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ninabina's review
3.0
Interesting read. I would’ve liked more information about the complicity of US businesses and politicians, but I can understand that one book can’t be completely comprehensive and cover all perspectives.
Though I didn’t agree with everything that the author said, it’s important to note that this book is not racist. The author explicitly and clearly states that the problems are with the CCP and politicians not Chinese people or culture.
Though I didn’t agree with everything that the author said, it’s important to note that this book is not racist. The author explicitly and clearly states that the problems are with the CCP and politicians not Chinese people or culture.
benrogerswpg's review
5.0
I found this book a very fascinating, shocking, and eye opening political science read.
Extremely good book and well researched. Some really alarming bits.
Spalding knows his material. I especially enjoyed his "big picture" and future forecasting approach to what's happening in the world. Gave me an excellent idea of where things will be heading in the future.
Lots of the book outlined the Belt and Road Initiative and indicated different tactics both locally in China, but also in developed countries and developing countries and how it affects global capital.
He also offered some really great strategies and actions that Western leaders can start implementing and their impacts.
Highly recommended for those who do international business, or who are interested in global politics and policy.
4.9/5
Extremely good book and well researched. Some really alarming bits.
Spalding knows his material. I especially enjoyed his "big picture" and future forecasting approach to what's happening in the world. Gave me an excellent idea of where things will be heading in the future.
Lots of the book outlined the Belt and Road Initiative and indicated different tactics both locally in China, but also in developed countries and developing countries and how it affects global capital.
He also offered some really great strategies and actions that Western leaders can start implementing and their impacts.
Highly recommended for those who do international business, or who are interested in global politics and policy.
4.9/5
cyberdave's review
5.0
An excellent book to awaken you to China’s Communist party’s insidious initiatives!
azure_dawn's review
fast-paced
3.0
Nothing deep or profound, but an decent introduction in the whole China debacle. Throws a billion things at you, leaving you to dig at them yourself. Pretty cool. Solutions, offered by the author, are not the best though...
jpinney2's review
4.0
It’s a decent book, and does a good job at laying out the facts of the China-US great power rivalry. The US is stagnating and falling behind, hiding behind their giant standing army and military prowess that no one would be stupid enough to challenge outright, while China has found other avenues to attack. China is on its way to perfecting economic and asymmetric warfare and in all likelihood will supersede America without firing a single shot.
One thing I didn’t like was the authors frequent invocations of the “liberty and freedom and greatness” of America in contrast to the Chinese. Blind patriotism is not a compelling argument on why America will prevail and that’s why we’re in this situation. America is not exceptional, nor are we the “strongest” or “freest” country in the world by any margin other than maybe our industrial military might, which by the way, is waning due to the industrial complex’s pursuit of the almighty dollar.
America needs to eliminate lobbying and the influence of money in politics and focus on improving and enriching the lives of its citizens, not of its corporations, to even begin countering China.
But I don’t think that’s likely and in the next 50 years we’ll see a bipolar world with China on the winning side and USA and allies in decline.
One thing I didn’t like was the authors frequent invocations of the “liberty and freedom and greatness” of America in contrast to the Chinese. Blind patriotism is not a compelling argument on why America will prevail and that’s why we’re in this situation. America is not exceptional, nor are we the “strongest” or “freest” country in the world by any margin other than maybe our industrial military might, which by the way, is waning due to the industrial complex’s pursuit of the almighty dollar.
America needs to eliminate lobbying and the influence of money in politics and focus on improving and enriching the lives of its citizens, not of its corporations, to even begin countering China.
But I don’t think that’s likely and in the next 50 years we’ll see a bipolar world with China on the winning side and USA and allies in decline.
zfeig's review
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
2.5
This book provided a good background on poor behavior of the Chinese government in international markets. I enjoyed the author's perspective and found much of what he had to say informative.
However, the solutions that the author provides to the problem are dangerous if not likely to kick off a world war. I don't know what the right answers are, but I don't get the sense that this book provides it.
However, the solutions that the author provides to the problem are dangerous if not likely to kick off a world war. I don't know what the right answers are, but I don't get the sense that this book provides it.