April 9, 2012
Reading more like a compilation of thematically linked essays than a cohesive book, Martin (Tough Calls) presents his take on contemporary “Otherness”: what it is, its boundaries and structure, where it manifests itself, and whom it affects. Though many chapters might appear to have little to do with the “other” (“people we consider so different from ourselves that we have trouble seeing beyond those differences to what we have in common”), the theme remains in demonstrations of why we need both a more global and interconnected worldview. But his purpose is not to propose solutions. Instead, he writes with a concern for “understanding the issue, its importance, and its implications.” Though the book might at first appear to be business-focused, the chapters dealing with the topic’s foundational issues are of universal appeal. And with most chapters no longer than five to seven pages, the book’s lack of a developmental thread actually works to its advantage, allowing the reader to pick up and turn to almost any chapter at random without any loss of comprehension or purpose. Martin’s research, writing style, and breadth of subject succeed in revealing unconscious patterns and prejudices we may have, that we might be aware of “how even subtle appeals to group identity can influence our judgment and behavior.”