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The China Affairs #1
The Control Center
A #1 Best-Seller. A chance meeting one night in Shanghai introduces American banker Jack Gold to an Israeli man named Ari, who has a stunning proposition: Help Israel and the United States infiltrate China’s heavily guarded Control Center and address the nation with the truth they deserve to hear.
China, a country of 1.4 billion citizens, is an existential threat to itself and the rest of the world. With its news and media censored through the Control Center before being broadcast to viewers, the people of China have no hope of realizing their government is only looking to enrich and reward its most prominent leaders.
But getting into the Control Center is not going to be easy. And even if such a dangerous undertaking proves successful, though, there is no guarantee that the growing tensions between China and the United States can be quelled. But Jack’s love for China, and the beautiful artist he meets one night, pushes him to the brink as he risks everything to help a nation of people whose lives and livelihoods have been stifled by government control.
Written by Brad Good, who started living and working in the People's Republic of China in 1988, THE CHINA AFFAIRS is a series of four novels that take place in China. Good brings rare on-the-ground knowledge of contemporary Chinese political, social, and cultural issues, and associated international affairs.
Jack Gold is an American in China who is recruited by an Israeli agent to penetrate the Control Center, China's broadcasting hub. (Book 1) Next, at great personal threat, China and the United States solicit his leadership in creating a new trade deal between the countries. (Book 2) Jack is then recruited by the President of China, with the use of artificial intelligence, to transform China and the lives of its citizens. (Book 3) After China elects a new president who returns the country to Communism, the President of the United States calls on Jack to lead a dangerous plan to fight back. (Book 4)
China, a country of 1.4 billion citizens, is an existential threat to itself and the rest of the world. With its news and media censored through the Control Center before being broadcast to viewers, the people of China have no hope of realizing their government is only looking to enrich and reward its most prominent leaders.
But getting into the Control Center is not going to be easy. And even if such a dangerous undertaking proves successful, though, there is no guarantee that the growing tensions between China and the United States can be quelled. But Jack’s love for China, and the beautiful artist he meets one night, pushes him to the brink as he risks everything to help a nation of people whose lives and livelihoods have been stifled by government control.
Written by Brad Good, who started living and working in the People's Republic of China in 1988, THE CHINA AFFAIRS is a series of four novels that take place in China. Good brings rare on-the-ground knowledge of contemporary Chinese political, social, and cultural issues, and associated international affairs.
Jack Gold is an American in China who is recruited by an Israeli agent to penetrate the Control Center, China's broadcasting hub. (Book 1) Next, at great personal threat, China and the United States solicit his leadership in creating a new trade deal between the countries. (Book 2) Jack is then recruited by the President of China, with the use of artificial intelligence, to transform China and the lives of its citizens. (Book 3) After China elects a new president who returns the country to Communism, the President of the United States calls on Jack to lead a dangerous plan to fight back. (Book 4)
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2022
67 people are currently reading
1290 people want to read
About the author
Brad Good
10 books23 followersBrad Good, bestseller author of The Control Center, has lived and worked in the People's Republic of China since 1988. He brings rare on-the-ground knowledge of contemporary Chinese political, social, and cultural issues, and associated international affairs. Good has conducted business across the country and resided in various cities throughout China and Asia.
He holds an MBA and Master’s in East Asian Studies from the University of Chicago and a BA from UC Berkeley. Good speaks fluent Mandarin and is a fifth-degree black belt in Shaolin Kempo Karate. He currently resides in Taipei, Taiwan.
He holds an MBA and Master’s in East Asian Studies from the University of Chicago and a BA from UC Berkeley. Good speaks fluent Mandarin and is a fifth-degree black belt in Shaolin Kempo Karate. He currently resides in Taipei, Taiwan.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 8, 2022
The Control Center: The China Affairs by Brad Good is a brilliant political thriller. Jack Gold is an American but his love for China is showing; he loves the people and enjoys its rich culture. The story sparks as he is recruited by an Israeli agent to penetrate the Control System. It's not going to be easy, but he undertakes this dangerous task for the love of China, and the mesmerizing artist Jojo he meets. The mission upon success will yield a long-term positive impact but Jack's mission will put him in a course that will change his life forever.
This moulding of the descriptive narrative of Chinese people and their culture shows author’s knowledgeable aspect of life spent there. The political intrigue, the romance kept me glued till the end. As the story unfolds, I experienced the love the author holds for the country throughout. The ending is for sure not to be missed as it will propel you to anticipate the next installment in the series. Superbly written, brilliantly displayed with a multicultural perspective, I highly recommend this read.
This moulding of the descriptive narrative of Chinese people and their culture shows author’s knowledgeable aspect of life spent there. The political intrigue, the romance kept me glued till the end. As the story unfolds, I experienced the love the author holds for the country throughout. The ending is for sure not to be missed as it will propel you to anticipate the next installment in the series. Superbly written, brilliantly displayed with a multicultural perspective, I highly recommend this read.
September 3, 2022
The Control Center is the first book of the series, written by Brad Good. One thing that excels in this novel is the multicultural angle the author shows in his writing.
The story is complex, mixing Asian culture with American, showing besides fiction the differences between society, and politics mostly. The main character is Jack Gold, recruited by an Israeli agent with a risky mission: Taking down the control center, a broadcasting facility that is able to control all media and therefore, people´s opinions and knowledge.
It is refreshing to read about a country I know very little about since the book describes perfectly several aspects of China´s society, culture, and landmarks. It is more than clear that the author has good knowledge about the subject and undeniable love for that country.
The story is complex, mixing Asian culture with American, showing besides fiction the differences between society, and politics mostly. The main character is Jack Gold, recruited by an Israeli agent with a risky mission: Taking down the control center, a broadcasting facility that is able to control all media and therefore, people´s opinions and knowledge.
It is refreshing to read about a country I know very little about since the book describes perfectly several aspects of China´s society, culture, and landmarks. It is more than clear that the author has good knowledge about the subject and undeniable love for that country.
July 31, 2025
The Control Center opens with Jack criticizing a cultural norm – spitting in public. It immediately placed Jack in an American, pretentious, full-of-himself, better-than-everybody-else position. In the same chapter, he went on an unsuccessful date where he got upset that the woman posted inaccurate photos of herself, making her appear a few years younger. He made it clear that he was not upset about the photos themselves, but that she lied to him. He then lied to this woman in the same chapter, making him a hypocrite. Not a successful way to endear a reader to the main character. Unfortunately, the book continued to go downhill from there.
The majority of the book was meeting after meeting after meeting. These meetings were boring and uninteresting. Jack became trusted by government officials way too fast. With only a few meetings, he was let into the White House, given a potent neurotoxin, and a mission to “save the free world.” Completely unrealistic. His mission was underdeveloped, and the point of the neurotoxin never made a whole lot of sense. It did not kill people, but left them sick. One would assume that the poison was then meant to incapacitate people so they could be kidnapped or would be less resistant to change. But both the President of China and his immediate successor were poisoned, so the poison did not successfully incapacitate them to allow a peaceful power transition.
Furthermore, the idea that Jack was able to make a speech on the fly and the speech was so powerful and moving that it completely shifted the Chinese way of life and opened the doors to freedom of speech and democracy was ludicrous.
I think most readers could have predicted that Jack was going to poison Wang Min’s or Jojo’s dad. Therefore, this was not a big reveal or surprise.
Something else I would like to mention is that Jojo was introduced as a waitress, but after she and Jack began dating, the waitressing plot point was never brought up again. Instead, she was an artist with powerful connections, and she introduced Jack to famous people.
Overall, The Control Center was messy and unrealistic. Jack read as a self-absorbed, narcissistic man.
The majority of the book was meeting after meeting after meeting. These meetings were boring and uninteresting. Jack became trusted by government officials way too fast. With only a few meetings, he was let into the White House, given a potent neurotoxin, and a mission to “save the free world.” Completely unrealistic. His mission was underdeveloped, and the point of the neurotoxin never made a whole lot of sense. It did not kill people, but left them sick. One would assume that the poison was then meant to incapacitate people so they could be kidnapped or would be less resistant to change. But both the President of China and his immediate successor were poisoned, so the poison did not successfully incapacitate them to allow a peaceful power transition.
Furthermore, the idea that Jack was able to make a speech on the fly and the speech was so powerful and moving that it completely shifted the Chinese way of life and opened the doors to freedom of speech and democracy was ludicrous.
I think most readers could have predicted that Jack was going to poison Wang Min’s or Jojo’s dad. Therefore, this was not a big reveal or surprise.
Something else I would like to mention is that Jojo was introduced as a waitress, but after she and Jack began dating, the waitressing plot point was never brought up again. Instead, she was an artist with powerful connections, and she introduced Jack to famous people.
Overall, The Control Center was messy and unrealistic. Jack read as a self-absorbed, narcissistic man.
September 2, 2022
The Control Center is the first book of the series called The China Affairs. And it tells the story of Jack Gold an American banker to get into a thriller of adventure when he is asked to join a dangerous mission that might change his life forever. When entering the Control Center, he would never think things would escalate as quickly and stressful as they did.
I am beyond happy when it comes to this book, it's been a long time since I’ve read a book that makes me feel uneasy until it's finished, only good authors can create that type of atmosphere. The characters have deep connections and are compelling to themselves and the story and I can't wait to read the rest of these books! I can’t recommend this enough!
I am beyond happy when it comes to this book, it's been a long time since I’ve read a book that makes me feel uneasy until it's finished, only good authors can create that type of atmosphere. The characters have deep connections and are compelling to themselves and the story and I can't wait to read the rest of these books! I can’t recommend this enough!
September 3, 2022
This is the first book in a four part series known as China Affairs. The first book is focused around two men, an American banker, Jack Gold, and an Israeli man, Ari. Ari wishes to be smuggled into the control center within China in order to tell the whole nation the truth they deserve to hear. This book is written by Brad Good, a man who lived and worked in the People's Republic of China in 1988. He brings authentic and rare on the ground knowledge about Chinese politics, their culture and their international affairs and how they handle them. A wonderful and interesting read that terrifyingly hits close to home due to the certain conditions of our worldly affairs in current time. An amazing read.
September 7, 2022
Suspense, action and more.
The Control Center is the first book in The China Affairs series written by Brad Good. The story follows Jack Gold, an American Banker, and an Israeli man named Ari. By a chance meeting, Ari proposes Jack to help Israel and the United States infiltrate the Chinese Control Center and tell the nation the truth they deserve to hear.
This fantastic novel is set in present-day China, and includes a lot of knowledge of their culture, political problems, international issues and more interesting topics. I really liked the blend between mystery, action and danger. The plot is developed very well and left me wanting to know more. I recommend it and I want to read the next book.
The Control Center is the first book in The China Affairs series written by Brad Good. The story follows Jack Gold, an American Banker, and an Israeli man named Ari. By a chance meeting, Ari proposes Jack to help Israel and the United States infiltrate the Chinese Control Center and tell the nation the truth they deserve to hear.
This fantastic novel is set in present-day China, and includes a lot of knowledge of their culture, political problems, international issues and more interesting topics. I really liked the blend between mystery, action and danger. The plot is developed very well and left me wanting to know more. I recommend it and I want to read the next book.
September 9, 2022
“The Control center: the china affairs” by Brad Good is the first book of a series of four amazing novels that, although made by a fictional plot, bring a lot of knowledge and important information to every person that is willing to read this book. I was mind blown by how much complexity lies behind the scenes of the Chinese facade.
I love that this book contains both, entertainment, fun, fiction, adrenaline, love, romance as well as a huge number of facts and just very enriching themes. This book has a lot to do with reality and what is going on in today's world. So, if you want to know what world we are living in, then this is the right book for you.
I love that this book contains both, entertainment, fun, fiction, adrenaline, love, romance as well as a huge number of facts and just very enriching themes. This book has a lot to do with reality and what is going on in today's world. So, if you want to know what world we are living in, then this is the right book for you.
December 13, 2022
Very entertaining. The story and characters were wonderful and made the read a joy. Unfortunately the ending was quite disappointing and simplistic. Hard to accept the government would just topple and when the mission was completed they would just walk back to the hotel bar and have a couple of beers.
Could have read a couple of hundred more pages and continued to learn more about the characters and further about China. If the ending could be fixed this would make an interesting movie.
Could have read a couple of hundred more pages and continued to learn more about the characters and further about China. If the ending could be fixed this would make an interesting movie.
January 13, 2023
Silly silly silly
This book has the silliest, most ridiculous plot I've ever encountered. Unbelievable every step of the way.
The author clearly has no clue how to define democracy, so he couldn't believe in it even if he wanted to.
Hint 1: The Chinese would not have responded positively to such a stunt. Hint 2: No, the girlfriend will not respond well to whatever nonsense he comes up with.
This book has the silliest, most ridiculous plot I've ever encountered. Unbelievable every step of the way.
The author clearly has no clue how to define democracy, so he couldn't believe in it even if he wanted to.
Hint 1: The Chinese would not have responded positively to such a stunt. Hint 2: No, the girlfriend will not respond well to whatever nonsense he comes up with.
September 3, 2022
“The Control Center” is the first book out of four in the CHINA AFFAIRS series written by Brad Good. These four novels take place in China and the author did a great job in this one describing the setting. He also provides a good context from the country in many aspects. It is a well written, provocative book. I certainly recommend reading it!
August 3, 2022
Great Read
Read this on the flight from LA to NYC. I just realize there is so much about China that I never knew and it was great to gain some of that knowledge through a really engaging story. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Read this on the flight from LA to NYC. I just realize there is so much about China that I never knew and it was great to gain some of that knowledge through a really engaging story. Looking forward to reading the next one.
September 1, 2022
Great read
September 15, 2022
Fast paced read. Interesting characters.
Read
September 30, 2022My husband read almost 25% of this book and DNF. He said that it never “hooked” him and was boring. Thanks to the author for the Goodreads giveaway.
September 19, 2022
“The Control Center” is the first book in the series “THE CHINA AFFAIRS”. It is a novel with strong political, cultural and social content about contemporary China and its relationships with the rest of the world. It is written by the excellent author Brad Good who shows in this work his experience and knowledge of this country.
This fascinating beginning is captivating due to its originality and good writing style. The series is set in the Republic of China and its protagonists are an American banker and an Israeli man who have a really dangerous plan. Their relationship gets stronger along the story and tension begins to rise as they go relentlessly towards their goal. I recommend this book, it is interesting and entertaining.
This fascinating beginning is captivating due to its originality and good writing style. The series is set in the Republic of China and its protagonists are an American banker and an Israeli man who have a really dangerous plan. Their relationship gets stronger along the story and tension begins to rise as they go relentlessly towards their goal. I recommend this book, it is interesting and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews