BAMBOO NETWORK : HOW EXPATRIATE CHINESE ENTREPRENEURS ARE CREATING A NEW ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER IN ASIA

Rating:
Summary: This book needs immediate revision
Review: The style of this book is a bird's-eye view gleaned primarily from newpaper reports (as judged by the bibliographic citations). It begins with a delineation of the most visible Overseas Chinese entrepreneur "families." Then it abruptly swerves into an anecdotal rambling about Mainland China's boom economy and how one can not do business there without buying favors from Communist Party officials or from the People's Liberation Army. The reason this book needs a new edition is that its publication predated current "Asian" scandals. One of the ("Indonesian") families showcased by the authors has been in the news for the last year as being the alleged bankroller for "Asian" connected illegal Democratic campaign contributions via bag people who do not appear to have the means to make $100,000 contributions. Likewise, this book reveals why it should not surprise the American Public that the President of the United States has met with arms dealers alleged to be in the employee of the People's Liberation Army. The authors' narrative enables me to make more educated guesses about the real mission of restaurantuer Charlie Tri and the top security clearance trade specialist John Huong. I am rating this book as "average" because it strikes me as a thinly disguised public relations effort to promote more U.S. direct investment in Mainland China "before we miss the boat." It clearly is not a scholarly effort. Read this book for a quick intro to the players, but move on to books with more depth: this arena is important to understand (whatever your world view or prejudices).

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book but very dated
Review: This book is a classic, but the Asian crisis has dated it badly. Also, the author has much anecdotal matter to back up his story, but he did not have intimate access to the Overseas Chinese top managers and this shows. For an intimate account of how the networks operate, and how strategic decisions are made I strongly recommend "New Asian Emperors: the Overseas Chinese, their Strategies and Competitive Advantages" by George T. Haley et al. to supplement this book.

Rating:
Summary: Superficial Coverage
Review: This book is a good primer for those unfamiliar with the workings of China's economy and the reforms of the last decade that have fuelled China's growth. It is badly dated now (no fault of the authors) due to the Asian financial crisis. The biggest disappointment is that is deals very little with the book's supposed topic, the role of the overseas Chinese. The last half of the book doesn't even mention them! (well, barely...)

Rating:
Summary: Superficial Coverage
Review: This book is a good primer for those unfamiliar with the workings of China's economy and the reforms of the last decade that have fuelled China's growth. It is badly dated now (no fault of the authors) due to the Asian financial crisis. The biggest disappointment is that is deals very little with the book's supposed topic, the role of the overseas Chinese. The last half of the book doesn't even mention them! (well, barely...)