China

When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order
$29.95
Like many journalists who covered China in 1989, I thought it obvious that China's Communist Party would fall to ashes within a few years, having lost all credibility at Tiananmen Square. Got that wrong.

As China's economy took off in the 1990s, I knew for sure that steady growth would force the country to become more democratic. Wrong again. (Open, yes. Democratic, no.) At the very least, I figured, a broad swath of Western economists must be right to agree that China's modernization would require a following of accepted rules of Western finance. To develop, China would have to become more transparent and legally accountable, starting with a freely convertible currency. Right? Not really.

As Martin Jacques argues effectively in this book, the West has misjudged China because of a bedrock assumption that modern financial and political systems have to follow some basic principles of openness, rule of law and democracy. That is the paradigm that favored the United States, and paved the way for its world domination, from 1945 onward. But China's remarkable progress is not following the script, and is challenging Western assumptions.

With clear and compelling writing, Jacques makes the case that when China is the dominant power, it will make the rules. It may even create a new international paradigm, one that is just as hard for Americans to foresee as it was for the British a century ago to foresee their own decline, and as it was for the Romans, long before that.

"The West has, for the most part, become imprisoned within its own assumptions," Jacques writes. "Progress is invariably defined in terms of degrees of Westernization, with the consequence that the West must always occupy the summit of human development."

In the past few years, there have been dozens of books about China's rise. Most of them are mindless, over-the-top enthusiastic or else utterly alarmist. This one is an exception, a book that offers true food for thought, and plenty to chew on. It shook me from preconceived notions.

Jacques has limitations. His predictions about the future get more flimsy as he gets more specific. He glosses over the evils of Mao's era. But his critique of Western assumptions is pretty trenchant.

China: People Place Culture History
$40.00
China has always interested me, but I had never had the opportunity to travel there. I will do some traveling in the next 5 years, and I got the book to get a feel for what the country is like.
The book is divided by sections covering China's different regions, with it diverse groups of people and culture.
This book gives you a lot of information with great photos. You really get an insight into the mind of the Chinese culture. This book is the one to get to get a comprehensive look into this mysterious nation, and now I feel more prepared and even more eager to go on my trip!

China Survival Guide: How to Avoid Travel Troubles and Mortifying Mishaps
$9.95
For a book with a publishing date of 2008, this is stunningly out of date. Just got back from my trip to China (Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an) and virtually nothing stated in this book was true. One stand-out: yes, they're right: most toilet stalls don't have paper. But no, there is none for sale or available by the door. BYO tissues or moist towels - those are useful anyway for keeping your hands clean through the day, too. Also, the info. on how to bargain is good; yes, skimpy tops do raise a few eyebrows [more amused and surprised than angry]; and certainly, non-queueing is an art form especially among seniors.

But dead wrong (for my three stops): taxi drivers are literate and can read your hotel address in Chinese if you bring it with you; crossing the street is fairly easy as long as you keep your eyes open and obey the electronic signs (which even count down to tell you how many seconds you have before they are going to change to red); taxi drivers are aggressive but don't drive particularly fast so it's hardly a white-knuckle experience; western-style toilets are available at almost all markets, tourist sites and restaurants; and everything in our hotel rooms was clean and in full working order (4 hotels). Shorts are fine, too.

The stories of the authors' travels are cute, and I can't comment on the business etiquette or medical info., but unless you are traveling back in time or to the remotest hinterlands I doubt you will encounter many of the problems mentioned here. I also found the politics somewhat suspect although I understand that praising dictatorship as the only way to control so large a population may go down well with the officials the authors have to deal with to get their forthcoming documentary made. In any case, I left my copy in Shanghai as it wasn't worth bringing home and I hope the hotel maid had a good sense of humor as she perused it on her way home in the city's brand-new subway system that night.

Other hints for travelers: I had no idea going in that so much info (road signs, restaurant names and menus, tourist info. signs, etc.) would be in English. That, the warm people and the wonderful taxis made getting around much easier than I expected. Also: try to avoid visiting during the first few days of the National Holiday (Oct 1-8). The first two days are military parades and regional spectacles in Beijing, so Tiananmen Square is in use and the Forbidden City is closed to the public, which makes Oct 3-5 *very* busy as most Chinese get the whole week off and flock to visit the sights (esp. the Square, the City and the Badaling section of the Wall). The Mutianyu section of the Wall is a bit further from Beijing but a much better choice -- it was not at all crowded even on the 4th. By about the 6th, things are calming down all over, as the Chinese start to head home. Finally -- if you go to Xi'an, make time to visit the "little warriors" at Xianyiang[sp?], near the airport, as well as the more famous (and admittedly very fabulous) Qin warriors.

China: Fragile Superpower
$16.95
Susan Shirk is one of the top foreign affairs gurus in regards to US-China relations. Her tremendous experience with Chinese internal politics is evident throughout the book. She brings a vivid and shocking reality of Chinese politics to readers who know little or nothing about the subject. However, while well written and thoughtfully considered, her conclusions are based on unfounded and unjustified philosophical assumptions that she proposes without second thought. The book lacks quantifiable proof and seems to reflect Shirk's own personal observations and musings instead of political analysis and fact. The following are a few of the weaknesses.

1. The primary assumption that Shirk makes is, the Chinese Governments overarching objective is to STAY IN POWER. There is no other goal greater than retaining control for the CCP, this is where it starts and ends. She starts her argument from this point, but fails to argue why this is so. It is merely an undeniable fact in her world. All political maneuvers are rationalized through the ideal of "maintaining power". Perhaps the CCP leadership really care for the people? Perhaps their goals are more noble?

2. She argues that the protests against Japan and the US, were not really protests that focused on the offenses of the two offending countries, but rather a show of political power by the people, who were really protesting against the Government. They protested on these occasions, because it was something the Government would allow (to an extent). This is an unfounded claim which Shirk backs with anecdotal examples. This analysis screams of Orwell influenced thought, 1984 anyone? In the first chapter of 1984, readers are introduced to the "Two Minutes Hate", and the protagonist, Winston Smith, finds himself seething at Goldstein along with the rest of his colleagues, but his hate was really directed towards Big Brother. Protests and demonstrations of anger are only expressions that can affix on any target at a whim. I think Shirk has been reading a little much Orwell and fantasizing about the overreaching grasp of authoritarian government rather than focusing on real issues.

3. Her overwhelming American prejudice towards the situation in China is felt throughout the book. The book is lacking a comparative analysis that would really open eyes. While the Nationalism of the Chinese is dangerous, it is nowhere near as explosive and destructive as the Nationalism (or some would say, Patriotism) of Americans. China's collapse or transformation into a Nationalistic State would NOT endanger the world militarily. The only "country" in danger, is Taiwan. China lacks the military capabilities to seriously disrupt world peace. Only America has the Aircraft Carriers, Stealth Fighters, C4I capabilities, and other modern fighting equipment to wage war effectively anywhere on the planet. If the American public and leaders are provoked enough (9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq), then serious instability would occur. China just wants what is hers. America wants the world.

Overall, her book is a great introduction to Chinese politics for the uninitiated. Take caution though, and read critically, without swallowing every one of Shirk's claims.