Larry Samovar, the primary author of Communication between Cultures, has an extensive background in the field of intercultural communication. He is an academic scholar of renown and authority, who received his Ph.D. from Purdue University, worked there for five years, and is currently an Emeritus Professor at San Diego University. He was one of the early pioneers in intercultural communication, and 45 editions of his 14 textbooks, as well as more than 100 scholarly publications, serve as a testimony of his contribution. Apart from his work in the United States, Samovar also traveled abroad, conducting numerous seminars and workshops, as well as teaching at Nihon University in Japan.
Additionally, he worked as a communication consultant in both private and public enterprises. This background means Samovar is not only familiar with his subject from a theoretical standpoint but is also an adept practitioner of intercultural communication, which inevitably affects the worldview with which he approaches cultural communication. It also helps to understand the concept in the texts as not merely theoretical constructs but as practically applicable notions.
The author summarizes his worldview in the book’s preface. The staple of his perspective is the conviction that a civilized society “allows people to be different as long as their differences do not create hardships for others”. This necessity to respect differences leads the author to the conclusion that “motivation, knowledge, and an appreciation” may mitigate the complexities of intercultural communication for the benefit of everyone involved. Thus, as far as Samovar and other authors are concerned, mastering intercultural communication is not an optional skill but a paramount prerequisite of respectful and civilized behavior in a rapidly globalizing world.