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elisespieces's review against another edition
5.0
Eye-opening and horrifying. Brings a whole new perspective to "ethically sourced" and "Made in China". I feel silly for not knowing that this was going on in the world, and I'm really glad the author includes steps consumers can take to help limit their contribution to forced labor (in the epilogue).
benrogerswpg's review
5.0
Pang is an incredible journalist.
The book was a little jumpy and went back and forth, but all-in-all very solid book and an excellent account of events.
What you can do:
- Buy local
- Ask major manufacturing companies to manufacture locally
This book is an excellent companion read to [b:We Have Been Harmonized: Life in China's Surveillance State|49203415|We Have Been Harmonized Life in China's Surveillance State|Kai Strittmatter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592247418l/49203415._SY75_.jpg|70871403].
4.8/5
The book was a little jumpy and went back and forth, but all-in-all very solid book and an excellent account of events.
What you can do:
- Buy local
- Ask major manufacturing companies to manufacture locally
This book is an excellent companion read to [b:We Have Been Harmonized: Life in China's Surveillance State|49203415|We Have Been Harmonized Life in China's Surveillance State|Kai Strittmatter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1592247418l/49203415._SY75_.jpg|70871403].
4.8/5
alexblackreads's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic book. Like genuinely one that I highly recommend for everyone. It's about forced labor and how we as consumers contribute toward that labor. It follows one specific man in China, but takes a wider look at consumerism in America, forced labor in China and around the world, and how we as a society need to enact change.
Pang did a great deal of research and did a wonderful job tying it all together. She made it personal with the story of Sun Yi, but wove his details into the culture around forced labor in general. She discussed the politics and history and how forced labor supports our lifestyle in America. Pang also discussed how it's hidden from public view, so companies can claim ignorance. I don't think much of what she says is particularly surprising, but the details are important to know.
My only real issue was that it felt like she was trying to cram too much into this relatively short book. It's about forced labor in general, but she also had a long section on Falun Gong, which is a religion that was banned in China. Many practitioners wound up in forced labor camps. It's very important to learn about, especially in the context of this book, it just felt like she didn't quite have the time for it. There were a few tangential topics like that and I wish she'd either cut down on them or lengthened the book by a good bit to include more information. It felt like it was straddling an awkward middle ground and I found myself doing a lot of outside research on topics I wish were expanded upon.
But this was brilliantly done and I would highly recommend this to everyone. I think it's an important book to read and more Americans need to take active roles in the discussion of forced labor. Pang has a whole epilogue at the end the details specifically what we can and should be doing. So please go read this.
Pang did a great deal of research and did a wonderful job tying it all together. She made it personal with the story of Sun Yi, but wove his details into the culture around forced labor in general. She discussed the politics and history and how forced labor supports our lifestyle in America. Pang also discussed how it's hidden from public view, so companies can claim ignorance. I don't think much of what she says is particularly surprising, but the details are important to know.
My only real issue was that it felt like she was trying to cram too much into this relatively short book. It's about forced labor in general, but she also had a long section on Falun Gong, which is a religion that was banned in China. Many practitioners wound up in forced labor camps. It's very important to learn about, especially in the context of this book, it just felt like she didn't quite have the time for it. There were a few tangential topics like that and I wish she'd either cut down on them or lengthened the book by a good bit to include more information. It felt like it was straddling an awkward middle ground and I found myself doing a lot of outside research on topics I wish were expanded upon.
But this was brilliantly done and I would highly recommend this to everyone. I think it's an important book to read and more Americans need to take active roles in the discussion of forced labor. Pang has a whole epilogue at the end the details specifically what we can and should be doing. So please go read this.
nabilahs's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! Just wow! Managed to finish this crime non-fiction in 3 days. Mentally exhausted! Such a harrowing and sorrowful true story of the laogai system in China.
The intricate writing by Amelia Pang from the origin of laogai nation, the dark side of Beijing Olympics 2008, a ploy by big brands in auditing 'factories' in China to China organ transplant industry. All the issues are written with a careful and thorough investigation by the journalist.
The book starts when a US lady, Julie found a tiny SOS letter hidden in a package of Halloween decorations in the year 2012, the SOS letter desperately asking for help.
Then, we go through to learn more about Sun Yuyi, a China man who was imprisoned because of different religions and forced to work in Masanjia labor camp.
Labor camp or known as laogai nation is established in the 1930s and still expanded this year due to Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Labor camps still exist in China because of industry and retails demand over the world.
The CCP arrested and forced innocent China people into labor camps. There are 7 categories of prisoners include political prisoners, ethnic minorities, petitioners, and migrant workers.
All the laogai workers are forced :
- work in long hours without a break
- no protection; no mask and gloves
- no visitors
- no shower breaks
- women's prisoners suffer greater torture; gang rape, sterilized
- no salary
- beaten by guards, torture
After I read this book, whenever I see Made In China label, I will for sure remember all those people who are forced to work in labor camps. I will change my current lifestyle, probably will not buy something too cheap.
The intricate writing by Amelia Pang from the origin of laogai nation, the dark side of Beijing Olympics 2008, a ploy by big brands in auditing 'factories' in China to China organ transplant industry. All the issues are written with a careful and thorough investigation by the journalist.
The book starts when a US lady, Julie found a tiny SOS letter hidden in a package of Halloween decorations in the year 2012, the SOS letter desperately asking for help.
Then, we go through to learn more about Sun Yuyi, a China man who was imprisoned because of different religions and forced to work in Masanjia labor camp.
Labor camp or known as laogai nation is established in the 1930s and still expanded this year due to Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Labor camps still exist in China because of industry and retails demand over the world.
The CCP arrested and forced innocent China people into labor camps. There are 7 categories of prisoners include political prisoners, ethnic minorities, petitioners, and migrant workers.
All the laogai workers are forced :
- work in long hours without a break
- no protection; no mask and gloves
- no visitors
- no shower breaks
- women's prisoners suffer greater torture; gang rape, sterilized
- no salary
- beaten by guards, torture
After I read this book, whenever I see Made In China label, I will for sure remember all those people who are forced to work in labor camps. I will change my current lifestyle, probably will not buy something too cheap.
lizzielightfoot's review against another edition
I just really like reading fiction better.
arisa9290275's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
4.0.
Made in China is an investigative journalist's deep dive in forced labor practices in China. In order to keep up with increasing global consumer demand for cheap, diverse and fast good, the incentives to outsource labor to prison camps have be on the rise.
By personalizing and zeroing in on one particular prisoner sentenced to two years in Masanjia, Amelia Pang breaks down the compartmentalization of prison labor and a tangible product. "Prison" or "Forced" labor does not really explain the biased trials, agonizing physical and mental torture, and the insidious concealment of the products that we so nonchalantly purchase and discard.
Although environmental reasons have been driving most of my purchasing decisions, this book has shed a new light on why informed ethical consumerism is necessary too.
Made in China is an investigative journalist's deep dive in forced labor practices in China. In order to keep up with increasing global consumer demand for cheap, diverse and fast good, the incentives to outsource labor to prison camps have be on the rise.
By personalizing and zeroing in on one particular prisoner sentenced to two years in Masanjia, Amelia Pang breaks down the compartmentalization of prison labor and a tangible product. "Prison" or "Forced" labor does not really explain the biased trials, agonizing physical and mental torture, and the insidious concealment of the products that we so nonchalantly purchase and discard.
Although environmental reasons have been driving most of my purchasing decisions, this book has shed a new light on why informed ethical consumerism is necessary too.