do's and Taboos series: over 600,000 satisfied readers-and counting!

"Roger Axtell is an international Emily Post."-The New Yorker



Roger Axtell's latest eye-opening guide to the pitfalls awaiting the business and leisure traveler is his funniest and most useful yet. Building on two invaluable ideas-"laughter has no accent" and "no matter where you travel in our world, there is one form of communication that is understood-the smile"-Axtell expertly combines fascinating business and leisure lore, more than 300 hilarious anecdotes, and loads of entertaining, invaluable advice on proper etiquette in dozens of countries. From embarrassing dining debacles to unintentionally lewd gestures, this delightful guide shows how to avoid cultural faux pas as you sidestep potential misunderstandings. If all else fails, always be ready to laugh at yourself!



Includes 26 whimsical illustrations by the award-winning cartoonist Mel Casson


• Discusses the often comical gaffes arising from differences between American English and the English spoken in Great Britain, Australia, and Canada

• Features dozens of cunning cognates, misinterpreted signs, unknowingly funny gestures, and business blunders to watch out for

• Helps travelers recognize the where, when, and how of using humor abroad

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Do's and Taboos of Using English Around the World

Roger Axtell is the international Emily Post."-The New Yorker



English has become the global language-the dominant language used in international trade, science, technology, and travel. But for most Americans, the potential for linguistic misunderstanding, confusion, and embarrassment when using English with nonnative speakers is greater now than ever. In this essential guide, veteran international businessman and raconteur Roger E. Axtell shows you how to use English successfully in any business or social context-and how to avoid making embarrassing or misleading statements to people who are trying to understand you. Inside you'll find:


• Valuable rules for making yourself understood when communicating with people from other cultures

• Dozens of amusing anecdotes that illustrate the potential trials and pitfalls of using American English around the world

• The important differences between American English and the English spoken in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and South Africa
* Helpful advice on using interpreters and translators

• Special sections on communicating in English with speakers of other languages, including Japanese, German, French, and Italian

• Tips on telephone conversation and dangerous cognates

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Essential Do's and Taboos

"Roger Axtell is an internationalist Emily Post."
--The New Yorker



International business and leisure travel etiquette expert Roger Axtell's bestselling Do's and Taboos books have helped hundreds of thousands of business travelers and tourists avoid the missteps and misunderstandings the world traveler can encounter. In Essential Do's and Taboos, Axtell shares the wisdom he has compiled over a lifetime of international experience.



Whether you need to know the best time of year to set up a business meeting in Germany or why the O.K. sign is not O.K. in Brazil, you'll find practical, fascinating, culture-savvy, up-to-date advice to help you steer clear of faux pas and face the world with confidence. Essential Do's and Taboos features:


• Information on customs, protocol, etiquette, hand gestures, and body language
• Fresh advice regarding Internet business and communication options
• Country-specific chapters on eleven popular locations--from old favorites like England, France, Japan, and Germany to hot tourist destinations and emerging economies like India, China, Russia, and Mexico
• Guidance on hosting international visitors
• Important tips on using English around the world
• Special do's and taboos for women traveling abroad

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