Dealing with China

An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Superpower

By: Henry M. Paulson

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 18 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Henry M. Paulson, Jr., former secretary of the US Treasury and CEO of Goldman Sachs, delivers a behind-the-scenes account of China's rise as an economic superpower.

When Hu Jintao, China's then vice president, came to visit the New York Stock Exchange and Ground Zero in 2002, he asked Hank Paulson to be his guide. It was a testament to the pivotal role that Goldman Sachs played in helping China experiment with private enterprise. In Dealing with China, the best-selling author of On the Brink draws on his unprecedented access to both the political and business leaders of modern China to answer several key questions: How did China become an economic superpower so quickly? Who really runs China? How does business get done there? What are the best ways for Western business and political leaders to engage, compete with, and beat China? How can Western investors profit in China?

©2015 Henry M. Paulson and Michael Carroll (P)2015 Hachette Audio

A Valuable Book on China

Many thanks to Hank Paulson for sharing numerous very interesting and insightful episodes from his high-level dealings with business and governmental figures in China.
Those experiences offer a vivid picture of a China that is far different from the single-minded monolith as often portrayed in the daily press and in many of our political debates. Like us, the Chinese grapple with financial, environmental and economic challenges. Although the Chinese political system is far from democratic as we know that system in Western countries, it is quite interesting to see evidence in the book of Chinese leaders’ genuine concerns for maintaining the confidence and respect of their citizens through civilized means. For a Communist government, that is certainly a sharp contrast with the methods of Stalinist Russia and of China itself during its so-called “Cultural Revolution” of the 1960’s.

The book is not a fawning tribute to all that the Chinese have accomplished since 1979 in the economic realm. Mr. Paulson spends time in the book on the problems in China arising from short-sighted and often corrupt government practices, as well as the daunting environmental and social problems that have accompanied an often heedless focus on economic expansion. It does offer very practical suggestions for our dealing with China in constructive and responsible ways—particularly by focusing on areas of clear common interest where we can work on problems together to our mutual benefit.

I strongly recommend the book. That said, Mr. Paulson would be the first to admit I suspect that he is not a literary star. His writing style relies largely on stock figures of speech rather than penetrating turns of phrase. Some of the latter parts of the book could also have benefited from sharper editing—they fall at times into generalities that could have well come from a text book. Still, the stories he tells are unique and illuminating, more than compensating for any literary shortcomings.

Bad title, amazing book

Hank Paulson is truly a China hand. He shares his valuable experiences in China. Anybody that wants to understand China should read this book.

Full of admiration and respect to Secretary Hank Paulson

This is a rare book to understand the inner detail of successful dealing with Chinese Leaders and how Secretary Paulson can objectively understand the Chinese way of thinking with empathy , how he resourcefully solve serious issues to benefit China- American relationship with courage, always Win-Win, how he selflessly help China on conservation of Nature and thus gain Chinese Leader's trust . This trust tremendously gained positive action from Chinese government during the 2008 financial crisis to support USA strategy .
I have the highest respect to Secretary Paulson for his love of America , passion and courage to do the RIGHT THING .
It will be a blessing that the next President of United States will seek Secretary Paulson 's expertise to shape a Win- Win strategy in China strategy . It is obvious the Obama 's China strategy lack understanding of Chinese Leaders and created mistrust and confrontation .
God bless America?

A Long, Boring and Recommended Book

A private meeting with a high-ranking Chinese official ??? Impressed enough ??? Guess what, that's when and where the Great Delusion and the Drama (for Westerners) begins.

Long. Boring. Recommended for Expert-on-China-Want-to-be(s).

Should they (Westerners and/or Americans) have done their job right in the first place, there wouldn't be a need for this book.

(P/S: The author called some Chinese leaders 'old friends'. Well, Mr.American, Chinese people don't make friends with non-Chinese. You just happen to be useful for them for a while.)

Couldn’t they find someone who can pronounce chinese to read this book?

The book and story itself is nice. I just couldn’t stand the narrator who botched every pronunciation of chinese names, to the point where it makes it hard to identify who he is writing about

A rare treat for recent China enthusiasts

I was surprised to see a book by Hank Paulson, former US Treasury Secretary, entirely about China.

Mr Paulson was Goldman's senior go-to man for China for a very long time, before and after becoming CEO. Nowadays, thanks in no small measure to him, the US relationship with China is handled from the Treasury. Once retored from.public life, the Paulson Institute centres on China and on conservation, two of Mr Paulson's loves.

After On the Brink, Paulson shows himself to have been a real asset to the US (one of the best Treasury Secretaries in recent times, in my opinion) and to China. He has helped China move closer to the West, at least in terms of economic development and reform. For that, this book is worth buying and reading.

As well as the interesting stories, one gets to learn a lot about how China has developed after Tiananmen. Having listened to the audiobook I want to learn more.

It is a very informative book.

It is a very informative book. Mr. Paulson knows more about China even than an ordinary Chinese because of his unique experience.

Enlightened and Enlightening

I can hardly believe a Republican wrote such a civilized book about China. I hope both the CCP and the U S government read it and take it to heart.
China will grow. It makes no sense to wait for it to fail like the USSR. China will lead much of the developing world out of poverty.
China can be a great and supportive friend to the U.S. and could be a nightmarish competitor if the U S "manages" the relationship poorly.
Thank you Mr. Paulson
Ian McKinnon

Long Interesting book - but does get long

Very interesting perspectives on China and where China is going according to a true expert.

You may not agree with Paulson or find China threatening, this is still a book worth getting to get a full understanding of how the USA has dealt with China and the Chinese personalities on the other side of the equation.

Paulson must have incredible energy, stamina, and brilliance to manage what he has accomplished. He did not just manage a relationship with China. He was also a hugely influential Investment Banker. He was the CEO of Goldman Sachs.

Read this with the Steve Schwartzman book, "What it Takes".

This book will wear you out in the end. I have the impression that it has two chapters too many. But ok, still a very good book.

Wealth of knowledge

Wow! I enjoyed this book so much- I learned about what is important within the Chinese culture and what the business language should look like- Chinese culture is very different than the west. I was impressed with the amount of details describing the day to day and the history of telecom-