fionak's review against another edition
3.0
This book needed a better editor; journalism skills don't necessarily confer book writing ability.
thomas_volkov's review against another edition
4.0
Note: My edition of the book contains 369 pages.
An insightful, and woefully underrated, book on modern China and its relations to the international world. Seriously, this book isn't mentioned ANYWHERE and that is a complete shame because the knowledge, insight and analysis that Chiu put into this great piece of journalism needs to be read more.
This book directly addressed my questions on modern China and how it relates to many nations around the world. I've only seen this topic in a YouTube video by liberal political and history commentator 'Kraut' in his video 'Trump's Biggest Failure'. (Hint: It's about China.) So it was a welcome surprise to find this at my local library.
Packed with interviews and insights into major political events in the late 2000s and early 2010s, China Unbound also gives context to China's attitude towards the rest of the world with small tidbits on Chinese history. I wouldn't call this a history book, but there's definitely enough to give the reader a good, nuanced, albeit simple, view of Chinese history.
The highlights in this book would be the chapters on Beijing and Turkey. In the Turkey chapter especially, I learned a lot on the Uyghurs and their relationship to the Turkish people. Throughout the book, it's important to highlight the horrors of China while also calling out xenophobic rhetoric without treading into accidental justification of China's actions. Seriously, it's an excellent balance that more journalists should take note of.
A excellent edition to journalism on China and Chinese relations. I'd recommend to anyone who's interested in China's modern role in international relations.
An insightful, and woefully underrated, book on modern China and its relations to the international world. Seriously, this book isn't mentioned ANYWHERE and that is a complete shame because the knowledge, insight and analysis that Chiu put into this great piece of journalism needs to be read more.
This book directly addressed my questions on modern China and how it relates to many nations around the world. I've only seen this topic in a YouTube video by liberal political and history commentator 'Kraut' in his video 'Trump's Biggest Failure'. (Hint: It's about China.) So it was a welcome surprise to find this at my local library.
Packed with interviews and insights into major political events in the late 2000s and early 2010s, China Unbound also gives context to China's attitude towards the rest of the world with small tidbits on Chinese history. I wouldn't call this a history book, but there's definitely enough to give the reader a good, nuanced, albeit simple, view of Chinese history.
The highlights in this book would be the chapters on Beijing and Turkey. In the Turkey chapter especially, I learned a lot on the Uyghurs and their relationship to the Turkish people. Throughout the book, it's important to highlight the horrors of China while also calling out xenophobic rhetoric without treading into accidental justification of China's actions. Seriously, it's an excellent balance that more journalists should take note of.
A excellent edition to journalism on China and Chinese relations. I'd recommend to anyone who's interested in China's modern role in international relations.
vrobert's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Really enjoyed reading this one. My only criticism and the only reason I took off a star was because i would’ve liked to see an exploration of China’s presence and relationships with countries in Africa and other regions beyond North America and Europe/Russia. I think there is a lot happening there that is very relevant in terms of trying to create a new world order.
However I really appreciated the depth of research for each chapter. I only knew the very big lines of some of the issues and events written about, so this fleshed them out better in my mind, clears things up, introduces me to many events I was not aware of, and opened up good avenues of further research and deeper reading. I also really enjoyed her writing style, and I didn’t find that the author was recycling the same information in a different way in each chapter, as in too many non-fiction books, so it was an interesting read to the end. Looking forward to reading more work by the author!
However I really appreciated the depth of research for each chapter. I only knew the very big lines of some of the issues and events written about, so this fleshed them out better in my mind, clears things up, introduces me to many events I was not aware of, and opened up good avenues of further research and deeper reading. I also really enjoyed her writing style, and I didn’t find that the author was recycling the same information in a different way in each chapter, as in too many non-fiction books, so it was an interesting read to the end. Looking forward to reading more work by the author!
maryleong's review against another edition
5.0
For those of us who've lived in, or have roots in Asia, China's ambitions and threats loom ever-present. None of this comes as a surprise. But for those who haven't had to think about it: with case studies from Australia, Canada, Greece, Russia and more, Joanna Chiu shines a light on the ways the Chinese government serves as a global threat. Western governments have mostly remained complacent and complicit in the face of China's human rights abuses and imperialist agenda, both domestically and abroad – to their eventual detriment. This is a must-read.
myrdyr's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I read this book as PD for my job to gain a broader geopolitical understanding of China. I was worried it would be dry and a slog to get through, but I was pleasantly disappointed! Chiu provides a comprehensive background through writing that is engaging and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
troubledtheory's review against another edition
5.0
A brilliant and well articulated overview of the CCPs foreign policy and overall ties into the global economy. A highly suggested book for anyone trying to get a better understanding of China's influence in the western world
lijadora's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
An interesting overview of how China acts on the international scene - a.o. seen through the lens of Hong Kong, Australia, Italy/ the EU, Turkey and the USA. Learnt a thing or two as well.