Autumn reading: The Geography of Thought

What have you been reading so far this autumn? A friend recommended I check out "The Geography of Thought" by Richard Nisbett, and I think it's a really useful read for any expats in Japan.

The main idea is pretty simple, and focuses on the concept that people in different cultures don't just believe different things, but they actually think differently. Western thinking (like that of Americans, Australians, and Europeans) tends to focus on individuals, clear categories, and logic, whereas East Asian thinking (common in Japan, China, and Korea) focuses more on relationships, context, and harmony.

One of the biggest insights is how differently responsibility is viewed. In the West, we often ask "Who made the mistake?" but here in Japan, the question is more like "What conditions led to this?" At first, I thought this avoided accountability, but now I see it as a more holistic way of understanding situations. It's less about blame and more about maintaining balance.

Another concept the book touches on is the idea of reading the air. Here, communication often relies on shared understanding, subtle hints, and silence, but in Western culture, we value clear statements and direct opinions. Initially in Japanese work environments I found things like indirect responses really confusing (my internal monologue would often be like "JUST SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT!!") but I think once you've been here a while you realize that people are communicating the entire time, just not in the way some of us have been trained to notice.

What I appreciated most is that the book doesn't say one style of thinking is better. Western thinking is great for innovation, clarity, and solving problems quickly. East Asian thinking is great for cooperation, long-term planning, and adapting to complex situations. As an expat, I realized I don't have to pick one or the other, and I can use helpful strategies from both.

Any good books you've delved into this autumn?