From the Bookshelf of The History Book Club…

Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China

Evan Osnos

Start date: January 1, 2016

Finish date: January 31, 2016

Discussion: CHINA

Discussion leader: Bentley

Why we're reading this: January 2016 Book of the Month Selection
[close] January 2016 Book of the Month Selection

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CHINA

* INTRODUCTION - CHINA
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 71 posts · 525 views

last updated Feb 07, 2019 12:18PM

CHINA
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 165 posts · 553 views

last updated May 10, 2024 06:47AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 17, 2016 Mary rated it it was amazing

Written by an American who lived in China for several years during 2000's. He writes about the conflict between the Communist Party and China's liberal thinkers, those who seek to expose the truth, and the rising group of educated Chinese who want a better life. He explores the impact of the Internet and the party's attempts at censoring the content.

He tells fascinating stories of Chinese citizens including a blind attorney, an internationally known artist, a race car driving blogger, a woman w ...more

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Nov 22, 2014 Rachel rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, politics

I read an article somewhere about the Chinese starting to travel only recently and all the confusions and sometimes annoyances it caused which was relevant to me because I work in a place which is visited by large Chinese groups that I have to deal with. When this book came out I had to have it and only recognized it after reading this bit again.

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Oct 27, 2019 Florence rated it it was amazing

The author spent years living in China and reporting on the rapidly evolving political and cultural environments. As a reader trying to understand this complex society it helps to remember that most of the Chinese people are barely a generation removed from rural poverty. There seems to be an implicit pact between the Communist Party rulers and their subjects; an increased standard of living in exchange for greatly restricted freedom of expression. The internet has been a great challenge for gov ...more

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Jan 07, 2016 Ellen Librarian rated it really liked it

A fascinating look at modern and modernizing China told through the eyes of various individuals who have both profited and lost. It's an easy-to-read and engaging book that provides a good idea of what life in China is like. ...more

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