T. Youn-ja

The authors of this book feel, with some justification, that Korea is the stepchild of Asia in terms of how it is perceived in the West. Shim (Marshall School of Business, U. of Southern California), Kim (speech, University of Hawaii) and Martin (intercultural communication, Arizona State University) begin by pointing out that Korea is now one of the most literate, computer savvy countries in the world, producing electronics and automobiles among many other things. However, they are quick to add that this does not mean that Koreans have the same cultural background as Americans. Working from other studies, personal experience and interviews, they explore the transition Korea has made in the past half-century "from Confucianism to capitalism" and how Confucian philosophy still underscores behavior. The book is intended for business people who either work in Korea or with Koreans. The final section of the book highlights areas in which misunderstandings can cause conflict. Annotation 穢2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)