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Boulanger, Clare L. Reflections on America: Anthropological Views of America. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 2008. Often the culture that’s the most difficult to see is the one you live in. In this anthology, noted cultural anthropologists examine American culture by teasing out the cultural values in practices as diverse as evangelical Christian worship services, civil war reenactments, the rise of the La-Z-Boy recliner, changing views of nature, and gun culture.
Coontz, Stephanie. The Social Origins of Private Life: A History of American Families 1600–1900. London: Verso, 1988, pp. 74–78. Coontz describes social conditions in America prior to the 20th century. She begins by discussing Native American notions of the family prior to the arrival of the colonists. She then examines changing patterns of family life among the colonists. Her section on slave families provides a brief introduction to a fascinating topic.
Hofstede, Geert. Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2001. An updated and expanded version of a classic in the field. While not as easy a read as some of the other books listed, this scholarly discussion of the dimensions that describe cultural differences is a must-have for the serious student of intercultural communication.
Samovar, Larry A., Richard E. Porter, and Edwin R. McDaniel. Communication Between Cultures, 7th ed., Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth, 2009. This popular text is an excellent introduction to the field of intercultural communication.
Samovar, Larry A. and Richard E. Porter. Intercultural Communication: A Reader, 9th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 1999. An excellent collection of readings about a great many different cultures. A good source for an overview of the field.
Seidman, Steven. Romantic Longings: Love in America, 1830–1980. New York: Routledge, 1991. This book offers an engaging study of the meaning of love and sex during the 19th and 20th centuries and helps us understand the origins of current attitudes and values.
Smitherman, Geneva. Word from the Mother: Language and African Americans. New York: Routledge, 2006. Smitherman is a wonderful writer, and in this book she gives an overview of debates about African-American language patterns, arguing convincingly that the speech of African Americans enriches general American English.
Various authors, The Culture Shock! Guides. Portland, Ore.: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company. A series of guides to the etiquette and customs of people in specific countries. Books in the series include Culture Shock: Germany, France, Japan, Chile, Indonesia, Netherlands, Israel, Finland, and even The USA. While not a substitute for in-depth area study, if you want a thumbnail sketch that will give you a feel for a country and may keep you from acting like the “Ugly American,” this series is a good choice.