Chinese Whispers : Why Everything You've Heard about China is Wrong

My Thoughts :
This is a well-written book and a must-read for anyone interested in or wanting to learn more about Chinese culture, the economy, the education system, and a bit of Chinese history. However, the main focus of the book is to break stereotypes surrounding China and its inhabitants. The author presents a very compelling argument for why many of our preconceptions about China are actually false.

China is a country that is still trying to get on its feet. It is not immune to corruption and inequality. Living conditions for most of its citizens are relatively poor compared to developed nations. Politicians continue to enrich themselves, and there are growing tensions and mistrust between citizens and their political leaders. This is a country that is not so different from many others, as we tend to believe. The Chinese are, in fact, experiencing the same struggles as many of us around the world, and the country is not an isolated island separate from the rest of the world.

That said, it is worth mentioning that much has happened since this book was published. In Chapter 7, the author asserts that "Despite China's stellar growth, its economy has produced no world-class technology companies capable of competing with the likes of Apple, Rolls-Royce, or Sony." While this may be true to some extent, the rise of tech companies like Xiaomi and Tencent provides a clear example of how things are changing and why we may need to scrutinize those words more closely.

Overall, the book is a fantastic read.

• Author : Ben Chu
• Release Date : 2013
• Publisher : Weidenfeld & Nicolson
• ISBN : 978-0-2978-6845-3

Read : 04 Sept 2023 - 25 Sept 2023
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