Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

If you're looking for something a bit more brainy, try Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China by Susan Brownell. Brownell's book tracks China's use of the Summer Olympics as a firework-studded coming out party on its quest to elbow into the high society of the world's superpowers. --Book Examiner

Susan Brownell's Beijing's Games: What the Olympics Mean to China takes the reader on a compelling tour of the myriad factors that had to converge in order for the 2008 Games to be held in Beijing. As a former topflight athlete who speaks Chinese and trained and competed with Chinese women teammates, Brownell has a strongly personal take on virtually every facet of her story: the nationalist and legal implications of Taiwan's case, the missteps of sports announcers, the history of stadium design, problems with steroid use, charges of child abuse in the athletic training process, the pressures on Chinese members of the IOC, gender stereotyping in the media, the claims of China's own martial 'wushu' tradition to be classified as an Olympic sport. This is a thoughtful and often outspoken book that will be of value not just to those traveling to Beijing in August 2008 for the Olympics but also to all those interested in the foibles and the future of international sports competition at the global level. --Jonathan D. Spence, author of The Search for Modern China --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Offering insightful, informed analyses, Brownell provides an understanding of the importance to China of hosting the 2008 summer Olympic Games and of what the games mean for China's relationship with the outside world. Brownell highlights historical and cultural context....The author has personal experience in the Chinese sports world, and she brings a human side to understanding the importance and passion felt by the Chinese as hosts of the 2008 Olympic Games....this book tells an intriguing story and helps the reader to understand the Olympics from a Chinese perspective.

From our many conversations spanning more than a decade, I am aware of the exhaustive research and effort Susan Brownell has devoted to understanding China's sports and Olympic culture. One need not agree with all of her assessments and conclusions to appreciate the scholarship and perspective found here. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (February 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0742556417
• ISBN-13: 978-0742556416
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #355,546 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Anthropologist with keen attention to the Beijing Games, July 4, 2008

By	Beijing Language Institute Alumni "Laura Memh... (Ridgefield, CT) - See all my reviews

Susan Brownell has approached the topic of the Beijing Olympics with the seriousness which it deserves. As an anthropologist, historian, and athlete who has lived in and competed in China, she approaches the topic with professional dispatch, as well as personal knowledge. Susan has confronted the Bob Costa stereotypes about Chinese athletes over the past decade, and brings her arguments together in seven succinct chapters. Because of her professional relationship with International Olympic Committee member He Zhenliagn, Ms. Brownell's insights into motivation, goals, and obstacles are substantive. She accomplishes her goal of providing comprehensive analysis of the Olympic Movement in context of the imminent prospect of the world stage turning to the Beijing Olympics. I would urge all journalists who intend to write about their experiences in Beijing to prepare themselves by studying Susan's excellent text.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good reading, March 20, 2008

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (2/08)

Why were the Chinese people all excited when it was announced that the 2008 Summer Olympics would be held in Beijing? Why was it so important to them? Sure, it is a major boost to their economy. What with all the people from all over the world coming to China to cheer on their children or country's athletes. It is more than money and people that will come to Beijing this year. It will be a first in all the years of the modern-day Olympics. China has never hosted an Olympic Games. China is not known to have many Olympic champions; in the last few Olympic Games, China has accomplished their first medals of any color, including Gold.

Susan Brownell has written a brief history book about China and its customs as well as an explanation about what impact, more than financial, these Olympics will bring to Beijing and China itself. The author uses her personal experience as a previous exchange student to China to bring her book to life. She has even competed in athletic events with Chinese women and can bring their stories about not having the advantages that men have. In recent years, more has come out about possible doping in order to make better athletes achieve even higher; she addresses some of the issues of performance enhancing drugs.

For anyone who will be watching any of the 2008 Olympic Games from Beijing this book is very good reading. Through the pages of "Beijing's Games," you will learn more about this Olympics history, host country, host city and invitation to be the "people's Olympics."