Communicating Across Cultures by Stella Ting-Toomey is a foundational book about mindful intercultural communication through the identity negotiation theory. The book applies this theory to cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, and cultural adaptation. Before Ting-Toomey delves into applying the theory, she lays the foundation by defining culture, its purpose, and some key assumptions regarding the colliding of different cultures. I found this very helpful in codifying concepts that I had felt or was aware of but couldn’t describe, as well as shedding light on what is happening in intercultural settings.