Erin Meyer The Culture Map

Last updated: August 25, 2021


Corporate cultures worldwide are as different as the social cultures they're embedded in. This book breaks down these cultures and provides concrete, actionable advice to bridge gaps and create a functional framework for your business. It does so in a readable and engaging way.

Erin Meyer The Culture Map

We looked at the top Business Culture Books and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Business Culture Book you should buy.

Product Details

Key Takeaway: This book unlocks the secrets to communicating with those from different backgrounds and is perfect for global companies.

In our analysis of 12 expert reviews, the Erin Meyer The Culture Map placed 3rd when we looked at the top 5 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

An international business expert helps you understand and navigate cultural differences in this insightful and practical guide, perfect for both your work and personal life. Americans precede anything negative with three nice comments; French, Dutch, Israelis, and Germans get straight to the point; Latin Americans and Asians are steeped in hierarchy; Scandinavians think the best boss is just one of the crowd. It’s no surprise that when they try and talk to each other, chaos breaks out. In The Culture Map, INSEAD professor Erin Meyer is your guide through this subtle, sometimes treacherous terrain in which people from starkly different backgrounds are expected to work harmoniously together. She provides a field-tested model for decoding how cultural differences impact international business, and combines a smart analytical framework with practical, actionable advice.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

A practical guide for navigating cultural complexity while conducting global business. Interesting examples of everyday failures to communicate and work around solutions. Implements personal changes sounds like a challenge, but that is the way things are.
I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this as a ‘must read’ book for anyone with either a practical or academic interest in building a strong cross cultural working understanding. It is accessible, easy to read, has plenty of real world examples to illustrate its material and, with the graphical, culture map approach, gives a very easy to understand picture of how different cultures compare.
- Ulfire

What reviewers didn't like

Erin often limits herself to personal stories and doesn't cite almost any researcher or study. Where did she take her scales from? What indicators did she use? Hunch? Gut feeling? Statistical analysis? Sometimes stories end at the most interesting point, do not specify essential details, and serve just to act as a "proof" for the previous idea to give it credibility that it was lacking.
From an academic perspective I was a little disappointed that the development of the data used to establish each of the rankings is only discussed briefly. Having more information on the background source for the data would, for me, have taken this from being an excellent book for beginners through to experienced cross cultural workers, to one that would have had a similar standing in an academic environment.
- Ulfire
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