Viewed from a distance, China appears to be a stable economy growing at a healthy pace. Looking more closely, however, we discover a flawed civilization stalling under the weight of its own culture. What's Wrong with China is a personal book about a great nation at a crossroads.
"There is more to fear from a weak China than one that is strong" we are told, implying that its main problems are either macroeconomic or political. What's Wrong with China takes the reader behind the scenes and down the rabbit hole to show that the nation's most fundamental problems are actually social in nature.
More than a century ago, China watchers worried about the imminent "crack-up" of the country. Today we find ourselves again preoccupied by such a possibility, though this time around the stakes are much higher. Given the size of China's economy and the extent of its integration into the global system, the country's difficulties are now our own, whether we like it or not.
No one writes about China like Paul Midler. Drawing from years of on-the-ground experience and research, he mixes penetrating observations with amusing historical references, weaving a tapestry that is both engaging and illuminating.
China is an enigma, a Gordian knot, an impenetrable riddle that requires a different approach. What's Wrong with China is a collage of ideas, a grab bag of themes and theories, not the least of which is the author's supposition that Chinese culture is rooted in a deep informalism that cannot be eradicated.
Business and politics are inextricably tied, so the book necessarily touches on global affairs. We must let go of many preconceived notions, Midler warns, as he addresses facets of the "China puzzle" that typically receive little or no attention.
What's Wrong with China offers especially useful lessons for those doing business in China, but this is no how-to guide. Rather than tell us how our affairs should be conducted in this strange land, Midler describes how things are done, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions.
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