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Chinese Rules. Five Timeless Lessons for Succeeding in China
From the author of the acclaimed ‘Mr. China’ comes another rollicking adventure story – part memoir, part history, part business imbroglio – that offers valuable lessons to help Westerners win in China.
In the twenty-first century, the world has tilted eastwards in its orbit; China grows confident while the West seems mired in doubt. Having lived and worked in China for more than two decades, Tim Clissold explains the secrets that Westerners can use to navigate through its cultural and political maze. Picking up where he left off in the international bestseller Mr. China, Chinese Rules chronicles his most recent exploits, with assorted Chinese bureaucrats, factory owners, and local characters building a climate change business in China. Of course, all does not go as planned as he finds himself caught between the worlds largest carbon emitter and the worlds richest man. Clissold offers entertaining and enlightening anecdotes of the absurdities, gaffes, and mysteries he encountered along the way.
Sprinkled amid surreal scenes of cultural confusion and near misses are smart myth-busting insights and practical lessons Westerns can use to succeed in China. Exploring key episodes in that nations long political, military, and cultural history, Clissold outlines five Chinese rules, which anyone can deploy in on-the-ground situations with modern Chinese counterparts. These Chinese rules will enable foreigners not only to co-operate with China but also to compete with it on its own terms.
In the twenty-first century, the world has tilted eastwards in its orbit; China grows confident while the West seems mired in doubt. Having lived and worked in China for more than two decades, Tim Clissold explains the secrets that Westerners can use to navigate through its cultural and political maze. Picking up where he left off in the international bestseller Mr. China, Chinese Rules chronicles his most recent exploits, with assorted Chinese bureaucrats, factory owners, and local characters building a climate change business in China. Of course, all does not go as planned as he finds himself caught between the worlds largest carbon emitter and the worlds richest man. Clissold offers entertaining and enlightening anecdotes of the absurdities, gaffes, and mysteries he encountered along the way.
Sprinkled amid surreal scenes of cultural confusion and near misses are smart myth-busting insights and practical lessons Westerns can use to succeed in China. Exploring key episodes in that nations long political, military, and cultural history, Clissold outlines five Chinese rules, which anyone can deploy in on-the-ground situations with modern Chinese counterparts. These Chinese rules will enable foreigners not only to co-operate with China but also to compete with it on its own terms.
272 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 24, 2019
Han sætter ord på betragtninger, jeg også selv har gjort mig, men som jeg ikke har kunnet beskrive. Jeg ville ønske jeg havde læst denne bog tidligere.
December 24, 2019
This is a book that spectacularly delivered beyond my expectations. A deeply considered framework and worldview, an examined view of the broad strokes of history, and personal anecdotes from an intriguing professional career in China comes together in Tim Clissold's book on the Five Timeless Lessons for Succeeding in China.
This isn't a self-help book or checklist for negotiating with Chinese businesses. It's a call to action to take China seriously, not just as a developing nation with a unique tradition and history, but as a force for change in our history and future. The book is insightful in the current dilemmas facing the Chinese state - and the world - in a way which is both deeply moving and inspiring and it is a special privilege to read this book.
The five lessons are:
1) China is a civilization masquerading as a state. Its essential elements have survived the collapse of central authority and conquest by outsiders over periods so long there are no equivalents in Western history. China will not just cast itself in the image of the West, playing a game of catch-up; China has rules, goals, and a future of its own. The incredible success of free-market capitalism sometimes blinds Westerners from the reality that there may be different pathways and interpretations of success. some believe the differences between East and West to be one of timing, but rather than convergence the path forward for China might be quite different in substance.
2) China's historical experience has left its people with an intense dread of instability. The unity of China is not a natural state, but the result of a constant struggle that drives policy in every corner of the bureaucracy. There is a ceaseless search for harmony and order. Almost every action of the government and the individuals within it can be understood and predicted within that light.
3) Chinese methods for dealing with conflict and competition are indirect. To bide time until conditions are favorable and to operate on psychological planes.
4) The Chinese have a deep tradition of pragmatic realism rather than fixed, value-based rules; a rejection from excessive theorizing. 'Actual investigation of things is the surest way to get knowledge'. 'What does it matter if a cat if black or white, so long as it catches mice?'
5) 'Know Yourself and Know the Other and You'll Survive a Hundred Battles'
More than just the core lessons there were two stories that I found to be utterly fascinating -
1) The Banqiao Reservoir Dam Failiure of 1975
2) The life of Deng Xiaoping
Both were told in this book in a way that struck a strong emotional chord. I highly recommend reading these stories if nothing else.
This isn't a self-help book or checklist for negotiating with Chinese businesses. It's a call to action to take China seriously, not just as a developing nation with a unique tradition and history, but as a force for change in our history and future. The book is insightful in the current dilemmas facing the Chinese state - and the world - in a way which is both deeply moving and inspiring and it is a special privilege to read this book.
The five lessons are:
1) China is a civilization masquerading as a state. Its essential elements have survived the collapse of central authority and conquest by outsiders over periods so long there are no equivalents in Western history. China will not just cast itself in the image of the West, playing a game of catch-up; China has rules, goals, and a future of its own. The incredible success of free-market capitalism sometimes blinds Westerners from the reality that there may be different pathways and interpretations of success. some believe the differences between East and West to be one of timing, but rather than convergence the path forward for China might be quite different in substance.
2) China's historical experience has left its people with an intense dread of instability. The unity of China is not a natural state, but the result of a constant struggle that drives policy in every corner of the bureaucracy. There is a ceaseless search for harmony and order. Almost every action of the government and the individuals within it can be understood and predicted within that light.
3) Chinese methods for dealing with conflict and competition are indirect. To bide time until conditions are favorable and to operate on psychological planes.
4) The Chinese have a deep tradition of pragmatic realism rather than fixed, value-based rules; a rejection from excessive theorizing. 'Actual investigation of things is the surest way to get knowledge'. 'What does it matter if a cat if black or white, so long as it catches mice?'
5) 'Know Yourself and Know the Other and You'll Survive a Hundred Battles'
More than just the core lessons there were two stories that I found to be utterly fascinating -
1) The Banqiao Reservoir Dam Failiure of 1975
2) The life of Deng Xiaoping
Both were told in this book in a way that struck a strong emotional chord. I highly recommend reading these stories if nothing else.
May 17, 2017
After reading a bit about Chinese negotiations in class， I became more interested in reading about real situations of Chinese negotiations. Very well written and informative. I especially loved how Tim brought the past to the present negotiations he was doing, much like what the Chinese businessmen do today. The book is written in a way that it is so smooth to read and you just don't want to put it down. Will definitely be going to get his book Mr China soon.
Recommended for anyone interested in business in China.
Recommended for anyone interested in business in China.
December 31, 2018
One of the most eye opening books for different paradigm’s.
January 13, 2019
Entertaining book with some great stories. Nice references to Chinese peasant tales/philosophy/sayings. Reads like a novel.
July 25, 2019
This book talks about how China is influencing the west and asks the west to wake up and learn from China and its history of 30 countries.
August 7, 2016
It is a quite good book to read if you want to learn about China history. It also depict vividly the way Chinese (or at least the one in the book) do businesses.
This book makes you think~
This book makes you think~
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews