Do's and Taboos of Humor Around the World: Stories and Tips from Business and Life Paperback - 1998 - 1st Edition

First line

I once sent a fax to the manager of our factory in Peru.

From the rear cover

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