The Hidden Dimension
By Edward T Hall
ISBN: 0385084765
Available also as used from http://www.amazon.com
Description
A scholarly analysis of cultural concepts of space and how differences among them affect modern society by a noted anthropologist. This book is an examination of various cultural concepts of space and how differences among them affect modern society. Introducing the science of "Proxemics," Hall demonstrates how man's use of space can affect personal business relations, cross-cultural exchanges, architecture, city planning, and urban renewal. Hall's work inspired developments in several fields. In the field of anthropology, he was one of the first to consider the "anthropology of space."
Review
A captivating scholarly writing on how human beings react to and make use of spatial distance from a physical and psychological viewpoint, i.e.. the study of Proxemics. The book also deals with cultural differences in the use of space. Hall examines the French, German, English, Japanese, and Arab world comparing each with the American context and with one another. The concluding chapters look at the world of 1950's and 1960's and seek to explain the ways in which we must design our cities to reflect proxemics values. Many readers would immediately disagree with Hall's claims that there are inherent differences between the races that could not be overcome but Hall is rather persuasive. Though this is an old classic it is not outdated. This book is very different from "Management Science" books, as it requires broader general cultural knowledge from the reader by venturing into the domains of art, classical history and psychology.
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