Take 5: March 2020

In this month's round up, NAFSA members recommend a handful of books (and a case study) to add to spring break reading lists.

1. Perception and Deception: A Mind-Opening Journey Across Cultures by Joe Lurie

“This book is about cross-cultural communication and miscommunication. Through brilliant storytelling, Lurie shows us how our perception is often inhibited by our experiences. I recommend this book for all international educators, especially those who interact with international students and scholars regularly.”

—Loveness Schafer, Louisiana State University

2. “International, Inaccessible, and Incomplete: A Texas Case Study of International Student Websites” by Z. W. Taylor and Ibrahim Bicak

“I read this case study [in the Journal of International Students] and found it very interesting in regard to how institutions are viewed by international students and whether or not [their websites] are helpful. It’s been driving some of the work we are doing to update our website.”

—Tami Renner, Creighton University

3. How Colleges Change: Understanding, Leading, and Enacting Change by Adrianna Kezar

“This book is an outstanding resource for any higher education administrator. It is the perfect balance between theory and practical suggestions on how to implement change in higher education, and [it] acknowledges the uniqueness of colleges and universities as organizations.”

—Amy Ramirez, University of Maryland-Baltimore

4 and 5. Start with Why by Simon Sinek (or watch the TED Talk)

“Given the current geopolitical climate that we are in, it is easy for those working with international students and scholars to have ‘compassion fatigue’