Where East Eats West: The Street-Smarts Guide to Business in China

This book is not so much academic as it is a documentary. Reading through its pages is like watching National Geographic, or Discovery Channel, or the History Channel. It's coldly honest, and yet refreshingly human. I have worked in China for seven years; everything he writes captures my observations. If I were CEO of a multinational in China, I would make this book the centerpiece of all my training for expats. Excellent, excellent! And refreshingly unique.

I only moved to Beijing a month ago and picked this book up last week. I found it easy to read and entertaining. The book has already helped me negotiate a more favorable position for myself in a new job. The short chapter format comes in handy when there's only five or ten minutes on the subway or bus to get some reading done. This is a good book.

Sam Goodman's book couldn't have come out at a better time! As I start my own journey of building a business in Shanghai, I find Sam's wise words immensely helpful. The book is unpretentious and practical, but is not without style. I found myself laughing throughout his book; something I've never done before reading the stacks of China business books on my shelf. A great read for anyone who has lived, currently lives, or will live in China, and an indispensable book for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur in China.

After 27 years in the Chinese diaspora and many years running my own business in China, even I learned a lot from Sam's book. His insights are excellent, the stories highly illustrative and unfortunately typical, the points made are those that few have the courage to speak out, and the overall tone of the book is highly readable and even conversational. No fancy jargon here. Truly delivers on the sub-title "The Street-Smarts Guide to Business in China". This books goes permanently into my "lending" library, I just hope I get it back!!

Sam Goodman writes an honest and self-deprecating account of starting, running and exiting a small business endeavor in China. I can't imagine a better primer for aggressive, young entrepreneurs from the US and EU who wish to embark on an entrepreneurial endeavor in China. While suitable for a wide audience of business people, entrepreneurs wanting to start a successful business in China will enjoy the most value from this book. It's no wonder that excerpts from this book are already in use by some of the leading business schools in the world. Readers will get to know Sam by the end of the book, and I'm sure not a few entrepreneurs will seek him out for a beer and more sage advice as a result.