The Way Thais Lead: Face as Social Capital by Larry S. Persons

BATB score: varies based on your nationality

BATB score: 4/10 if you are Thai, born and raised, you don’t have to read this book we know this by heart

BATB score: 8/10 if you are an expat in a leadership role in Thailand, also wtf are you doing in my country taking c-level roles that are better off lead by true-thais?! just because we are developing doesn’t mean that you-developed can march in and claim supremacy; why? just because you have a soothing English accent, oh god, I hate how gullible we Thais are to whitey tighties like you, you think you’re better than me?!

BATB lingering thought: I apologize for my anger, racism, and discrimination; I can not promise that I won’t do it again

Best to: kudos to PhD Larry Persons for a very good effort in trying to clarify the definition of and to create a framework for the super subjective and abstract Thailand-only norms: “Saksi” Endogenous Worth, “Chuesiang” Public Acclaim, “Kiat” Honor, “Nata” Prestige, and “Barami” Accumulated Goodness

Best as: introduction to Thai corruption

Best for: expats and/or internationally educated Thai millennials dealing with Thai-baan Boomers and Gen X in corporate/business settings

Best quote: “Sadly, it pays handsomely to be dishonest.”