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December 2021 MBR The International Studies Shelf
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Midwest Book Review
Jan 3, 2022, 4:34:41 AM1/3/22
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The International Studies Shelf
Chasing the Chinese Dream
William N. Brown, PhD
Springer and NewChannel Education
9789811606533, $59.99
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Chinese-Dream-Decades-Following-ebook/dp/B096F5TVTQ
Business professor William N. Brown doesn't present his analysis, Chasing The Chinese Dream: Four Decades Of Following China's War On Poverty, from the safe distance of America. He teaches at Xiamen University, and his background and physical proximity to Chinese culture and its social issues lends to a personal familiarity with his subject that couldn't be matched by those analyzing a fair distance from Chinese affairs. China's goal to alleviate poverty may be surprising to readers who might know little about their efforts, but it actually can be held up as a model not just of achievement, but of the processes that make a difference in the real world. Given the nation's complexity and bulk, these success stories become all the more eye-opening.
Dr. Brown provides an inspection of reforms that goes beyond major cities to examine all aspects of rural and urban Chinese experience. Neither does he operate from the comfort of a city classroom. Dr. Brown cultivates a hands-on attitude that captures both his enthusiasm and the diverse experiences of tackling poverty in China: "If I had scripted my own life from cradle to grave, I could not have conjured up a more exciting or fulfilling adventure than witnessing firsthand the world's most populous nation single-mindedly eradicate absolute poverty. For over three decades I've explored every corner of the country by bicycle, boat, car, train, plane - even farm tractor a few times, as well as on foot into inaccessible valleys. I've interviewed hundreds of people from all walks of life - farmers, fishermen, teachers, doctors, engineers, merchants, street sweepers, barbers, scientists, and athletes." His is a "social travelogue" through Chinese attitudes, experiments, cultures, and transformative efforts that operates on many different levels.
As he undertakes his journey, Dr. Brown profiles the stories of individuals who contribute to this new era of possibility and achievement. In keeping with his research background, Dr. Brown peppers these accounts with footnoted references to facts, statistics, and examples to provide fellow researchers with further reading and supportive material. While his pro-China view may provide special food for thought for those well aware of its other social issues and history, in this case, it serves as a strong, positive viewpoint that pinpoints areas of success over failure. No matter what the reader may believe about China's politics and social issues, it's hard to ignore the evidence of its success in its personal war on poverty throughout its nation, presented here in much detail and supported by personal observation and researched facts alike. While collections strong in Chinese history and culture obviously will be the recipients of this study, business collections and those interested in world-wide social issues and poverty would also do well to consider Chasing The Chinese Dream an essential addition. Its unique blend of scholarly analysis and personal experience, backed by an authoritative researcher who injects his own observations into the study, makes Chasing The Chinese Dream a standout in many genres.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
Chasing the Chinese Dream
William N. Brown, PhD
Springer and NewChannel Education
9789811606533, $59.99
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Chinese-Dream-Decades-Following-ebook/dp/B096F5TVTQ
Business professor William N. Brown doesn't present his analysis, Chasing The Chinese Dream: Four Decades Of Following China's War On Poverty, from the safe distance of America. He teaches at Xiamen University, and his background and physical proximity to Chinese culture and its social issues lends to a personal familiarity with his subject that couldn't be matched by those analyzing a fair distance from Chinese affairs. China's goal to alleviate poverty may be surprising to readers who might know little about their efforts, but it actually can be held up as a model not just of achievement, but of the processes that make a difference in the real world. Given the nation's complexity and bulk, these success stories become all the more eye-opening.
Dr. Brown provides an inspection of reforms that goes beyond major cities to examine all aspects of rural and urban Chinese experience. Neither does he operate from the comfort of a city classroom. Dr. Brown cultivates a hands-on attitude that captures both his enthusiasm and the diverse experiences of tackling poverty in China: "If I had scripted my own life from cradle to grave, I could not have conjured up a more exciting or fulfilling adventure than witnessing firsthand the world's most populous nation single-mindedly eradicate absolute poverty. For over three decades I've explored every corner of the country by bicycle, boat, car, train, plane - even farm tractor a few times, as well as on foot into inaccessible valleys. I've interviewed hundreds of people from all walks of life - farmers, fishermen, teachers, doctors, engineers, merchants, street sweepers, barbers, scientists, and athletes." His is a "social travelogue" through Chinese attitudes, experiments, cultures, and transformative efforts that operates on many different levels.
As he undertakes his journey, Dr. Brown profiles the stories of individuals who contribute to this new era of possibility and achievement. In keeping with his research background, Dr. Brown peppers these accounts with footnoted references to facts, statistics, and examples to provide fellow researchers with further reading and supportive material. While his pro-China view may provide special food for thought for those well aware of its other social issues and history, in this case, it serves as a strong, positive viewpoint that pinpoints areas of success over failure. No matter what the reader may believe about China's politics and social issues, it's hard to ignore the evidence of its success in its personal war on poverty throughout its nation, presented here in much detail and supported by personal observation and researched facts alike. While collections strong in Chinese history and culture obviously will be the recipients of this study, business collections and those interested in world-wide social issues and poverty would also do well to consider Chasing The Chinese Dream an essential addition. Its unique blend of scholarly analysis and personal experience, backed by an authoritative researcher who injects his own observations into the study, makes Chasing The Chinese Dream a standout in many genres.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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