Beijing Blur : A head-spinning journey into modern China (ISBN 0978825969)

China: Confusing, Contradictory and Energetic:
West, James. "Beijing Blur: A Head-Spinning Journey into Modern Chins", Cuttyhunk/Landsdown, 2008. China: Confusing, Contradictory and Energetic Amos Lassen We unquestionably learned a great deal about modern China by watching the 2008 Olympics and I must admit that the taste I got made me want to know more. To help satisfy that need there is James West's new book, "Beijing Blur". West tells about the China most of us will never have the opportunity to know. West, at 23 years old, was an Australian journalist, who got a job at the Chinese state-owned radio station in Beijing. He thought he knew a lot about China but soon discovered that he had a lot to learn. One of the ways that he went about learning about the country was to talk to the upcoming generation about the way they felt about their country. He talked to them about the topics that matter in the world--politics and their frustrations and experiences and what will happen in/to China once the attention of the world is no longer focused on the Beijing Olympics. West talked to all kinds of people--students, businessmen, blue-collar workers, rock musicians bloggers and the members of the underground gay and lesbian communities. At this time in the history of the world, China is waiting for the world to change and China will change with it. West's job in China was to help the Chinese to improve their English pronunciation and grammar and we learn that because of China's enormous population that in the next few years there will be more speakers of English there than in all countries where English is the official language. Therefore it was obvious that there was and is a need for professional English services. West writes with great wit and we get an intimate and personal look at China. His entire look at the country is different than anything else that is written about the country. I began reading "Beijing Blur" at 4 in the afternoon and I was so swept up in it that I did not stop until I closed the covers several hours later. West's prose is sublime, his humor is wonderful and his take on China is unique. I just can't say enough good things about the book. It is a wonderful achievement and a welcome addition to literature and it is a book that is needed---especially as it explores the mind of modern China.