*why men should never wear green hats in China?
*what is the actual command structure of the Communist Party in China?
*why some animals are considered luckier than others?
*what China's burgeoning car culture means for pedestrians?
A father-and-daughter team who between them have published many books on Asia (e.g., The Girl from Purple Mountain) here provides 100 A-to-Z chapters offering extensive coverage of practical Chinese history, culture, and customs.
Topics range from banquets, bargaining, and body language to the one-child policy, Three Gorges Dam, and Wen Jiabao (who became premier in 2002). The tone is light, but the information is well chosen for general readers and travelers. Recommended for any level library. Library Journal Review for June 1 Issue
Author's note:
My father and I decided to write this book after a dear family friend took his first trip to China. When he returned, he said he'd had a wonderful time except he wished on his tour that they hadn't served Peking Duck at every meal. *I never want to see another Peking Duck as long as I live,* the man proclaimed. We immediately felt guilty, because had we known, we could have given him advice on how to politely speak with his tour group and hosts to ensure that the menu was more varied.
We later were invited to speak at a conference on transnational adoption. I was surprised to hear one mother say how she felt great anxiety that she would not be able to help her adopted daughter keep in touch with her Chinese roots because she herself knew very little about China. She said she'd started reading novels and renting DVDs about China but had no way of knowing what was historically accurate or simply artistic license. As a working mother, she didn't have the time to take a full course of studies on China, so she was trying to piece together an education for herself in her spare moments. Still, she admitted, she worried she wasn't doing enough.
We realized then there was a need for a book that would provide basic information about Chinese culture, history and etiquette that would be easy to use and give readers a basic foundation to help them understand China.
My father has taught about China for more than 45 years and is a frequent lecturer in China. I myself have taught for ten years and lived and worked in China, where I travel frequently. My father's background as an immigrant from China to America, a male, and political scientist as well as translator of the Confucian classics affords him a different perspective from mine as an American woman and younger member of an extended Chinese family, a creative writer who has studied Chinese history and literature in America and China, and someone who has worked in China. We decided this dual way of experiencing China--dependent upon gender, age and background--worked to our advantage as writers. Together we could provide a more diverse perspective than either of us could have done alone.
In addition, we both love Chinese culture and wanted to share that love with our readers.
Thus China A to Z was born. – May-lee Chai
From the Plume/Penguin catalog:
A practical and accessible guide to an ancient but rapidly changing culture
Perfect for business and armchair travelers alike, China A to Z explains the customs, culture, and etiquette essential for any trip or for anyone wanting to understand this complex country. In one hundred brief, reader-friendly chapters, alphabetized by subject, China A to Z introduces a general audience to contemporary Chinese society, as well as its venerable history. Discover:
* Why Chinese names are written in reverse order
* What you should bring when visiting a Chinese household
* What the current relationship is between Japan and China
* Why there are more boys than girls in China
* Why you should wrap gifts in red or pink paper, and never send white flowers
With the 2008 Summer Olympics being held in Beijing, thousands of Chinese adoptions occurring each year, and China becoming the fourth most popular international destination, the need for information about this fascinating country is greater than ever.
