{"product_id":"contesting-grand-narratives-of-the-intercultural-critical","title":"Contesting Grand Narratives of the Intercultural - Critical","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Contesting Grand Narratives of the Intercultural the reviewer finds a compact, argument-driven study suited to students and researchers who want an alternative to sweeping cultural explanations. Using an autoethnographic account of life in 1970s Iran, the book's single biggest contribution is its insistence that intercultural encounters resist essentialist, large-culture labels; this review recommends it for readers seeking a \u003cstrong\u003ethird-space methodology\u003c\/strong\u003e that prioritises hybrid, creative cultural practices over fixed national or civilisational blocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutoethnographic perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e The author uses personal experience in 1970s Iran to ground theoretical claims and show how lived moments undermine grand narratives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThird-space methodology:\u003c\/strong\u003e Offers a methodological alternative that decentrers how researchers encounter and study the intercultural.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCritique of native-speakerism:\u003c\/strong\u003e Demonstrates how early native-speaker assumptions can reinforce essentialist large-culture thinking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on hybridity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Argues for hybrid integration as a way for people to exercise choice and agency in intercultural settings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecovering figurative culture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Emphasises culture as creative, flowing and boundary-dissolving rather than static or boxed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is best suited to graduate students, applied linguistics researchers and educators who want a critical, reflective approach to intercultural studies and methods. Readers who appreciate reflexive, theory-informed writing will value the autoethnographic examples and the call to avoid essentialist categorisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose seeking a practical classroom textbook or a broad survey of intercultural competence across many regions may want a more instrumentally focused volume; this is a focused theoretical intervention rather than a how-to manual for teachers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a clear, lived illustration of how personal narrative can challenge sweeping cultural explanations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffers a usable \u003cstrong\u003ethird-space methodology\u003c\/strong\u003e that researchers can adopt to decentre culture in analysis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrames culture as hybrid and creative, which is helpful for theorising agency in intercultural encounters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCritically addresses native-speakerism, an important practical implication for language education.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe focused, theoretical approach may feel narrow for readers expecting broad empirical surveys or classroom-ready activities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContesting Grand Narratives of the Intercultural\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoutledge Focus on Applied Linguistics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdrian Holliday\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAutoethnography and third-space methodology\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain themes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHybrid integration, critique of native-speakerism, recovery of figurative culture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTarget audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStudents and researchers in applied linguistics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis short, thoughtful volume is recommended for readers who want a critical, theory-led alternative to essentialist accounts of intercultural life; it delivers good value as a concise intervention that equips researchers and advanced students with a \u003cstrong\u003ethird-space\u003c\/strong\u003e lens and concrete conceptual tools to rethink culture and language education.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book theoretical or empirical?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book uses an autoethnographic account to support theoretical arguments, so it blends lived experience with conceptual critique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is the author?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdrian Holliday is the author and uses personal experience in Iran to illustrate broader points about intercultural research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this help classroom teachers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is more valuable for teachers seeking critical perspectives and conceptual tools than for those seeking lesson plans or step-by-step activities.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adrian Holliday","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48771464560859,"sku":"0367482991","price":68.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/412aoHuwuEL._SL1200.jpg?v=1778687703","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/contesting-grand-narratives-of-the-intercultural-critical","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}