Good insight, culturally relevant, good read
591230
Sweet is notorious in his books for basing the themes of the materials around acronyms and this book is no different.  The entire book is a discussion of what Sweet calls the "TGIF" world, which stands for Twitter, Google, iPhone, and Facebook.  This is because these are the major cultural forces in today's social network culture.  Sweet does a masterful job in the opening pages showing how "the times are a' changing".  He does so by describing that currently we are in the merging of two different cultures - what he calls the Guttenbergers and the Googlers.  The Guttenburgers are those who have grown up in an era that was more modern and heavily influenced by words - the printing press era of Johanes Guttenberg.  The Googlers, on the other hand, have grown up primarily in the internet age and the information revolution.  It is really a fascinating read.

Then, in the successive chapters, Sweet describes how each of these four entities are shaping the world we live in.  More importantly, he describes how church leaders and Christians should interpret these events and use them to engage the culture better and spark a real spiritual revival.  Far from seeing "the days gone by" as the best days, Sweet shows how the church is poised to step in and offer the gospel in new and powerful ways.  While I don't agree with much of Sweet's underlying theological positions, I do appreciate his optimism regarding the power of social media.

This book has many strengths.  For people like me who have one foot in both worlds, we can better appreciate many of the cultural changes going on around us through reading Viral.  It helps to shed a great deal of light on sociological areas that many in the church never take the time to research and understand.  This book is written with a great deal of optimism which is a refreshment in a church culture that spends most of our time bemoaning the times and wishing we could go back to the good ol' days.  Theologically, the book is very weak.  Sweet has very little use for traditional methods of preaching and doctrinal silos. There is an amorphous understanding of salvation and the gospel in his writings.  There are few answers given on a practical level as to how established churches can better use social networking to advance the gospel.  Overall, however, the book is an enjoyable and informative read.  It would benefit a lot of pastors who are functionally illiterate about the power of social networking to reach a world that embraced these entities many years ago.  Like many things in the Christian world, we came to the social networking party a few years too late.
3502618
This book is very readable, yet also manages to explain some really important cultural forces of the 21st century in a lot of depth.  I particularly liked his explanation of the significance of web 2.0 (and what he calls New Marketing) and how it applies to sustainability issues, but there are lots of other things to recommend it too.  The format was clear and logical, and there were quite a few interesting examples to make his points really concrete.  I've got a full book review at [...]

This book is highly recommended :-)
1465782
A good read, I would recommend it to others. Any one can write about a subject, and make it sound good, but only those who actually put into practice what they are writing about can give true insight, and details into the various styles of the many different cultures that practice the this subject. It was nice to see not only the basic concept presented, but the differing points of view, and practices being thoroughly explained, without bias.
508944
The White Tiger tells the story of how an Indian entrepreneur manages to work his way out of the slums and begin his own business. Humorous and interesting, the novel makes for a good read.

Enjoyed:
- The narration (minus the framing device, which I'll discuss later) is entertaining and sincere.
- Adiga finds a perfect balance between over explaining and under explaining Indian customs, places, etc... The reader is educated without feeling lectured.
- The novel is culturally relevant in the sense of out-sourcing and generational strife.
- The characters are developed appropriately; you learn about the characters you are interested in and are spared life stories for the ones that aren't essential.
- This novel is accessible to various types of readers. You really get what you try to take away; if you read purely for enjoyment you will like the novel. For those of us who desire depth, there is some of that too.

But...
- The framing device of this story is done poorly. The novel is told over the course of several days through what is supposedly a letter to the Chinese Premier. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that while I understand what he was trying to achieve by comparing/contrasting two "up and coming" developing nation, I think it wasn't done well from a literary standpoint.
- I'm not sure if this necessarily deserved the Man Booker Prize. Don't misunderstand- it is a good novel, but I'm not sure if it was quite that good.

While the novel does have a few drawbacks, as a whole I would recommend it.
3419243
This is a cool book.  It is not a quick and easy read (though you can get a fair overview by browsing the photos and captions), it goes into fascinating detail, and it can be challenging to consider some of the perspectives.  I liked the focus on viewing these cultures from predominantly the female point of view.  These women and their cultures offer us valuable insights about ways of interacting with the environment, value systems, and ways of managing life that can expand our thinking.  I, for one, especially appreciated the glimpse of the "nomad aesthetic," which has a very different view of the beauty and value of "things" than we Western, sedentary folk have.
4836923
It's a very emotional read!
I am in a multi-cultural relationship and this book is packed with good advice, especially when it comes to respect, common courtesy, and financial side.
And what I learned was very discouraging, unfortunately.
Opens your eyes to the world around you.
It's a worthwhile and instructive read.
1628827
I got this as a no-strings-attached review copy from the publisher, and found value in the read. Dr. Nydell tries to give a very nuances overvuew of cultural factors across the Arab world, but also to carefully distinguish the different cultures and histories.

She gives specific tips for how to get along, with an emphasis on graceful speech, getting along, and investing time in friendships, as well as knowing your history.

This edition is also up to date, with some overview of the Arab Spring. As above, I also appreciated a discussion of some of the social issues (unemployment, inequality) that challenge the region and how they have changed over time, as well as the specific cultural histories of each country. Recommended.
4122985
Good read.  Not a dreadful how-to book, but a good story with inspiring info in a mind opening way.  Lessons on respect, love and seeing the importance and value gained from other cultures.
3053492
The author shares his family's experiences in moving to another continent and the cultural differences they encounter. The stories provide a mixture of humor, realism, nostalgia, and lessons learned. I appreciate that his perspective of "This is Africa" both in wonderful and challenging experiences. I think this is a good book for those who are considering moving to a different culture; even if you aren't moving to Africa it serves as a reminder that we all have bias based on what is familiar and that will be challenged in your move.  For those are not moving, it is entertaining and enjoyable to see how the author is shaped and changed by living out his dream.
349255
Readers can get insights from this book, which can make them stronger and more discerning individuals. However, much of the solutions and ideals in this book come within a cultural framework, so care and discernment should be exercised. This is especially needed as often Christian books are read in other countries or by people from other countries without a cultural filter resulting in feelings of judgment, but the reality is relationships are structured and conflicts are resolved differently in many cultures. We need to be careful in universal claims.

One example is the parent-child relationship. Not every culture is like the American culture where there is much emphasis on the separateness of individuals. Caring about parents' concerns and making decisions with the family in mind are not always infantile, regressive, immature, or co-dependent. In some cultures, as my own, these are done with genuine love, respect, and selflessness (qualities that seem hard to understand by people coming from very individualistic mindsets) and also within the context of difficult socioeconomic situations (again, difficult to understand by those coming from privileged countries with much opportunity). Another example is confrontation. In some cultures, confrontation is the last straw--there are other steps that come first that are mutually understood by people within the same cultural context: i.e. nonverbal clues, indirect rebukes, and yes, even some withdrawal in order not to escalate the conflict. Despite these, this might be a good book for those coming from other cultural backgrounds to understand what it takes to survive healthily in a new environment such as the U.S. My only caution for those coming from another culture is to keep this cultural aspect in mind so as not to feel overwhelmed by thinking they are moral universals.

Ironically, the authors also seemed biased towards extroverted personalities in this book, not taking into account the real struggles of people with more introversion. Case in point was how one author described one person as painfully awkward. The solutions are rather simplistic with no deep supportive care for people who are genuinely having a hard time. I felt it was more like a do's and don't's kind of book that can make one feel more depressed and overwhelmed. The reality is that the solution they kept on repeating--find safe people who will support you--is not available all the time, and it seems rather confusing and simplistic on how they suggest going about this: find a small group, find a counselor, persevere, etc. Throughout the book, principles seem contradictory--like stay away from unsafe people but don't severe relationships that quickly.

Probably the most valuable insight I got, however, was that we as humans are relational creatures that's why relational problems hurt so much. Just as God is relational, we are made to be relational, so the idea that we only need God is faulty. The two greatest commandments center not just on loving God but also loving our neighbors. Our perception of God often stream from our experiences with people, that's why the Church is called the Body of Christ on earth. Another is how the authors explained that sometimes our symptoms and problems are not necessarily solved by reading the Bible more or praying more but filling in the need to be more connected to others. They also gave good recommendations on how to talk to others like, "I am having a hard time. Can you support me through this?" "I just need to know that you are here. You don't have to, but can I have your emotional and social support?" They explained that safe people won't judge you for this need, for they themselves recognize how important it is to be connected to others. We also need to strive to develop relationships not as extra benefits from functional roles but to actually pursue relationships in contexts where this is the main purpose.
4315108
As an American who has spent 24 years living and working in Africa, including nine years in Mali, I judge "Waiting for Rain" to be an excellent book about that beautiful country.  It provides a sensitive, informed, insightful view of the challenges Malians face to improve their lives through economic and social development programs.  Because Mali is so diverse -- culturally, ethnically, ecologically -- I was especially impressed with the fact that Mr. Lucke was able to see and evaluate, firsthand, development efforts throughout the country.  He clearly understands that different ethnic and ecological zones -- for example, the Gao corridor versus the Upper Niger River Valley -- present different challenges.  I appreciated Lucke's professional views and personal touches.  His sense of humor -- which I found delightful -- pervades the book but is in no way disrespectful to Malians and their culture.  His insights about expatriate life in a country  emerging from its early socialist years to one driven by market economics will be useful for newcomers to Mali and Africa.  Mr. Lucke clearly had a good grasp of the issues that development professional and do-gooders need to understand so that they can honor the "do no harm" mandate.  There are very few books in English (Pascal Imperato's come to my mind) that can teach the reader about Mali like "Waiting for Rain."  Though a second edition may be warranted, I include Mr. Lucke's work among the very best.  This reviewer highly recommends it to readers interested in African economic development or Malian culture, as well as anyone planning to visit or work in Mali.
580340
An engaging (and fast) read. A must read for any one in the African diaspora experiencing some kind of change in social class (e.g. being first in the family to attend college or graduate school) or otherwise having suspicions about the sources of their feelings of alienation. Specifically, this is an amazingly relevant depiction of the pain experienced by those who do as they're told and pursue education to "better themselves": the richness of this book's characters show just how many costs go unstated by those who have the privilege of not paying said costs and unacknowledged by those who haven't had to go through the violent process of being harshly disciplined into being acceptable by the dominant segments of society.

Nyasha's character resonated most with me: I, too, feel frustrated by what seems to be an obvious oppressive reality around me as well as the extreme deprivation that can encourage oppressed people to appear complicit. Additionally, most of the other characters also helped open my eyes to the ways that I have failed to understand why people with situations different from my own can seem complicit in their own subordination. The discussion of how gender plays out also may be eye-opening for those with little clarity on the violence that seeming innocuous hierarchies produce (e.g. even "good" people can enact said violence). I plan on reading the sequel, although I've heard it's not as good.

I also recommend this book to:
-Any person who doesn't understand the severity of the violence of colonization on those who have been colonized (e.g. people who aren't part of a colonized group, people who firmly believe today's racism is "less bad" than yesterday's)
-Those who don't see why people in the African diaspora are often concerned with what often is written off as mere "identity politics" (as opposed to a legitimate sense of loss)
-Any person who is having a hard time understanding how "nice" and "good" people are still among the hands that enact violence against colonized peoples
-Any person who is having a hard time understanding how a "minority" can be among the hands that enact violence against (their own) colonized people (e.g. people who firmly believe in a rigid category of "sell-outs")
445400
In starting this book I had no idea what horizontal or vertical self even meant, so there was no way that I could answer the question of whether I was a person who cares of the horizontal self or the vertical self? In delving into this book I came to find that the author relates the horizontal self to younger adults that are stuck in the culture that is around them. Vertical self individuals are looking upwards setting aside the societal pull to focus or refocus on God.

Personally, I liked the way Mark Sayers connects everyday culture to Christianity and how we connect with God. The authors spends a lot of time looking into the history and how society has slipped into a state of 'horizontal' self where people's lives are defined by society and circumstances.

This book was well written, and contained some great insights into culture (as mentioned) and how this culture of self has become an interloper to many churches. I also liked the fact that the author provides the reader with a ton of practical approaches to thinking about living a more God-centered "vertical" life.
4061054
Let me say up front that I can't be entirely objective here because I know Tilak and his wife Inderjeet.  At the same time, knowing them allows me to give you some useful information about this book, which I read while I stayed with them in India.  Tilak is a gentle, well educated, and very caring man, and Inderjeet is full of life and also very well educated.

Technically the book is fiction, but in fact these are by and large the actual
experiences of their lives, which have seen more tragedy and joy than most.  Names have been changed throughout, and I was told that some other details were changed as well, but on those occasions where I asked whether something in the book actually happened, the answer was always yes.  One story in particular I thought was pretty astonishing, but Tilak assured me that the book tells the real story.

The book is written in quite readable English, although (not surprisingly) different from American English and even British English.  There is a certain charm to the way it is written, which I think comes in part from a graciousness that seems almost unreal to jaded Americans like me.  But having spent some time with them, I know that this is to some extent a reflection of Hindu culture and in particular Tilak and Inderjeet's personal culture -- they are hospitable and accepting in the extreme.  As a result they have touched many lives over the years.

The book does not read as a biography -- it is a first-person story.  But nor does it read as a novel, with elaborate character development and long descriptions to set the scene.  It moves pretty quickly, tying together many events over the course of their lives without dwelling for too long on any of them.  Tilak manages this pace without making the book seem choppy.

So why might you want to read this book?  Well, beyond being an interesting read about their colorful lives, it gives insight into Indian culture, a tumultuous period in the history of India and Pakistan, and what the U.S. means to India.  Of course, this insight is not delivered as an abstract analysis, but rather through the stories he tells of their lives and their interactions with others.

I personally think the price the publisher put on the book is a little high for the size of the book (for that reason I should perhaps give the book four stars, but I hate to ding Tilak for that -- he actually agrees).  Apart from that the bottom line is that if you are interested in India, you might find this an enjoyable way of getting to know the country and its people a little better.
3797211
I felt that this was a wonderful book. It provides the reader with a great insight into one man's effort to learn more about the cultural heritage of one group. The author of the book shares how difficult it was to gain insight and to process the insights produced by this person. It shares insights into the culture being studied, and what is interesting is how some of these values are different from those a majority of the society might recognize. This will be provocative because the author writes in a way that will encourage you to reflect upon these values. Get it and learn.
295747
Recommended by a friend, I ordered this used book, written in the 1980's. I'm enjoying it thoroughly ... so very interesting as he travels throughout the Muslim world (his family is Hindu) for the first time. The first 48 pages was an experience in culture shock. I felt as shocked, overwhelmed, and confused as he did, due to his rich, detailed writing of those early experiences. As a non-speaker of the language, his senses and mind were terribly overwhelmed by the strange cultural chaos surrounding him. With time and exposure, and always with English-speaking guides, he slowly gains some insights along the way. As for a better understanding of the Middle East, I'm not sure yet (half still to be read). Sometimes the cultural differences are so striking that I feel we never will understand. But if something is gained, that's a good thing, and I plan to continue to the end. It will make a good comparison to more current books on the subject, now on my reading list.
2275839
This book goes deep to analyze some of the behaviors demonstrated by what has been observed by a lot of the Western companies doing business in India, especially in the IT industry. The book is written in a fable format that appeals to a lot of readers. This makes the book easy to read in a single sitting, while providing some deep insights.

Thota has done some deep thinking and explained the "why" behind some of the behaviors exhibited by the team members from India. Overall an excellent job. Here are some specifics that I thought was skillfully done.

1. "Dheeraj put his hand around John's shoulder and escorted him to the office". - Subtle but deep! In Western society, people like to keep their distance and it is not common for people to have physical contact, especially with folks you have just met.
2. Dheeraj continued, "Mispronouncing a name can lead to entirely different meaning, sometimes it can be offensive too". Thota does a great job to address this. Although, I must say, that more people are willing to adjust than to correct. In fact, names have also been changed, for example Krishna has become Kris (Chris!).
3. Another subtle piece of information is the lack of family photos in the Indian work environment. Well called out!
4. Tea time - Another one of those practices that increases bonding between team members.
5. Thota has  done a great job of explaining how some things get engrained into our core. e.g. the culture of saying "yes" to acknowledge that I heard you!
6. Dignity of labor - Another great aspect Thota has addressed and handled well. I particularly like the sentence "As long as you understand the underlying phenomenon for a particular behavior and try to address that, you are fine." This is similar to finding root cause when resolving IT incidents.
7. The Power cut - Another great touch of what is happening there. A lot of folks don't understand this at all.

Overall,  a great read!

Disclosure: I have now known Thota for over a decade. Thota and I worked together in the late 90's. I consider him a good friend. We have stayed in touch over the years. While I stayed with my employer for almost 17 years, Thota went on to try new things and has acquired a tremendous experience.