ABSTRACT
No matter how much is read about China,1 ultimately one has to go there. But on arrival, China is too vast to comprehend. Many of the sights and experiences are too unfamiliar to grasp. Inevitably this brings us back to the books to make sense of it all. Reading up on China will not tell you everything you need to know, but it will provide background and context for your own impressions. When visiting the China offices of expatriates, look at their bookshelves. You can assume that those without books on China will not be staying in the country for long. Conversely, those very few you discover to be well-read are the ones whose advice you should most respect. Personal experience and macrolevel knowledge are complementary; one needs the other. The best learning blends personal experience and the researches and experiences of others in a single mix.
