Mentoring is a hot buzzword these days. Unfortunately, although the word "e;mentoring"e; is used all the time, most people do not know what it means. This book fills that gap by describing and illustrating the essential practices of outstanding mentors. It provides a realistic look at mentoring by showing what goes on in a mentoring relationship and what mentors actually do with their proteges. This book makes a unique contribution through its hands-on approach to the thorny issue of cross-racial and cross-cultural differences in mentoring relationships. The book shows how such differences can be handled successfully and can even enrich a mentoring relationship. Specific mentoring practices and their racial/cultural implications are presented and explained. The book gives readers a clear sense of what they can do to mentor and make a real difference, even when their proteges are radically different from themselves.