China's Generation Y: Understanding the Future Leaders of the World's Next Superpower [Paperback]

Michael Stanat (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1931907323 | ISBN-13: 978-1931907323

LONG VERSION

Growing up during the information age, China's Generation Y (born between 1981 and 1995) is unlike any of its predecessors, sporting branded items and increasingly sharing some of the same ideas as Western youth. This generation of teenagers in China will most likely be the political and business leaders of the world's next superpower by the year 2025.

Based on interviews and surveys conducted in Shanghai by the author, an American teenager, China's Generation Y provides an exciting look into the lives and minds of China's youth, showing Western readers who they are, how they got there, and where they are headed. The book brings to life the influences on them ¨C political, cultural, family, economic, and environmental ¨C in such a way that it truly provides a rare glimpse into the minds of today's youth and tomorrow's leaders.

China's Generation Y is not only for those who seek to acquaint themselves with this crucial generation, but also for business leaders who wish to cater to the up-and-coming Chinese consumers. Informative and stimulating, this first-of-its-kind book opens up a new horizon for many in the West who will ultimately meet the need and challenge of this emerging Chinese generation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A must reade for American companies who want to capitalize on the purchasing power of China's Gen Y. -- Lee-En Chung, P.E.

A thorough appreciation of the political and economic background to China's Generation Y,a deep personal understanding of them. -- Joachim E. Seydel, International Research Consultant, London

Provides a comprehensive study on China's Generation Y, and builds a more nuanced and objective understanding of this generation. -- Eva H. Shi, former editor-in-chief, Harvard Asia Pacific Review

About the Author

Michael Stanat currently attends the United Nations International School in New York, where he is Editor-in-Chief of the school's newspaper UNISVerse. He has an extensive background in global market research, an industry to which he was introduced at the age of four. Since then, he has traveled to over twenty-seven countries and has worked at CBC Market Research in Shanghai, China. Stanat has been published in The News Sentinel. He resides in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Homa & Sekey Books (September 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931907323
• ISBN-13: 978-1931907323
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,539,417 in Books (See Top 100 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 A glimpse into what we can expect from China over then next few decades, January 12, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Generation Y: Understanding the Future Leaders of the World's Next Superpower (Hardcover)

China's Generation: Understanding The Future Leaders Of The World's Next Superpower by seventeen year old author Michael Stanat deftly and knowledgeably addresses the phenomena of China's emergence as an economic power that has the capacity to rival the United States. The problem is that while American and European businesses are trying to take advantage of China's burgeoning youth market, there is very little solid research data for them to base their marketing strategies upon. What Michael Stanat has done is to employ focus groups, original research, and first-hand observations of that heretofore elusive demographic marketing information to provide American businessmen and political scientists with a glimpse into the new generation of "capitalism friendly" Chinese and the predicted future of China-U.S. relations. Articulate, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, China's Generation is strongly recommended reading for anyone wanting to do business with China's youth market, or who want a glimpse into what we can expect from China over then next few decades.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting look into young lives in China, October 29, 2005

By 

Alice (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Generation Y: Understanding the Future Leaders of the World's Next Superpower (Hardcover)

Today's teens in China are becoming more like our teens, or so it seems. What does this mean for the world? Stanat contends that because of China's booming economy, their motivation and their acceptance of foreign trends, China's Generation y will become the world's leaders. Although the book first appeared to be a futurist's manifesto because of its title, I later found it to be more of an assessment of the generation. I give the book four stars primarily because of its interesting subject matter. You may find especially interesting the sections on life goals and ethnic minorities and foreigners. The book is also fact-filled; each chapter is substantiated with at least 15 sources.

The book loses a star because I did not like how the introduction praised China's rising. It is not until the middle of the book that we hear signs of China's problems. The book is wordy in some chapters. Also, I wouldn't say at this point in time that they are destined to be "world leaders" so much as "forces to reckon with."

Stanat does have a good message that people should listen to, even though it's unlikely to be followed. He says, "We can be confident in believing that in the future we will see today's Chinese teenagers sitting across from us at the negotiating table, be it business or politics...we should enhance the bonds between our two cultures and learn how to ensure that we remain symbiotic friends."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very insightful read, October 20, 2005

By 

Thomas B. "Tom" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Generation Y: Understanding the Future Leaders of the World's Next Superpower (Hardcover)

I found this book to be remarkably close to my own observations of teenagers in China. I travel to China for business four times a year and have witnessed first-hand the great changes in the last two decades. Generation Y in China is different from its parents and what they think now will play a role in the future, especially in my industry. Not only insightful, the book provided my company with updated purchasing power data.

I've read books like "China Inc" by Ted Fishman that have already predicted the future. This book however is careful in its predictions. Rather than rant and rave, it shows what today's teenagers do and how they think, allowing us to make our own conclusions about the future. Unlike other China books, this one indicates the problems facing their futures, providing a surprisingly realistic snapshot of the current situation.

I enjoyed this interesting read from a teenager's perspective and I only wish I had written this when I was seventeen!