What's Wrong with China

De: Paul Midler

Narrado por: George Spelvin

What's Wrong with China is the widely anticipated follow-up to Paul Midler's Poorly Made in China, an expose of China manufacturing practices. Applying a wider lens in this account, he reveals many of the deep problems affecting Chinese society as a whole. Once again, Midler delivers the goods by rejecting commonly held notions, breaking down old myths, and providing fresh explanations of lesser-understood cultural phenomena.

©2018 Wiley (P)2018 Gildan Media

Describing instead of interpreting is the key to understanding

The author seeks to describe how Chinese act in interpersonal relationships, and does so in an admirable and straightforward manner. Instead of apologizing for what clearly offends American sensibilities, Midler merely explains how the Chinese act/behave, and sometimes provides a detailed explanation of the rationale for such actions/behavior where further explanation helps to illustrate the underlying action/behavior.

What’s the especially about interesting are the explanations surrounding magical numbers, or so-called oriental mysticism, that an American may regard as culturally significant. In reality, placing special numbers into pricing, or other such nonsense, may make the American businessman feel more culturally sensitive (and thus more worthy of respect in a business relationship), but does not make the Chinese businessman on the other side of the table any more likely to adopt the American negotiating position or strategy.

In fact, adopting the allegedly significant Chinese custom puts the American on a lessor footing because, since the gesture is adopted without true understanding, it can be purposefully misinterpreted on the Chinese end of things, and used as a cudgel in continuing negotiations, further weakening the American negotiator.

Listening to this book was very informative and enjoyable, and I’d wager that many will find it equally interesting.

Very interesting

Interesting interpretation/analysis of Chinese culture and how it impacts decision making. Looking forward to hearing another volume.

Excellent performance!

China likes to look good like a teenage girl.

I don't know where Chinas obsesion with its face comes from but teenage girls are a start.

Best book on China I ever read

I’m a Chinese writing down the review while listening to this interesting audiobook because I feel compelled to write something about it.

This book is written by an American, who grew up in a fully industrialized society and culture, on a transitional society of China. The language is straight forward, no disguise, no political correctness. I chose it from hundreds of audiobooks about China in Audible listing, and I just like it. The thing is Chinese culture is still on the course of transition, from an agriculture one to an industrialized one. For one example, the author pointed out Chinese culture don’t value so high of inventers. That’s true. But admiration of inventors is a cultural phenomenon typically seen in an industrialized society. 5 centuries ago in the west, people still admire those religious saints or legendary warriors more. Many things are changing now. English education is compulsory in China, and it’s just unavoidable that many modern concepts are mingled into Chinese thinking now. Say double standards, it’s a foreign concept for most elders, but more and more youngsters are correctly using it now.

Most Chinese adults grew up in an impoverished rural family. Their thinking and behavior cannot avoid being influenced by the scarcity. And China has a long history of rule by the bureaucracy. Many phenomena the author portrayed are just a reflection of these simple facts. It’s annoying to a foreigner who grew up in a prosperous democracy, but not so difficult to understand, I think. But I see many things are changing now, China will become a different society one generation later.

The author didn’t picture China in a transitional prospect is the only shortfall of this book IMHO. But anyway, this book is much better than most books on China, which indulged in obscure concepts, imaginary plots or extremely exotic portrays. It offers some accurate and insightful description on the real China. I recommend this audiobook to foreigners who is interested in China.

A Must Read

If you can only read one book on China this is your best option. I have read so many books on China and none captures reality quite as well. Very insightful. Brilliant.