China Books

This is a classic book and important for any Zen Buddhist Library. I am very happy that it is still available.

To find your way home, you must leave the house.

Many have sought the path, as illustrated within this book.

In the west all roads lead to Rome, but not all paths lead to enlightenment...

To hear, we must listen - this book sets out to lend an Eastern voice to the Western ear and express the thoughts behind the words.

This is basically a collection of textx commonly used by Zen Monks in Japan, although not very comprehensive. The Dharanis are somewhat confusing, but the Gathas are nice and work well as liturgy. The Sutra excerpts are pretty run-of-the-mill, not worth comprehensive study, mainly liturgical. There is the Diamond, Heart, an excerpt from the Lotus, as well as some from the Lankavatara and some from the Surangama (more a paraphrase). Then there are numerous teachings from Chinese & Japanese masters. These are pretty good too. The Pictures are interesting as well, but perhaps more suited toward Deity Yoga. The Indian pics have a Tantric, Vajrayana feel to them. This book is not a "How-to" manual. I don't know if D.t. Suzuki actually ever wrote one. It is more of a daily recitation and/or devotional. The kind of thing you read in the morning & evening, or memorize. If you really want a good Zen Buddhist Manual, there are many to choose from, and if you want a good assortement of text, there are many more comprehensive and better organized than this. But, this book has alot of appeal to it and can be quite useful as a book for daily reflection.

MANUAL OF ZEN BUDDHISM by D. T. Suzuki. 192 pp. London : Rider and Company, 1974 (1950) and Reprinted.

Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki was no ordinary man. A Buddhist scholar, and proficient not only in Chinese and Japanese, but also in Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, English, and other languages, after attaining his Enlightenment at the age of twenty-seven he imposed upon himself an extremely difficult task - that of bringing a knowledge of Zen Buddhism to the West, and of somehow trying to get over into English, a language which was quite unprepared to receive them, the ideas and insights of the great Zen Masters.

For over two thousand years, many of Asia's most brilliant intellects have been actively engaged in exploring the mysteries of mind, an exploration which Jung himself was to admit could hardly be said to have yet begun in the West.

Anyone who has looked, for example, in one of the huge collections of Buddhist Scriptures such as the Taisho Tripitaka, or in a comprehensive Sanskrit-Chinese-Japanese Dictionary of Buddhist technical and philosophic terms, will have realized that, Buddhism has developed tens of thousands of words, many of them expressing the finest shades of meaning, for which English has no real equivalents.

This fantastic profusion of ideas and vocabulary, a sort of higher mathematics of thought compared to simple arithmetic, has generated a literature of extraordinary subtlety and sophistication.

One of the fruits of Suzuki sensei's sixty-five years writing, translating, and teaching, is the present book, the object of which, as he states in his Preface, is "to inform the reader of the various literary materials relating to [Zen] monastery life" (page 11). We are, in a sense, being invited into a Zen Monastery, and granted the privilege of viewing a selection of its literary and artistic treasures.

In the case of an actual applicant for admission to a Zen Temple or monastery, no-one would think of simply breezing in and saying : "OK. I'm here. What can you guys offer me?" Applicants, as is well known, are kept waiting at the gate, often for many days, before being allowed the privilege of meeting with the Master.

It's a test, a test of the applicant's humility, respect, and determination. And when the applicant finally does get to see the Master, he is expected to show the same respect, not perhaps so much for the Master as a person as for what he stands for - for the state of enlightenment and for the vast ocean of Buddhist knowledge he represents.

Suzuki sensei, would, I feel sure, have hoped that we ourselves show a similar respect for the contents of the present book - for its Prayers and Invocations; for its selections from the Sutras and from the Zen Masters; and for its fifty interesting plates and illustrations which depict Chinese and Japanese statuary, scroll paintings, woodblocks, etc., of a kind one would find at any Zen Temple in Japan.

All of them are standard Zen and are standard Buddhist fare, but just as at a feast we are not expected to eat everything on the table, readers are free to select whatever most appeals to them, without necessarily being dismissive of items that don't happen to suit their taste.

The more devotionally inclined may be strongly drawn by some of the Prayers. Students of the sutras will be delighted to find one of the key sutras of Zen, the Prajnaparamitahrdaya or Heart Sutra, a sutra one could spend one's life studying (as did Edward Conze), along with extracts from the Lotus, Lankavatara, and the mind-boggling Diamond Sutra, and a useful resume of the Surangama. Those drawn to the early Masters won't be disappointed either.

Personally I was happy to discover Suzuki sensei's fine translation of Seng-ts'an's 'Hsin-hsin-ming' ('On Believing in Mind,' pages 76-82), the very first verse treatise on Zen - which in the original Chinese takes up just two thirds of a page in the more than 100,000 pages of 'Taisho' - a text which embodies the quintessence of Zen and that deserves to be far better known. Here is the first of its thirty-one verses, with my slash marks to indicate line breaks:

"The Perfect Way knows no difficulties / Except that it refuses to make preferences; / Only when freed from hate and love, / It reveals itself fully and without disguise" (page 76).

I don't know how long Suzuki sensei spent on his translations, but I do know that Peter Haskel spent ten years to give us his marvelous translation of Bankei, and I myself, inspired by the version in the present book, spent three years working on a translation of the Hsin-hsin-ming, a text which has yet to yield up its full lode of meaning.

There are many other deep and wonderful texts in this book, including two versions of 'The Ten Oxherding Pictures.' Some of these texts will appeal to one kind of person, others to another. But all will repay careful study by the serious student, and by one who approaches them in an attitude of humility and respect.

Many other Zen anthologies have appeared since Suzuki sensei's pioneering effort, some of them with more 'up-to-date' (though not necessarily superior) translations, but his 'Manual of Zen Buddhism' has always had a special importance for me. After three years spent studying just one of its texts, I wonder how long it will take me to assimilate the rest? And there must have been many in the past, in both China and Japan, who were happy to nibble on much less than the feast provided here.

This was fully intended to be an actual Zen manual, full of liturgy, ritual and explanations. D.T. Suzuki, the preimminent and enthusiastic ordained Japanese Zen Scholar, presents the subject matter as always with perfect confidence and numerous flying sparks.

Good book to have on hand if learning how to perform formal Japanese Zen liturgy or hosting your own sittings.

Dean LeBaron has crafted an insightful volume that is part travelogue, part cultural analysis, and part memoir. The resulting book will bring you up-close and personal with the forces that shaped the two great cultures of Russia and China. The text is adorned with vignettes, anecdotes, parables and humor that keep the read as entertaining as it is weighty. We from getAbstract strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to understand two countries that have greatly influenced the last century of human history and will play a central role in the next.

This first-hand account of some of the most momentous events of the twentieth century is an extremely compelling read. The account is lucid and engaging, but it's the analysis that takes it over the top. It was a pleasure to read.

An amazing tale. If you read no other book about the transformation of Russia and China to free-market economies, make it this one. Mao, Marx, and the Market is a true-to-life account that will entrall you from beginning to end. It is like no other published on the subject. Read it to gain an entirely fresh perspective on capitalist earthquakes that shook -- and continue to shake -- these two great nations.

I'm a graduate student, earning my MBA at Stanford, and I just have one point to make: Dean LeBaron deserves all of our attention and respect. Here's a man who risked his (considerable) reputation to help transform the economies of Russia and China. And unlike the most folks these days (dare I mention Enron), he wasn't in it just for the money. LeBaron is a thoughtful, insightful, highly original analyst. Read this book and you will discover, as he writes, that "nothing is as contrary as reality." I can't wait for his next book.

This book is a true financial thriller. And it is as insightful as it is exciting. Highly recommended to all!

My son keeps checking this out from the library and I thought it would be nice to pick it up for him for Christmas or something. Yikes!

I can see why the cost is so high, though. This is a wonderful book. The illustrations are so rich and beautiful. The story is fascinating.

The little guy is 5 and it's his favorite book right now.

This is a fantastic short version of the Monkey King story with incredible illustrations. I used it to help some of my beginning and intermediate level Chinese ESL students. It makes a good format for them to learn English since they are already familiar with the story. Even though this book is written for children adults can certainly appreciate its beauty.

A nice intro to Monkey King & a beautiful book. I could see reading it to a 1st or 2nd grade class as part of an intro to China. If you've talked about collages & how Eric Carle does his books, this would also be a fun book to see. There are also differences the Adventures of Monkey King told by Cheng-En Wu to spot. (My 6 y.o. & I make a game of that at home as we read Wu's version first.)

"Monkey King," by Ed Young, is a visually striking children's book whose story evokes Chinese folklore. The art is a lot of fun; the collages burst with color and energy. The only unnecessary element is an unwieldy gimmick involving pages that fold out of the book. Fortunately, this fold-out gimmick is only a very small part of the book.

The many colorful characters in the book include Red Beard Bandit, Dragon King, Jade Emperor, and the monk Tang. The wildly multicolored title character is a trickster, magician, and likeable rogue. His character is nicely complemented by Guan Ying, the serene Goddess of Mercy. All in all, a good job by Ed Young.

Title: Monkey King
Author: Ed Young
Reading Level: 5-8

This is a great book. I would recommend this book for ages 5-8. This book is about a monkey that is clever and courageous, with an appetite for mischief and showing off. This book has many other characters. It is adventurous book with magic and fun. This is a good book. J

This is a fun read book! Even an armchair mountain climber like myself, can experience the ups and downs of an incredible journey!

Kevin is just a regular guy who's passion propels him to the top of the world. The best part is that the reader gets to go there too! Good stuff! It was hard to put this book down!

Definitely a masterpeice to add along side my Jon Krakauer's, Into Thin Air; David Breashear's, High Exposure; Kenneth Kamler's, Doctor on Everest; and Ed Viestur's, Himalayan Quest.

Being an Everest-phile who can't read enough about this mountain, I highly recommend this book. It's not just about climbing Everest, it's the battles of overcoming one's weaknesses to do so on....the mountain and in everyday life.

Warning: Whatever you do, do NOT read the Table of Contents or you will find yourself completely seduced by the fascinating chapter titles and you'll be skipping ahead. Titles such as:

Big Head Todd, the Monster
Heading to Base Camp, and the Dead Yak in Room 5
May 16, 2002-The Day I Stayed in the Tent
I'm Through With Big Mountains Forever-I'm Finally Cured
Cheesedick at LAX
The Advantages of Failure
My Dad's Dying
Reindeer Copulation Hat
Potty Talk (literally)

Kevin wrote such a funny book that you'll laugh out loud. He also writes about failing and how it haunts you until you right the wrong of failing.

I, too, had a hike in which it was a day I did not get out of the tent. It was on the mountaineer's route of Mt. Whitney (pretty much exactly 1/2 the height of Everest) and I was so zonked out by the steep hike, I laid in my tent the next day while my hiking party summitted and HATED myself. I could feel exactly what Kevin felt the first time he attempted Everest and did not have the energy to get out and go while everyone else did...even a group of women! On the way home from the trip he tried to avoid talking to anyone about where he'd been because they couldn't understand that while he'd gotten so far up, why didn't he just go for the summit? Very, very funny reading! (See Cheesedick at LAX chapter.)

This failure haunts him for years until he goes out and sets it straight. Being an amateur climber he really paints a stunningly clear picture of what it's like and what it feels like, physically and mentally, to challenge the Big One. What he writes can impact your regular life.

I don't want to give away the ending, but Kevin gives a great first hand description of what it's like to be so tired that finally standing on Everest he feels nothing, he just wants to get DOWN! Which is easier than said. First he had to negotiate down the steep, rocky Hillary Step, then, so exhausted, UP the 60 foot face of the South Summit, Everest not being a just downhill mountain. He just wanted to stop and sleep for a while and we all know what happens when you just "sleep" on Everest. He also credits Sherpa Mingma for saving his life, patiently rousing him awake constantly to get him off the mountain as night falls (chapter "Kevin, please...")

I hope Kevin finds another adventure and writes a book about it. This book is one you can't put down and is extremely well-written. There are superb color photos and some pretty pathetic ones of him after he finally conquers Everest.

Kevin, I'm planning on going to Everest Base Camp next year, being a trekker you climbers hate as "disease carriers", but I can't wait to experience Nepal as you described it!

Congratulations Kevin, great book!!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so approachable and down to earth, but also gave an exciting and realistic account of his climbs. I'm not a climber, but was looking for an inspirational read. The author really expresses himself as a climber and as a person with some significant depth of character. You don't need to be a mountain climber to read and thoroughly enjoy this book.

Kevin Flynn takes the reader on a personally guided tour of Mt. Everest. The account is extremely interesting, without being bogged down with the technical intricacies of the climb. The story is told in very personal, self-effacing terms. It's well worth the read, whether a climber, a fan, or neither. I found extremely inspirational.

I have always been fascinated with those who climb Mt. Everest. This is such a great down to earth book. You feel as though you are along for the climb and how very difficult it is. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

With the New Territories of Hong Kong fast becoming home to massive housing developments, franchised restaurants, and even a Disneyland, it's great to have this book as a reminder of times past. While the story of British colonialism is not a happy one in many parts of the world, one finds in this book an account of a British reversal of fortune: Coates frequently finds himself lost and confused, and he freely admits that he was probably a failure as a magistrate.

What the post-1997 reader can glean from this book, apart from a description of rural Cantonese life, is a telling account of relations between the British Civil Service and those they ruled and administered. But beyond this, careful insights are made into the nature of the Cantonese/Chinese mind that cannot help but be beneficial, even today. Coates was a man that asked questions of everybody all the time, and he was very observant of his surroundings. More than simply one of the numerous (bad) attempts gwailous make to "explain" the Chinese to the uninitiated, he rather sets an example for other Westerners to follow: not to assume others think the same way, and to ask plenty of questions when one doesn't understand certain cultural points.

Most importantly, it's a very easy read. Pick it up before you fly to HK...you'll finish it before you land.

I agree with the other reviewers. This is an excellent book that will help gweilos understand the Cantonese (and, to a lesser extent, Chinese and Asians in general) a bit better. If you're a Westerner planning to move to Asia, this may help to prepare you for the experience of never quite knowing what the real problem is and never getting a straight answer (at least not the first 20 times you ask the question). I lived in Hong Kong for 6 years and can't say that I totally understand the mindset of the "locals", but this book helped. And it was fun to read! I had bought at least 5 copies by the time I left Hong Kong (most of which went to friends and family), and I wish that I had purchased more. It's a classic.

One reason this book is now unobtainable in Hong Kong is the number of copies I have bought and given (or had 'borrowed' by) friends over the years. Dated but entertaining, excellent account of living in HK, away from Mid-Levels and the expatriate lifestyle. Bob Howlett

This is a completely charming account of Austin Coates' period as a Special Magistrate in Hong Kong's New Territories. I've never read a foreigner who combines so well a frank portrayal of the difficulties in understanding the rural Cantonese mentality, with such sympathy. Coates comes at his subject with a singular highly intuitive vision, and it's impossible not to come away enriched.

This exceptionally well written book of anecdotes and personal experiences should be required reading for any Westerner visiting or conducting business in China or other countries where the Chinese culture subsists. At times humourous, at times tragic it leads the reader through a series of situations experienced by the author, an Englishman, as he plys his trade as a special magistrate in post-war Hong Kong. It has helped me to understand some of the more baffling moments of my life here in Hong Kong in the 1990s. Thoroughly recommended.

It is important to note that this excellent book by John B. Stuttard, former Chairman and CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers China, carries amazing wisdom within that remains as true today about China as when it was written, all the way back in 2000. The outlined principles and shared experiences about Mainland China are timeless. So readers concerned that books written even a few years ago about China will quickly become out-of-date, in this case absolutely need not worry. In fact, I have read this book several times over the years and it was the single biggest source of inspiration for the book I co-authored about China, Know China Business: The Insider's Guide to Doing Business Successfully in China.

There are a number of case studies shared in this book that are written by CEOs and other top-level executives from some of the most well reputed multinational companies (MNCs) active in China. The level of honestly about their personal China experiences expressed by these top executives is truly astounding and not to be found in any other book I have read about China, while the lessons learned can also be applied immediately by any Western business person operating in the Middle Kingdom, whether they are a novice or old China hand. I am eager to read the more recently written Operation China: From Strategy to Execution by top China executives from consulting competitor McKinsey. However, I would be extremely surprised if the information gleaned from within could match the wisdom shared by Stuttard in The New Silk Road.

Some readers will already be familiar with Tim Clissold's cautionary tale, "Mr. China," about the difficulty of doing business in China. But, "The New Silk Road," offers a very different perspective and different kind of cautionary tale about the "early" days of doing business in China in the mid-to-late Nineties.
Whereas Fishman focuses on his more "entrepreneurial" efforts to revamp factories and set up new industries in the Chinese countryside, Stuttard, as a consultant for PriceWaterhouse, offers a more "professional" perspective. Thus, each chapter is much less autobiographical than Clissold's book, being organized around individual case studies, focusing on the major companies (AIG, Unilever, Bayer, etc.) trying to create a foothold in a hot economy.
Stuttard's overriding theme and question is: Why do senior managers with 20 years of success in the States fail so badly in China?
The answers range from lack of support at the head office, political barriers, confusion about the nature of legal contracts in China, to overblown expectations on the part of the Type A manager.
For a complete perspective on doing business in China, I believe that "The New Silk Road" should be read in tandem with "Mr. China."
With this book, Stuttard has done hopeful managers in China an incredible service.

Almost everyone who knows little about China is enthralled by the opportunity to sell products to all those people who live there. Those with a little more knowledge also get excited about having products made for export from Mainland China. Those with still more knowledge look forward to outsourcing services to China. Beyond that, some speculate that Mandarin Chinese will even become the dominant language of the Internet, and see amazing opportunities to buuild new economy businesses from a Chinese base.

But those speculations all beg the question: What should your company be doing today?

The New Silk Road is the first book I have read that reflects the views of my friends who have 20 plus years of experience doing business there. As such, it counters much of the overoptimism that makes American companies too anxious to expand there, and leads to mistakes that hurt short and long term results.

Any company that is considering its first stake in China, or re-evaluating the stakes it has today, should be sure that those involved read this book.

The key lessons are that company goals must be more carefully considered, partners chosen more thoughtfully, expectations of near-term profits lowered, a focus shifted to developing Chinese management and workers, and a longer-term perspective taken on developing and maintaining relationships. Perhaps the most fundamental point of the book is that things are very uncertain in China. With lots of effort you can reduce the uncertainty, but it will still be higher than in almost any other country. So there will be a premium placed on making decisions that will be good ones regardless of what happens in the Chinese business environment.

When you do your homework, you will find that China has more competition than almost any other country and lots of excess capacity. A small percentage of the people can afford to buy what you want to sell. Regulation and bureaucracy will keep you out of the best markets for what you want to do. The rules will change tomorrow. Everything will take a long time. Political tensions among your home nation and China will be used against you in business. Sounds challenging, doesn't it?

While China is underdeveloped economically and in entrepreneurial and business skills, the people are well educated and know a lot of things you do not. For one thing, they know the many different markets in China and how to do business there. They have local connections that you need. They also have skills in negotiation and strategy that you may not have. So seek out how to make the best of both worlds, rather than just plan to do business like you do in your home country. In fact, your product will probably have to be customized for the Chinese market.

Mr. Stuttard does an excellent job in his essay, "Reflections on China at the End of the Second Millennium," of summarizing the lessons from the case histories. Be sure to reread this essay after you finish the book. It will help put the case histories in perspective for you.

He has done well in choosing a variety of case histories, that reflect varying levels of success. The book is especially lucky to have the perspectives of comapnies with a great deal of Chinese experience like American International Group, John Swire, United Technologies, and Shell. In each case, either the company's CEO or the operating head in China is the person interviewed.

The people who run the business in China for you will be very vulnerable. When unpredictable shifts cause results to fall, their heads will be on the chopping block in some companies. That's not a good idea, because the set-backs will often not be due to any fault of their own.

You will also get helpful hints on the best ways to recruit talent, conduct training, and integrate expatriates.

After you have finished reading and enjoying this valuable book, I suggest that also consider where else the lessons of this book apply. I suspect that your success in many other parts of the world would be enhanced if you employed these lessons there, as well. Also, how else can you overcome communications stalls among your various operations and with your various stakeholders?

Focus on what needs to be done now to develop your short and long term potential!

China has made such enormous strides towards liberalising its economy over the past decade that it is now the world's second largest recipient of foreign investment after the United States. Yet, in some very important ways, Chinese customs, practices, and values remain alien to Western business thinking and practice as they ever were. As many a hapless expatriate manager has discovered to their cost, gaining a foothold in the vast Chinese market can be an uphill battle on a slippery slope of tradition, conflicting objectives, bureaucratic wrangling, ever-shifting laws and regulations, and regional differences. Despite this, as the stories chronicled in this insider's guide to doing business in China demonstrate, it is a battle that can be and is being won.

The New Silk Road is based on extensive interviews conducted by the author with business leaders who have many years of experience with the country. It features a series of lively narratives in which these experts share their insights into and observations of all the important aspects of doing business in China. These are important lessons they've learned about everything from making sense of, and marketing to, the patchwork of striking different regions that make up China, to building trust and negotiating with the Chinese.

This long-awaited insider's view of doing business in China informs you of the pitfalls and tells you what you need to know to succeed in the twenty-first century's great new business frontier.

John B. Stuttard is a Senior Partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers. From 1994 to 1999, he was Chairman and CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers China, operating in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dalian. In his 32-year career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, he has also worked with the UK Government's Cabinet Office think tank advising on privatisation, and for services to Finnish industry was made a Knight First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

See also my review of: CHINA'S FUTURES Scenarios for the World's Fasting Growing Economy, Ecology, and Society James Ogilvy & Peter Schwartz with Joe Flower Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2000 ISBN 0-7879-5200-1

This short book consists of the reflections of John B. Stuttard, former Chairman and CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers China (1994-1999), and summaries of his interviews with 11 top executives working in Western companies in China. Each interview runs 8-10 pages and includes a short bio of the exec along with a quick snapshot of the company's current Sino-standing. The first chapter is Stuttard's and is a fine read that perfectly sets the context and perspective of the 21st century business environment in the country destined to one day overtake America as the world's single largest consumer economy.

Everyone featured in the book, including the author, is an "Old China Hand". Several of the companies are legacy firms, those with pre-WWII and pre-Mao histories who returned after the country turned face forward once again. Others are case study JV's with relatively short, 10-20 year pasts. Each chapter is compelling.

There is some flag waving for the Chinese. These are people who have listened to countless stories at countless banquets about the Chinese fear of chaos and the cultural scar tissue of 150 years (roughly 1790-1940) of shameless behavior by colonial minded Westerners in China. These stories are, after all, Inculcation 101 for any Westerner attempting even superficial commerce or business in the Middle Kingdom. Let's not forget the Chinese did a pretty good job of creating 25+ years of chaos themselves during the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. The Japanese were several degrees beyond shameless during World War II. These events are much fresher in the Chinese consciousness than King George III, yet he and Emperor Qianlong still seem to dominate every conversation that explains and/or justifies Chinese desire to top down control all macro and micro aspects of their economy, firms and even routine business transactions.

Still, there is sage wisdom on every page. The book is best when the execs tell what they did in China to be successful. Some of the common themes are the need for good local managers and training programs, a corporate culture of equality with your Chinese partners regardless of equity division, the success of long term strategies versus short term. The deliberate love each exec feels for what they are doing and, in some ways, for China, is clear. The awesome change taking place in this country is also reflected in these interviews. A difference in attitude and tone can be seen between execs in consumer product industries versus sensitive and still restricted ones like oil.

Very little happens fast in China, except the neckbreaking pace at which Western funds are being spent to form infrastructure and modern physical assets. These are the people who have footed a noteworthy part of the bill. They have alot of value to say and this is a rare peak at thinking at their rung of the international corporate business ladder.

Hexter and Woetzel's Operation China is a gem for its forward looking, practical advice for companies operating in China. This book lends C-level executives insight into not only what processes and practices will drive China, but also forces behind global competition in the future. Instead of simply another retrospective on China, or basics of doing business in China; Operation China innovatively stands apart as a practical guide on how a business should approach the unique nuances of China, and how to understand the new competitive forces that are increasingly at work in today's global business environment. As the by-line of the book reflects, it does an admirable job bringing the reader through achieving success for your business all the way from "Strategy to Execution."

Operation China is essential reading not only for successfully operating inside China; but also for how a company's China operations can be used as a tool in order to achieve more success outside of China. It will be a wake up call to those still laboring under the misguided impression of how simply being in China is enough - and the misguided belief that solely importing complete systems developed elsewhere and for different markets is sufficient. Hexter and Woetzel explain not only is world class execution necessary to win in China, but a company must also adopt their systems for China to be truly successful. The combination of adapting outside systems and processes to China, in conjunction with practices and processes that are hallmarks in other competitive markets, will result in innovation in such systems and processes and make them even better for a more competitive advantage. The resulting innovation may in turn be exported back to the global market. In other words, part of a company's competitive strength can indeed come from innovations developed when seeking to achieve world-class execution within China, and then taken to make the company stronger globally outside of China. Such world class execution will be needed in order to succeed in both China and the global market.

The book is organized in an extraordinarily helpful and practical way. It begins with two chapters on why "Good enough is no longer enough in China", and the changing rules to achieve business success and world-class execution in China. Part two of the book is organized by subject matter, allowing the busy executive to read the most relevant and helpful portions for their business - whether it be marketing, distribution, the war for talent, or a number of other helpful topics. Finally, the book concludes by focusing on the future of business in China, including the predicted significant wave of future merges and acquisitions. I think the title of the last chapter says it all "Win in China - or Lose Everywhere."

The sophisticated and well-written analysis by these two talented long time China consultants provides the necessary overview and advice that will provide any executive a competitive advantage to both win in China and the rest of the world - and indeed, as the book explains, this success between operations in China and globally is now strongly and unavoidably linked. Operation China is leading the way towards the new wave of how doing business in China must be viewed, and is highly recommended reading for executives in China, or for those simply interested in the future of global competition.

Mark R. Williams,

DLA Piper UK LLP - Beijing Managing Partner

"...the twenty-first-century business model for nearly every industry is cooking on the stove in China." That's one of the key insights from Hexter and Woetzel that should make this required reading for every CEO and every business leader around the world. This is a China book with a difference. The authors clearly know what it means to do business in China, and they're able to describe the nitty gritty of operating there and at the same time draw conclusions that should influence the strategies of most western companies.

I've been doing senior level executive search for Spencer Stuart for almost 15 years in China, and what Hexter and Woetzel say rings true. Their descriptions of the manufacturing, sourcing and distribution environments reflect what I've heard from clients and candidates. Why is it so hard for me to find great manufacturing talent in China? Simple, say the authors -- just moving manufacturing to China gave such an advantage that no one had to worry about Lean or Six Sigma or any of the other tools. But watch out, they say, that won't be enough for much longer.

One last comment -- for anyone who thinks that McKinsey consultants can only do strategy, just read this book and you'll see there are at least two consultants there who are as hands on and operational as anyone.

This is really the book for serious business people trying to get things done in China - particularly multi-national executives that have entered the market (or that inevitably will).

Amid the sea of China books with either excessive hyperbole or pessimistic doom-and-gloom predictions (especially anything with the phrase "rising dragon" in the title), this is the real thing. Current, factual, bottoms-up analysis that provides an accurate snapshot of a very complicated environment that is rapidly changing. Jonathan and Jimmy are the guys to listen to in China. A great book and a good extension of Capitalist China by J. Woetzel. I keep three China books in my office. This is one of them.

What we have here is a rigorous analysis by Jimmy Hexter and Jonathan Woetzel of a transition period during which "China is turning the corner from an emerging market, where local context drives most of the strategic and operating decisions managers make, to a maturing one, where top-quality execution is a cornerstone for success." They wrote this book for C-level executives in multinational companies (MNCs) to share what they have learned while in residence there in recent years. In the Preface, they observe:

"Good execution in China is about adapting - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot - world-class operating standards, management tools, and frameworks to the realities of the Chinese environment. The advantage that MNCs have in China over their domestic Chinese rivals is their knowledge of, and experience with, such operating standards. Indeed, top-performing MCNs are frequently the very definition of world-class execution - [begin italics] outside [end italics] China." To take full advantage of business opportunities whose nature and extent are unprecedented, Hexter and Woetzel suggest that MNCs need to "select the right standards, tools, and frameworks from their global arsenal to put into place in China, adapted in the right way to optimize them for the local context." Meanwhile, Hexter and Woetzel further suggest that executives in China as well as their colleagues and bosses in other countries must "change their managerial focus 180 degrees. They will have put behind them tendencies to view business conditions here [in China] as simply unique, requiring in turn unique operating approaches and performance standards, and instead will have to focus on the familiar, seeing to instill practices and processes that are hallmarks in other competitive markets, turning them locally as needed, and linking them globally at every opportunity."

Please go back and re-read the previous paragraph. The insights within the composite of brief excerpts clearly indicate why I consider this book is "must reading" for C-level executives in all organizations that are directly involved in China or are closely associated with those that are. Hexter and Woetzel share more than 40 years of experience while living and working in China. During that period, more has changed in that vast and complicated country than perhaps in any other. It is of course highly desirable to be able to speak the language but capable and trustworthy translators are readily available. Of much greater importance is understanding cultural values, especially in the business community. How to establish initial contact? How to develop mutually beneficial relationships? What are the most common barriers to effective communication, cooperation, and most important of all, collaboration? How to avoid or overcome those barriers? Which companies have been most successful doing business in China? Why? What lessons can be learned from their success?

Hexter and Woetzel respond to these and other questions throughout their narrative that is organized as follows. In Part I, they provide an overview of how the business landscape in China has changed within the last few years, and how it is continuing to evolve. They explain, for example, how and why "the emergence of the global consumer has profound implications for execution, as does the war for talent." Part II begins a series of "deep dives" to look at what top-flight execution means today in the core functions of an MNC's operations in China. For example, Hexter and Woetzel explain how various organizations operating in China "have boosted their performance for each [of several initiatives] by adapting to a Chinese context tools and approaches the organizations successfully use elsewhere in the world - what we call global markets." And then in Part II, they look ahead at how the demands on MNCs' capabilities in China will involve in what they foresee to be "two crucial ways" in the years ahead. They acknowledge that good execution has always determined whether a merger is a success or failure, anywhere in the world and then explain why companies large and small "will need to understand M&A execution in a Chinese context to win at this game."

Here are a few brief excerpts that are representative of the wealth of insights Hexter and Woetzel provide:

"The most successful multinationals in China are successful because they are stellar at execution - specifically by `applying the global standard to China'...[Moreover] it may soon be the case that companies have to win in China to win in the rest of the world. Given the scale of its markets, gaining a preferential share of market in China will deliver a global structural advantage." (Pages 42-43)

"The first step for improving the ability of the company to execute and compete in China is to revisit and potentially reset the management agenda As we hope we've made clear by now, China is turning a corner, from an emerging market in which companies developed bespoke processes and systems to meet unique operating challenges on a daily basis to a mature one in which competition requires companies to adopt proven global standards for management practices."(Pages)

Note: Hexter and Woetzel suggest five additional initiatives to improve execution and discuss all six in Chapter Nine, "Where to Start."

"In the years to come, the phrase `apply the global standard to China' may evolve to `developing the global standard in China.' For many functions, what works well in China will increasingly influence the global standard. Despite the intensity of China's markets, MNCs are investing more and more there. And they are not just placing large, capital-intensive bets. Apart from manufacturing, the investments are in sales, marketing, and product development."(Pages 197-198)

As indicated previously, this book will be of greatest interest and value to C-level executives in multinational companies (MNCs) but I think it will also be of substantial benefit to C-level executives in other companies that are now involved with - or will soon be involved with - the supply chains of MNCs.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out John King Fairbank and Merle Goldman's China: A New History (Second Enlarged Edition), Peter J. Williamson's Winning in Asia: Strategies for Competing in the New Millennium, and Global Brain: Your Roadmap for Innovating Faster and Smarter in a Networked World co-authored by Satish Nambisan and Mohanbir Sawhney.

There are a plethora of business books on China. Unfortunately, many of these are hopelessly out-of-date with the reality on the ground today, due to the breathtaking rate of change in China. In the midst of this burgeoning development, OPERATION CHINA provides a clear and comprehensive view of the decade ahead.

As a China-based executive for a large multinational corporation, I know firsthand the complex challenges facing businesses in China today. This book, more than any other in my experience, cuts through the confusion with concise, level-headed guidance that really makes sense. You can tell that the authors have deep and broad experience in China. Their assertions are backed-up with solid research and real world examples from a broad range of companies in China today. The book covers all aspects of doing business in China, with a balanced perspective and a well-organized presentation.

Increasingly, China is setting the standard for global business success and all businesses wishing to be global players will need to understand the key messages that this book reveals. Companies must bring their global best practices to China - and then step it up a notch in a China context - to succeed in China, and beyond. As explained in this book, China is providing a rapid learning environment and those that can adapt and evolve in this environment will emerge with a global advantage. OPERATION CHINA gives specific actionable strategies for everything from product development, manufacturing, and distribution, to government relations, talent development and M&A. It provides a thoughtful roadmap for business success in China.

Other Countries/Other Worlds
"Fantasy and Fiction for Adults"
By Louis Fried

This is a delightful collection of stories that hold your attention and imagination. The characters in each story are unique, one-of-a-kind and they pull you into their world never letting go until the end.

Mr. Fried takes the reader on an around the world journey full of his characters and their adventures that remain with you long after the story has ended. Each story is just long enough to enjoy when you have short blocks of time for reading.

Other Countries/Other Worlds is a book that is hard to put down, a must read. Congratulations to Mr. Fried for writing an extremely enjoyable adult fantasy/fiction book.

Tales which draw the reading witht the suspenseful adventure which captivates and overwhelms the leader with joy and longing for more more more.

Wishes do come true in this spirited anthology of short stories, all of which, whether the setting is a mythical planet or 15th century Malta or the pubs of Kilkenny, Ireland, center around the abiding desire of the protagonist. A werewolf desperately desires to rid himself of his substance abuse problem, a woman needs a mermaid's help to find love and motherhood, a guy with a horrible case of sciatica would sell his soul for a cure. All get their wish -- or what satisfies something elemental inside them - but never in the way they've planned, as Louis Fried uses fantastical settings and sometimes absurd, sometimes deadly real problems to paint a picture of human nature as sexual, avaricious, innocent, brave, and, above all, celebratory of the wonderful world of the senses. In essence, this is a thoughtful book wrapped in a sparkling package that will leave you cogitating as you chuckle.

These are the kind of short stories you found in Playboy during its heyday: well-crafted writing that makes you want more.

It reminds me of the science fiction of my youth - a bit of Rod Serling, a bit of Hitchcock, and a lot of magic and mystery. There is no techno-babble and no need to explain everything. And there is just enough sex to keep it interesting without excessive recourse to bodily fluids.

Fried is revitalizing the genre!

Fried's stories always delight with an unexpected ending.
Fried tells tales of humor, sex and war with endings you should have expected but do not.
These stories are for adults.

Stirring, compassionate, profound. One of my favorite books of all time. One of the most poetic books of photographs ever created. Best wishes to Mr. Gere.

This book is really special. The cover, first of all, feels so wonderful. The pages are on incredible quality paper. And the photographs are incredible. It's really a wonderful book.

This book was exactly what I expected from such a sensitive and intelligent man. Thank you, Mr. Gere. We need our hearts broken now and then.

Richard has access to places most people do not. Take, for example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness is not accessable to you and I on the level that Richard has. Richard shares private photos, such as plate 63 where His Holiness is in meditation. The photo alone portrays a depth of intensity that the experience offers. Richard also has a true sense of the tragedy of the Tibetan people and can deliver that in a light that few people can ever grasp, even after several trips to the region. Richard is the Pilgrim and we are fortunate to be able to see things in a way he does. Very few photographers can say that of their work. Perhaps it is due to his experience in film, perhaps as a result of his practice as a buddhist, maybe just because the openness of his sharing is felt in his work, regardless of the medium. Thank you my friend for sharing your life with us and a wonderful book.

I cannot look at this book without crying. It is very beautiful yet pierces my heart with sadness, I believe that the plight of Tibet is the canary of our planet. This book is about an amazing and gentle people and my hope and prayer is that it will generate more compassion . The text is very direct and simple and is not next to the photos but at the back. One quote stuck in my mind, "It's all ego." You can see these photos with your heart and they will melt it, if you are open.

I found the notes to the poems particularly valuable - thanks to them, the collection becomes a window into Chinese history and society.
I really miss an index by author, and, as usual, I am ill-at-ease with Red Pine's system of transliteration. It may seem superior to pinyin to the author, but it makes really hard to connect the places and people mentioned in this book to what one already knows to about Chinese history. It may be another case of the inferior system becoming the standard, but pinyin is the standard at this point, and fighting it is a bit quixotic at this point.
These are the things one notices when a book is good enough to read and spend time with, so do not let this put this off. In fact, I can't wait for more Red Pine translations.

Those who have never read Red Pine's translations are in for a treat. Those who have read them will continue to enjoy the feast.

Beautiful graphically, the book and the poetry SING! Red Pine has a wonderful gift in transmitting wisdom and spirit with words that transport one to a higher plane of existence, even if only temporarily. Even when the reader returns, the impact still remains and the awareness of the depth of quality one's life can have, is not soon forgotten.

Previous reviewers have already summarized the more obvious qualities of this book; I agree with their comments. I found that for the student of Chinese culture, Chinese education, or Chinese thought, the book is a stunning introduction to a way of expressing observations and meaning in compact forms. In particular, the poetry seems both denser and more graceful than similar forms in English poetry, and more complex than the haiku forms descended from it. Chinese speakers I know vouched for the sensitive transliteration.

Basho advised a haiku student to "read Chinese poetry" to write better haiku. I came to this work after struggling with haiku for a long time. I found Basho's advice to be good and this book to be a remarkable way to begin. The historical text snippets offered with the poems make further reflection easy without attempting to "define" all that the poem means.

Red Pine (Bill Porter) has beautifully translated this important collection of Chinese verse. His commentaries, too, are well worth reading.

This book would be an excellent text for those who wish to learn to read T'ang and Sung poetry, and classical literary Chinese in general. The Chinese and English poems are presented on facing pages. Each poem is sufficiently brief to allow students the opportunity to (begin to) learn a complete work of literature without the intimidation that can accompany larger texts -- and there are 224 such poems in this translation, which gives ample scope for learning in nice, easy steps. (Of course this will have to be done using a dictionary like Mathews', and the student will need some familiarity with looking characters up by radical -- this is not a teaching text with a glossary and explanatory notes about language usage.)

Even if one does not desire to use this collection to learn Chinese, the English translations are certainly beautiful poems in their own right, and are worth spending time with. And meanwhile, the Chinese texts are always there, extending a gentle invitation to the curious.

Surely every lover of Chinese (and English!) poetry will treasure this book.

Another gift from Red Pine (Bill Porter) whose love for Chinese verse and the Dharma have shaped him into one of the foremost translators of the old poets. This Chinese classic has been around for eight centuries, but is here finally available in English! The volume offers 123 poets, 224 poems. Adjacent Chinese text and critical notes are provided for each poem. Included at the end are a timeline of the Dynasties from c. 2200 BCE to 1368, a complete index of the poets, and a complete index of the titles. This is a monumental work and an extraordinary gift from the translator. A typical verse from this collection, called In Reply, by a poet called The Ancient Recluse:

Somehow I ended up beneath pines
sleeping in comfort on boulders
there aren't any calendars in the mountains
winter ends but who counts the years

A sincere thank you to Red Pine and Copper Canyon Press for providing these treasures.