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Mr. China (Paperback)

by Tim Clissold (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
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Mr. China + Harvard Business Review on Doing Business in China + Chinese Business Etiquette
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Product details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Robinson Publishing; New title edition (8 April 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1740513606
  • ISBN-13: 978-1740513609
  • ASIN: 1841197882
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 56,819 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #7 in  Books > Business, Finance & Law > Biographies & Histories > Finance and Stock Market History
    #13 in  Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > China

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Product Description

Review
For those on Wall Street with their MBA certificates hanging proudly in the office, China is the last great economic frontier, theoretically readily for Westernisation and modernisation, fuelled by oodles of cash. Sadly for them, it's not quite like that. The thin veneer of novelisation is a threadbare cloak for Clissold's exasperated memoirs of his time as a frontiersman in China, trying to translate over USD400m of Wall Street-loaned cash into a viable, working business empire. But the combination of Red Party politics, an unwieldy government and generations of idiosyncrasy militates against the conqueror. Money goes missing, committees fail to be swayed, loyalties waver and the sheer size of the place deadens the possibilities. A country where the workers nibble rabbits' heads is not one where a Brooks Brothers suit cuts much ice in this cautionary tale, prosaically told. Clissold remains caught between a country that he loves and who's people fascinate him and the lure of big, big money, but, in its redemptive arc, its the love that wins through, though not without the rueful acceptance that if you play a game, its best if you know the rules first. --Kirkus

Economist (UK), 27 Nov 2004
'Every foreign company in China should arm its executives with a copy of this shocking, funny and culturally sympathetic tale'

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28 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a Must-Read about China, 24 Oct 2004
As a native Chinese, I was really surprised to see how much Tim has understood China after all these years. I think he was very honest and objective about his opinions about the Chinese and their culture. If there are any book you need to read before you conduct business with the Chinese or in China, this is the one!!!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific account of doing business in China, 22 Aug 2004
By Thomas Koetzsch (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
'This is the true story of a tough Wall Street Banker who came to China looking for glory. Determined to surf the next big investment wave...' as quoted from the summary of the book. Tim Clissold gives a GREAT account of this business (ad)venture.

Back in the early 1990's, everyone was trying to get in on China, the idea being to buy up the assets (factories, companies etc.), help them grow the business and cash in via a listing. Assets were found after a while and joint venture partners became available. Tim Clissold's description of touring Shanghai with a bunch of Wall Street bankers is an accurate account of this process and probably the most amusing I have read.

Eventually, contracts were signed and the funds disbursed. The problems started almost immediately. You as the western party may have a very clear idea what you have agreed to contractually, your domestic partner, however, often has a very different interpretation of the same contract, no matter how watertight you think you made it. Also you may find that you invest in something different than you thought you signed for.

Tim Clissold gives an excellent and very detailed account of some of these investments - and the day after. My favourites amongst these are the 'gearbox incident' and the investment in the brake pad factory. In many of the cases described in the book you feel that every time Tim gets on top of the situation, he finds himself ten paces behind the next minute. I was not surprised that his efforts eventually led to a heart attack.

All said and read, is there money to be made in China? There are indeed foreign companies in China which make money.
On the other hand, a lot of companies probably have to admit that doing business there is anything but easy. I would appear that investors are increasingly fed up with the rules changing all the time and having their products often pirated as soon as they hit the market, just to name a few business hazards. Nevertheless, the lure of 1.2bn potential consumers should keep them coming.

For any of these, Tim Clissold's book is a must. If you are keen on the subject yourself you will also want to have a look at Jim Mann's Beijing Jeep (A case study of western business in China) and Joe Studwell's The China Dream.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for all curious about doing business in China, 24 April 2004
By A Customer
Doing business in China is certainly not for the faint-hearted, as thebook tells, all so vividly. Don't expect order, as there is none. Anddon't expect to gain an advantage over the locals unless you've masteredthe art of thriving in utter chaos. Yet, at heart, the Chinese are justthe same as any other people in the world. I think this is what theauthor is trying to get across.
It's not about offering advice - as there's no panacea to success inChina, but it gives one an idea of what to expect and be prepared to seewhy things are done differently, though the situations described mightsomehow be more extreme than others as they relate to joint ventures,which are more or less a thing of the past.
Despite the seriousness of the subject, the book is very readable andhighly entertaining.
I would recommend it whole-heartedly to anyone who is interested in doingbusiness in China.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding China
This is a wonderfully-written book that shows how difficult it used to be to invest in China and get a return. Read more
Published 8 months ago by S. Hemingway

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Business Book
I was asked to write a speech for a Chinese-American lady, and she recommended this book. I'd read it within four days of buying it. Read more
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4.0 out of 5 stars China for beginners
I met a German chap in Hong Kong once, who was a buyer in the Chinese markets for a consortium of European companies. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ulrik Jungersen Walther

5.0 out of 5 stars What a book!
Is it a travelogue? Is it a business book? Is it an adventure book? Or is it a book for understanding a culture? I felt it is all of those. Read more
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5.0 out of 5 stars couldn't put it down
what a hilarious account. I read this on a plane on my way to canada and had to stifle loud laughs often. Read more
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5.0 out of 5 stars How to lose a fortune
A most readable, interesting and for all the wrong reasons, an hilarious tale of how to toss your money down the drain without trying very hard. Read more
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4.0 out of 5 stars A terrifying tale, BUT how do we take the China challenge?
This is a beautiful - although terrifying - account of one Westerner's adventure in the challenging China business environment. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2006 by An expat based in Shanghai

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read this year!
Mr China is a fantastic read, and incredibly insightful for anyone wanting to understand the difficulties of doing business in China. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2006 by Mr. T. L. George

3.0 out of 5 stars charming story, but weak on large issues
It is a charming personal story on China. Beautifully written as well. But its discussions on the Chinese economy, politics and business are rather weak. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2006 by hightech-expat-traveler

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cautionary Tale
Having lived in Hong Kong for a few years, this book is so true to the way the Chinese conduct their business, it is a must read for anyone thinking of doing business in mainland... Read more
Published on 20 May 2006 by G. J. Ridler

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