Chinese Rules

Mao's Dog, Deng's Cat, and Five Timeless Lessons from the Front Lines in China

De: Tim Clissold

Narrado por: Stephen Critchlow

From the author of the international bestseller Mr. China comes another rollicking ride through the slick mega-cities and industrial backwaters of twenty-first-century China—part adventure story, part erudite myth-buster, and part practical rule book to help Westerners win in China.

China's role as struggling underdog is now firmly a thing of the past. The world has tilted eastward in its orbit even as the West seems mired in self-doubt. Through living and working in China for more than two decades, Tim Clissold has uncovered stealth methods Westerners can use to straighten out complicated situations in China and achieve their own objectives.

Revealing the hidden logic that governs the Chinese business and political landscape, Clissold puts China's cultural, political, and military history into context and explains the mind-set that drives Chinese political and business leaders—a resource that has been sorely lacking in most books about doing business in China.

Here, with sharp observations and a deep appreciation for China's rich past, Clissold presents five rules anyone can use to deal effectively with modern Chinese counterparts. These include understanding that:

• China has its own set of rules that provide a unique pathway to success;
• the quest for stability overrides all others;
• in China, one should never attack directly;
• in solving problems, stick to practicalities and avoid arguments over theory;
• and knowing yourself and knowing the "other" will help you survive a hundred battles.

Combining exuberant storytelling, sly humor, and counterintuitive insights, Chinese Rules traces Clissold's latest adventures, providing an object lesson in the contradictions between reality and conventional belief that continue to make China a fascinating, perplexing, and irresistible destination for Westerners.

Off we go into one man's encounters with China

Entertaining read/performance. Not sure where it was hearted in the beginning, but once you let the author go where he wants to, the collage hell into place and made more sense.

Two books in one, one excellent one boring

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book actually consists of two sections, which alternate from chapter to chapter. One of these consists of 'Chinese rules' derived from very interesting historical events and figures. Among these are Macartney's visit to the Qing court, The Taiping rebellion, Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution and Deng Xiaoping's opening up and reform. I have read about of of these many times before but I still found these chapters highly enjoyable, well written and informative. The way they conclude with a clear learning that still applies to (doing business with) China today is very useful.

The other half of the books tells about Clissold's trials and tribulations as a carbon credit trader. Maybe it's the fact that carbon trading is a rather dry subject matter which I have no real interest in, but I found these chapters to be dragging and boring. With the exception of a case of forged documents by one of Clissold's business partners and a disastrous baijiu night there's not much that stuck from these chapters. Also, the way they are supposed to illustrate the five rules that are described in other chapters feels forced.

I would have loved to read about another 5 lessons instead of Clissold's personal business dealings.

Would you be willing to try another book from Tim Clissold? Why or why not?

Maybe, depending on the subject matter.

Have you listened to any of Stephen Critchlow’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Haven't heard any of his other narrations. I found his work on this book enjoyable because it comes with a typical English delivery that suits the book. His pronounciation of Chinese words and names is not very good but I found it less annoying than with other performers.

Did Chinese Rules inspire you to do anything?

No

great book if you ever went to china

I think it is a valuable book for anyone want to go to china. it is even better for fob like me to understand my culture again. Tim's British humor make the whole book very entertaining!