Presents the cultural metaphor as a method for understanding the cultural mindsets of a nation, a cluster of nations, and even of a continent. This method involves identifying some phenomenon, activity or institution of a culture that all or most of its members consider important and with which they identify closely.

"Understanding Global Cultures, Third Edition" presents the cultural metaphor as a method for understanding the cultural mindsets of a nation, a cluster of nations, and even of a continent. This method involves identifying some phenomenon, activity or institution of a culture that all or most of its members consider important and with which they identify closely. Metaphors are not stereotypes; rather, they rely upon the features of one critical phenomenon of a culture to describe the entire culture. The characteristics of the metaphor then become the basis for describing and understanding the essential features of the culture. For example, the Italians invented the opera and love it passionately. Five key characteristics of the opera are the overture, spectacle and pageantry, voice, externalization, and the interaction between the lead singers and the chorus. These features are used to describe Italy and its cultural mindset.Thus, the metaphor is a guide or map that helps such outsiders as students, travelers, and managers on short-term and long-term assignments understand quickly what members of a culture consider important.

PART 1:
INTRODUCTION Chapter 1:
Understanding Cultural Metaphors PART 2: AUTHORITY RANKING CULTURES
Chapter 2:

The Thai Kingdom Chapter 3:

The Japanese Garden Chapter 4:

India: The Dance of Shiva Chapter 5:

Bedouin Jewery and Saudi Arabia Chapter 6:

The Turkish Coffehouse Chapter 7:

The Brazilian Samba Chapter 8:

The Polish Village Church Chapter 9:

Kimchi and Korea PART 3: EQUALITY MATCHING CULTURES Chapter 10:
The German Symphony
Chapter 11:
The Swedish Stuga
Chapter 12:
Irish Conversations Chapter 13:
The Canadian Backpack and Flag Chapter 14:
The Danish Christmas Luncheon Chapter 15:
French Wine PART 4: MARKET PRICING CULTURES
Chapter 16:
American Football Chapter 17:
The Traditional British House
PART 5: CLEFT NATIONAL CULTURES Chapter 18:
The Malaysian Balik Kampung Chapter 19:
The Nigerian Marketplace Chapter 20:
The Israeli Kibbutzim and Moshavim Chapter 21:
The Italian Opera
Chapter 22:
Belgian Lace PART 6: TORN NATIONAL CULTURES Chapter 23:
The Mexican Fiesta Chapter 24:
The Russian Ballet PART 7: SAME METAPHOR, DIFFERENT MEANINGS
Chapter 25:
The Spanish Bullfight
Chapter 26:
The Portuguese Bullfight
PART 8: THE BASE CULTURE AND ITS DIFFUSION ACROSS BORDERS
(CLUSTERS OF NATIONS)
Chapter 27:
China's Great Wall and Cross-cultural Paradox
Chapter 28:
The Chinese Family Altar Chapter
29:
The Singapore Hawker Centers
PART 9: PERSPECTIVES ON CONTINENTS Chapter 30
Australian Outdoor Recreational Activities Chapter 31:

The Sub Saharan Bush Taxi References About the Author