Customer Reviews

Knowing China

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This book is only useful to people who know almost nothing about China. For them, it will be an alright primer since it touches on various topics in a loosely-accurate manner.

However, there's no deeper insight to be gained here. Chow's work reads as if it were published either by a Chinese state propaganda bureau or a China-tourism bureau (it was not). This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it also might not be what some buyers are looking for.

If you want to instill an admiration for China either in yourself or in a friend, this book is a good choice. However, those familiar with the common criticisms of China may not be won over. Furthermore, those already holding a high opinion of China will not find anything except a reaffirmation of their views.

In other words, this book is a quaint opinion-piece that is decidedly non-scholarly. Even though Mr. Chow is an economist, he sticks to very simple (American election-style) proverbs about economic issues and does not engage in any detailed analysis. Certainly, some of his beliefs and observations seem naive and easily contestable. Furthermore, the tone of the book is sometimes obnoxiously self-congratulating and does not instill respect for the author. This is not a true scholarly work by any means.

With that said, if the table of contents appeals to you, this book may contain the info you're looking for after all. Give it a try if you're not sure and have some extra cash, but don't expect too much.

This book made me laugh -- it was written in poor English and offered little insight into China's actual problems. It made lots of unscholarly statements. For example, the author claimed that China's GDP is an understatement because Chinese food is very "good." It also claimed that China should undergo further population growth so that there can be more room for economic growth. Neither of these statements is substantiated sufficiently.

Upon reading this book, my conclusion is that Gregory Chow does NOT know China. (And I think I have the right to judge because I have spent 16 years in China). Gregory Chow is an econometrician and should remain so. Maybe Prof. Chow should write a guide to Chinese cooking next time to boost the world's GDP.

First of all, I want to point out that there is indeed few to have this kind of provilige like experienced Chow to talk about China.

With Knowing China, you can see much of China by the historical and cultural perspective and many current controversial issues that China is now facing. Of course, Chow gives you convincible analysis and his specific view.

As a professor of Economics, Chow not only sees China from the historical trajectory, but also See china from future perspective, perhaps with his piercing rational expectation.

Particularly, I changed my view through it upon the birth control policy in China as a suffered boy born in late 1970's. Chow uses the theory of economic growth with simulation and wild interpretation of utility concludes that there is no nessesary to conduct that policy.

In the traditional Chinese culture, or in the point view of Confucius, since Chow was two (may be three) generation older than I so that I have to receive the his view unconditionally. But my acceptence after reading this is through convincible explanation but not enforcable way, I mean, it's very objectively written.

This book is very accesible (in contrast to Chow's professional works) and can be read widely. Even though this is an introduction for the non-Chinese readers, I still recommend it for Chinese, especially those who love China but not know how to.