Encountering the Chinese: A Guide for Americans (The Interact Series)

Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: If you are going to China and seek a better understanding of the courtship between East and West, Hu Wenzhong, who is Chinese, and Cornelius Grove, who is American, wrote this culture-bridging book for you. They clearly reveal not only the differences between Chinese culture and the Western culture, but the origin of many of those differences. They explain both history and culture as a context for contemporary social standards, from practical etiquette to how to conduct yourself on a daily basis as you travel, live or work in China. The authors accomplish their explanatory goals, avoid silly generalities and give the visitor just enough knowledge to avoid being completely humiliated. When you read this, you'll have a framework for determining what else you need to learn before you go. Meanwhile we highly recommends this very readable, consistently interesting book.

Rating:
Summary: An overview of what to expect living and working in China.
Review: This 192 page paperback book is an overview of what to expect for anyone who will be travelling to China to negotiate, work, teach, study, engage in diplomacy, and/or live. Of uniqueness is that this book is co-authored by an American and a Chinese. Together, they bring the insight of Chinese culture together with an American's perspective. As a result, this is one of the better such overview books.