Chinese Awakenings: Life Stories from the Unofficial China

This is a good book in that it talks to the people of China, not the government. There are a number of "short stories" or chapters about various people who live(d) in China and the difficulties of living in China. It ranges from the life story of a government interpreter who was imprisoned after quiting his job just because he knew too much, to an entrepreneur and his difficulties with his business/officials. The reason this is the "unofficial" version is because the writers talk to the people living in these conditions and not the government. Although not a light read, it is not too heavy either. It is an interesting look at another culture outside of ours and the injustices they must face.