China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know (What Everyone Needs To Know?)

I've read a bunch of books on China. I try to learn more from each one. But it is hard for me to evaluate a book on China as a first book a reader might want to read. At the same time, this book might be a good pick for that.It is certainly comprehensive in its approach. Part I is on China's historical legacies. This section gives the reader background on Confucius and Confucianism, for example. It also covers the history of the dynasties, then goes into the modern history of China. This includes the Opium War, The Taiping Uprising and China's last emperor. Then, there is an overview of what happens from Sun Yat-sen, through Chang Kai-shek and Chairman Mao. At this point, you are half way through the book.Along the way, you get some insights not found elsewhere. For example, the author equates Mao with our President Andrew Jackson. Jackson is still on our $20 bill; Mao is on all Chinese bills. Both of these guys went through murderous periods that cancel out much of what they did well. This helps explain a bit why Mao has not been condemned as much in China as he deserves.The second part of the book starts with information on Deng Xiaoping, who is heralded as being the architect of modern China. He, of course, was in charge when the Tiananmen Square uprising took place. One million protestors were involved. The author points out that most of the victims of the massacre were not students, but working Chinese people.The author points out that the successes of the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai World's Expo were what really catapulted China into being recognized by the rest of the world as a major economic power. He draws parallels here with the emergence of the U.S. hosting its first international events. And, we all can also see a parallel with the recent success in Brazil with the 2014 World Cup. The importance of being on the world stage, and then being successful, cannot be overlooked. Those events were great achievements for China.The paperwork edition that I read was written before Xi Jinping took over as the head of the People's Republic of China, so it was not possible for the author to discuss the projected implications of his leadership; thus, we are left with some chapters on China-U.S. relationships that do not mention him.Says the author about what is most misunderstood by Americans concerning China: it is the media. Media in China, of course, is state-controlled. But that has its limitations, especially in the world of digital connectivity. The author does not think that the Chinese press is all that controlled. He also poo-poos the idea that China wants to "take over the world." No, China has much more work to do in its effort to make itself a country of cities. It has a great deal more to make multiple things work: transportation, pollution-reduction, affordable housing, private banking, etc.Corruption and credibility are high on the lists of issues for modern China. Interestingly, the author thinks that the Chinese people are less concerned with democracy than in being assured that their one-party governmental system can serve them well.At the end of the book, the author says that he hopes the reader has a better understanding of China. He hopes that a comparable book will be written for the Chinese, so that they can have a better understanding of the U.S.

Very informative for those striving to understand In a more comprehensive overview of China ( the differences and similarities) between China, the U.S. and countries and political and social/economic systems of the past, present and future possible reactions.

Excellent explanation of China in the modern world with additional suggestions to help the reader gain still more knowledge and insight.

book is a clean and new . fast shipping Thanks!

An informative book. I was a bit put off, though, by the question and answer format of the book (the whole thing is like that). It reads too much like the FAQ page of a website.

Well written. I would have enjoyed his class. I hope there is an update.

The tone of the book was one of conciliation, which I felt was a little condescending. Issues in China which are dealing with human rights were glossed over, and as is traditional in Chinese sponsored propaganda, there was a section that described the Opium war period, and how that still affects the actions of the people, and the government. I am sure this book was blessed by the PRC Media and Propaganda department. I was very disappointed.

I found that this book gave me good insight into what is happening in China.

I chose this because I kept seeing it as a suggestion. As an avid China follower I was skeptical about this book, but the format makes this book a great reference guide. Each page is a Q and A about the current topic. A surprisingly good read.

This is not a bad `starter book' for those, like me, who are curious- and who isn't - about this huge yet often puzzling country. I accept that the author has a massive knowledge base about China and, for sure, the book taught me many things I didn't know. It is very America-centric and contains references to some points that puzzled. I assume for instance that Andrew Roberts was a past president and there were lots of other references that concentrated in the comparisons between these massive countries that do, and will continue to, wield massive influence for better or for worse on the world. The other point was the format. Though many of the questions that were posed by the author and were then answered - these were not necessarily the questions that were uppermost in my mind, just at that point and though, again, knowledgeable answers were available; it tended to interrupt my learning pathway rather than enhance it.For me, the very last pages were the most exciting, and I find the scale of corruption in China staggering. The news item of some months ago of the people who added melamine to babies' milk; for the babies to promptly go blind and then for the perpetrators to be put to death was one such. Then we have the scale of worries about patent infringements. If Rolls-Royce were to open a factory in China for instance, I wonder if we would worry about patents being quietly copied and bypassed - but I can't help but think this might happen, too, in many other countries!I am also fascinated by the currency management, the purchase of USD bonds and other strategies, which may well be beyond my rudimentary financial knowledge - but which fascinate me, nevertheless.Other points are the extensive land grab that is being orchestrated in Africa and of course central Asia for resources and for food. Even humble UK producers are being bought up.This then leads me in to my last point and that is of course how this will affect old Blighty. Will China see us as an old country of very little influence/importance, a flea on the dragon's back; or will it see us as a once innovative and wonderful nation that has taught the world so much and still has a massive part to play, especially for growing superpowers who will be lucky to emulate just some of our undoubted successes. I can't help but feel that here is the story. Many thanks.

I write this as a total China novice: I've never been there, though have always had friends from Hong Kong or the mainland for as long as i can remember. It has always been a source of fascination, but only of a fairly ignorant kind. This book has served to set me straight, and given me enough fuel for further investigation and reading. Its key aim is to explain how the nation has reached the point of being 2nd biggest economy (and will soon be 1st). And it does a convincing job (or so it seems to me). Those who are better informed may disagree of course - but I was sufficiently gripped and felt well informed.The key moments and influences on Chinese history are covered briefly and speedily - especially helpful are the sections explaining the significance of Confucius, and the checkered history of his influence down the centuries (in other words, his thought was nothing like as universally accepted as contemporary propaganda would suggest). The relationship between PRC & Taiwan is particularly well-explained.Wasserstrom is clearly a scholar who holds China in great esteem and even affection. This is not to say that he is rose-tinted about the problems and questions, but where this book really comes into its own is towards the end in its dismantling of the mutual suspicions and misunderstandings. There are many hot-button issues when it comes to the West's perceptions of China: gender-determined abortions & the one-child policy, 1989 in Tiananmen Square, Tibet, not to mention the communist ideology at the foundation of the nation. As so often, such issues are always much more complex than soundbites ever allow - especially for a country with was rich and diverse a history as this one. So it is helpful to have these explained more constructively - for example, he explains how many Chinese regard protestors for Tibetan independence as Americans might regard protestors for Hawaiian independence from he USA.All in all - a readable, informative and interesting guide for novices.

China is in the news. After introducing an infamous policy of "one family one child" the government is backtracking - with the realisation that to pay pensions there must be enough population to work. With a population of 1.35 billion China's is the largest, and the world's second largest economy.China has radically changed many times and this book gives a potted history of its turbulent history and how it has been perceived by outsiders down the centuries, from a country of hereditary monarchies that discouraged visitors to one viewed as the "yellow peril" or "red peril" of the far east, to today's single-party state and economic super-power. The book reminds us of the dreadful famine of the fifties, caused by Mao's misguided efforts to boost productivity, which had the opposite effect, causing the deaths of over 20 million people, and explains why to this day there is still an ambivalent attitude towards his legacy.Wasserstrom points out what a huge country China is and the impossibility of generalising about its far flung and very diverse regions, whether in regard to ethnicity, religion or politics. After looking at ways that freedom in China is still restricted - or at least carefully monitored - for example the use of the internet - Wasserstrom finishes by pointing out the surprising similarities between China and the USA, especially in the 1900's when the USA was itself an emerging economic superpower.I was not crazy about the "question and answer" format of the book, I'm not sure what purpose it serves.The notes and comprehensive suggestions for further reading should not be ignored: there is a lot that is interesting and relevant.I love the cover and it speaks volumes about different generations in China today.

This book has a very good mix of in depth information presented in concise bits. It makes it easy to read.The author is very knowledgeable about China and presents a balanced view. It shows that he likes China, he is sympathetic, but he does not shy away from any awkward or controversial themes. I'm very impressed how well chosen all the parts are that make this book.China has such a long history, what to mention, what to leave out .. I am much better informed and have gained understanding not just of China and its people, but also of the sensitive issues between China and its neighbours, China and the old colonial powers, and China and USA. China plays such an important role now, economically and politically, this book delivers the information to get up to date and help you understand, because it delivers the background information needed.The structure of the book with posing questions for titles works well and makes it easy to look up some specific background information.The one thing I don't like is the title page, although I can see what they wanted to do, presenting pictures of two extremes of modern China.But as I said, I'm very impressed how the author managed to select so much information and compress it into this book.