There have been a plethora of books on China in recent years. Authors have forecast the coming collapse of the People's Republic or looked to the day when it will rule the world. So why another book on the most heavily populated country on earth which has emerged in the last three decades to occupy a central position on the global stage? Because, despite the stream of publications, there is no single book which pulls together the whole of the China story linking its very disparate elements to present a coherent portrait that explains to the general reader what China is and why it matters so much. With its expanding economy (already the second largest in the world), its population of more than 1.3 billion, its place at the core of the G20, its $2.4 trillion in foreign exchange reserves, its trade surplus, its nuclear weapons and modernising military forces, its permanent seat on the UN Security Council and its ability to dispense cash without conditions to poor countries in return for the raw materials it gobbles up, China will become steadily more important in the world. It will not collapse. It is not the great exercise in smoke and mirrors depicted by some writers or a giant Ponzi scheme as posited by hedge fund bears. But neither will it rule the world for reasons that lie in its inner complexity, and complexes. In this compelling and lucid account based on years of research and first-hand experience, rooted in on-the-ground reporting, interviews, observations, analysis of data and a viewpoint that sees the country from the inside out, Jonathan Fenby links together the myriad features of today's China. The binary approach so often applied to China - the country is either good or bad, set to reach the stars or collapse in chaos - often boils down to the prejudices of its authors. Only by seeing China as a whole and joining the dots does Jonathan Fenby arrive at a coherent picture of its nature and depict its future, both internally and in its impact on the rest of the world.
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
China perplexes the outsider...Rather than history, this is a snapshot of where the nation is today and a quick-fire analysis of what's next. Any businessman heading for China will find the book a great briefing - The Sunday Times
Jonathan Fenby is an outstanding journalist who has already written a first-class modern history of the country, and his latest book provides an excellent introduction to the problems confronting its people as they embark on the transition to the fifth generation of leadership since the Communist takeover in 1949 - Lord Patten
A fine example of the way history can begin to make sense of the country for an outsider - Guardian
Timely and brilliant ... a welter of examples ... superb analysis - Observer
Says so much about the everyday life the Chinese are living at the moment ... A book that leaves Chinese journalists speechless ... Mr Fenby not only understands the complete picture of China but is also able to interpret the situation and connect the dots. A real achievement - Caixin magazine, Beijing
Compelling ... succeeds admirably as a handbook on the confusing state of contemporary China - Sunday Indian
Dizzying...delightful reading ... ringside view of events ... all the more engaging for lacking partisanship - India Today
Read this book if you are getting curious about the conundrum that is rising China. It will tell you (almost) everything you need to know - Hindustan Times
Fenby, a shrewd and experienced journalist, keeps a sober head - Mail on Sunday
A bestselling examination of modern China by an experienced and fluent commentator. Fenby takes a middle course between those who believe China will ''rule the world'' and those predicting its imminent collapse - Financial Times
Fenby's attempts to be comprehensive and balanced make his book an invaluable primer to the general reader who wants to mug up on China - Literary Review
Jonathan Fenby is a distinguished journalist who has written extensively about China. He rejects many of the simplistic attempts to analyse the modern country. In Tiger Head, Snake Tails: China Today, How it Got There and Where it is Heading, he writes for the general, interested reader. This is a one-stop account of where the fastest-growing major nation stands, and what it means for both China and the world --Total Politics
Jonathan Fenby is a distinguished journalist who has written extensively about China. He rejects many of the simplistic attempts to analyse the modern country. In Tiger Head, Snake Tails: China Today, How it Got There and Where it is Heading, he writes for the general, interested reader. This is a one-stop account of where the fastest-growing major nation stands, and what it means for both China and the world --Total Politics
'There is a risk that a book summarising such a monumental story might get bogged down in dry, statistical detail. Fenby avoids this through lively, first-person reportage and vivid vignettes … as a one-stop guide to political and economic realities in China today, Tiger Head, Snake Tails is fast-moving, informed and illuminating' --Julia Lovell, Guardian
Jonathan Fenby is an outstanding journalist who has already written a first-class modern history of the country, and his latest book provides an excellent introduction to the problems confronting its people as they embark on the transition to the fifth generation of leadership since the Communist takeover in 1949 - Lord Patten
A fine example of the way history can begin to make sense of the country for an outsider - Guardian
Timely and brilliant ... a welter of examples ... superb analysis - Observer
Says so much about the everyday life the Chinese are living at the moment ... A book that leaves Chinese journalists speechless ... Mr Fenby not only understands the complete picture of China but is also able to interpret the situation and connect the dots. A real achievement - Caixin magazine, Beijing
Compelling ... succeeds admirably as a handbook on the confusing state of contemporary China - Sunday Indian
Dizzying...delightful reading ... ringside view of events ... all the more engaging for lacking partisanship - India Today
Read this book if you are getting curious about the conundrum that is rising China. It will tell you (almost) everything you need to know - Hindustan Times
Fenby, a shrewd and experienced journalist, keeps a sober head - Mail on Sunday
A bestselling examination of modern China by an experienced and fluent commentator. Fenby takes a middle course between those who believe China will ''rule the world'' and those predicting its imminent collapse - Financial Times
Fenby's attempts to be comprehensive and balanced make his book an invaluable primer to the general reader who wants to mug up on China - Literary Review
Jonathan Fenby is a distinguished journalist who has written extensively about China. He rejects many of the simplistic attempts to analyse the modern country. In Tiger Head, Snake Tails: China Today, How it Got There and Where it is Heading, he writes for the general, interested reader. This is a one-stop account of where the fastest-growing major nation stands, and what it means for both China and the world --Total Politics
Jonathan Fenby is a distinguished journalist who has written extensively about China. He rejects many of the simplistic attempts to analyse the modern country. In Tiger Head, Snake Tails: China Today, How it Got There and Where it is Heading, he writes for the general, interested reader. This is a one-stop account of where the fastest-growing major nation stands, and what it means for both China and the world --Total Politics
'There is a risk that a book summarising such a monumental story might get bogged down in dry, statistical detail. Fenby avoids this through lively, first-person reportage and vivid vignettes … as a one-stop guide to political and economic realities in China today, Tiger Head, Snake Tails is fast-moving, informed and illuminating' --Julia Lovell, Guardian
About the Author
Jonathan Fenby is a former editor of the OBSERVER and of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. He is the author of several books including the acclaimed ON THE BRINK: THE TROUBLE WITH FRANCE and GENERALISSIMO: CHIANG KAI-SHEK AND THE CHINA HE LOST.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the best book on China I have come across, a wonderfully detailed but also immensely readable "one-stop shop" for anyone interested in China, past, present and future. Sometimes shocking, sometimes funny, always awesome - like its subject - it's hard to put down. If you are going to China for work, on vacation, or you're just interested in trying to make sense of this huge and complex country (which feels like a continent) and its people, this is the book for you.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By markr
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is, as the author says he intended, a one stop shop to learn about the historical and political factors which have shaped the China of today and its relationship with the rest of the world, along with considerations of where China is heading and how that will affect us.
it is clear that what China does in the future will have a major impact on us in the West. The growth figures ( and there are lots of figures in this book) are, as you know, are spectacular. The sheer size of China, its industries and population are almost bewildering. For example in 2009 China contributed 40% of the whole world's economic growth. This growth has raised living standards for many, creating a significantly sized urban middle class. In the 1960s 18 percent of the population lived in cities - that has risen already to over 50% and is climbing fast. Average annual income per capita has risen from 528 yuan ( about £50) in the early eighties to 19100 yuan ( about £1900) in the cities today. The impact of Chinese direction on the rest of us is clear. for example, China contributes nearly two-thirds of the toys made in the world , as well as nearly half of all the clothing worn in the west, and directly effects commodity prices by the manipulation of Chinese, and therefore global demand. China has sufficient foreign currency reserves to pay off all the sovereign debt of Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain combined, as well as buying all the of world's leading IT companies and all the real estate in Manhattan, and much more besides.
But of course there are real problems too: corruption, pollution, a legal system which is not geared to human rights, and overweening party control are, amongst others, major issues to be faced
The author, Jonathan Fenby, has 17 years experience of China including as a resident newspaper editor, and has used this knowledge, combined with excellent research, to give the general reader a highly informative, entertaining and often fascinating account of the world's second largest economy , and where it is heading as its leadership changes in 2012.
A really interesting book - I enjoyed it and learned a great deal
it is clear that what China does in the future will have a major impact on us in the West. The growth figures ( and there are lots of figures in this book) are, as you know, are spectacular. The sheer size of China, its industries and population are almost bewildering. For example in 2009 China contributed 40% of the whole world's economic growth. This growth has raised living standards for many, creating a significantly sized urban middle class. In the 1960s 18 percent of the population lived in cities - that has risen already to over 50% and is climbing fast. Average annual income per capita has risen from 528 yuan ( about £50) in the early eighties to 19100 yuan ( about £1900) in the cities today. The impact of Chinese direction on the rest of us is clear. for example, China contributes nearly two-thirds of the toys made in the world , as well as nearly half of all the clothing worn in the west, and directly effects commodity prices by the manipulation of Chinese, and therefore global demand. China has sufficient foreign currency reserves to pay off all the sovereign debt of Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain combined, as well as buying all the of world's leading IT companies and all the real estate in Manhattan, and much more besides.
But of course there are real problems too: corruption, pollution, a legal system which is not geared to human rights, and overweening party control are, amongst others, major issues to be faced
The author, Jonathan Fenby, has 17 years experience of China including as a resident newspaper editor, and has used this knowledge, combined with excellent research, to give the general reader a highly informative, entertaining and often fascinating account of the world's second largest economy , and where it is heading as its leadership changes in 2012.
A really interesting book - I enjoyed it and learned a great deal
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Attap
Format:Hardcover
Sounds good, but ends up as a read of superlatives. His book has also been overtaken by events with the arrest of Bo Xi Lai and his wife. But what is more dissappointing is his lack of analysis. Instead he sits on the fence and gives us little of what the implications of modern China is likely to become domestically or internationally. "There are speed bumps ahead". Doesn't quite do it. Disappointing.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tour de force of the China of today
We already had one masterwork from Jonathan Fenby in his Penguin History of Modern China. With such a hard work to follow, questions were abound, at least with this reader, as to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. J. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great summary!
An easy read and very accessible. A good insight into the Middle Kingdom, helping readers to understand the motivation behind some of the news stories.
Published 4 months ago by Ken L
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but not a captivating read
Was required to read this book as part of a course and found it very difficult to keep reading as the book is very factual and not particularly entertaining. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Zoe Smyth
5.0 out of 5 stars
china
This is not a history of China but records what China was, what China is, and most importantly what it may become by discussing political,economic,social and regional elements that... Read more
Published 8 months ago by G. I. Forbes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Riding the Tiger
Having made his name with the popular "A Penguin History of China: the Rise and Fall of a Great Power", Fenby's study of China today focuses on recent social, economic and... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Antenna
3.0 out of 5 stars
informative
if you want to read an up to date book which gives a very good overall background of China and how the country functions this is it. However, it can be a bit heavy going in places.
Published 10 months ago by meryon
5.0 out of 5 stars
china info
this book gives an excellent overview of china today, both historical information and what the future might hold for china and the world. Read more
Published 11 months ago by K. Overton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid and informative
The book gives a balanced and thorough oveview of Chia, and contains a wealth of facts and statistics. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Michael G. Hinton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very up to date
This is a very good book for people who have some knowledge about Chinese history and culture and want a good overview of the recent events in the country.
Published 11 months ago by Sven Dahms
4.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshingly different, and places modern China in a historical...
This is a refreshingly different book about China. It avoids the common assumption that all is well in China, that the country's success is pre-ordained and that China will... Read more
Published 12 months ago by John Nugee
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
