Customer Reviews

The New Chinatown: Revised Edition

5 star:		(3)
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Sometimes Reality is more entertaining than the movies. Peter Kwong introduces us to a Chinatown seldom seen by outsiders. His portrayal of Chinatown's underworld hold over politics and his understandings of the ethnic enclave are both accurate and revealing. This is a MUST READ for anyone interested in learning about the happenings inside the Chinatowns of New York City and and other cities all across America. Along with William Lee's Chinese Playground, this book gives us the big picture in the understanding of the workings in today's urban communities.

I assigned this book to my Asian-American Studies class prior to having read it myself, on the strength of colleagues' recommendations. This book is a rare combination -- an eye-popping page turner that is also informative, ethically reponsible non-fiction. I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it. I felt as though I had met a wise insider who decided to spill secrets for the long-term good of the community. Mr. Kwong's analysis is clear and compelling. I can't say enough good things about this book.

I really did appreciate reading this book. It was an eyeopener to what really may be occuring behind the scenes in Chinatowns across the nation. The book also covers what it is really like ot be a Chinese immigrant. Recommended reading.