Since arrived in Australia, I didn’t read a lot this year. I guess I should read more in 2025. I finished four books, meanwhile, some other books are still on the half way. Anyway, the bellowing is book reviews of my 2024.
Chip War ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Focusing on the foundation of contemporary technologies, the chips, this book explains well about how global chip industries and supply chains were shaped as we see today. Almost all crucial parts in the advanced chip industry are either controlled by the US or controlled by geopolitical allies of the US. Basically, people can say the industry is intended to be shaped as this. From technologies to history, and to geopolitics, this book explains the logics behind the scenes of why some global policies were made at certain levels, and potential risks of wars.
This book is extremely suitable for people interested in technologies and geopolitics.
How China Works ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having experienced the zero-covid policy and various private real estate giants, the whole world witnesses the local governments’ debt crisis and, of course, therefore the unstoppable and ominous economic downturn, after long time economic development of the P.R.C.. Now, nobody would deny this factual situation, except CCP itself. But for many Chinese living in a world where information and news are strictly censored and controlled, it’s probably hard to understand why we’re here today. This book offers the whole logic chains in the political and economic levels. It unbiasedly provides insights of the pros and cons of economic development of nation capitalism. For every Chinese who wants to know deeper about their own status quo, the economic, political and historical background must be figured out first.
Written by Xiaohuan Lan, a professor of economics at the School of Economics, Fudan University, though, this book didn’t use any obscure lingos invented by the CCP, instead, this book uses plain language and even explains lingos very well.
Overall, it’s a highly recommended book, the best non-fiction books of my 2024. However, depending on the topics of interest, both books, “Chip War” and “How China Works,” are considered to be the best of the year.
Wild Ride ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comparing to the former book, how China works, this book provides more detailed personal experience of doing business from the opening ups to the very recent . It also mentions some really important policies that shaped today’s P.R.C.’s economy. It is important to include policies, especially for doing business in the P.R.C., simply because the market of the P.R.C. is highly policy-oriented. The path to wealth becomes much smoother when you’re on the “right” way.
I rate this book much lower than the others, because I’ve read a book called Red Roulette by Desmond Shum before. He was also a businessman in the P.R.C.. What is different is that he can speak fluent mandarin, which is essential in affairs between the CCP in the P.R.C. politics. Though, this book, Wild Ride, is still worthy to read.
Animal Farm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Written by the author who wrote the famous book called 1984, this book is much more overwhelming, personally speaking, especially after I know the exact year when it was published. Published in 1945 before the P.R.C. was established, whereas, it was written like a prophecy. If you know some history about the P.R.C., you can relate loads of plots with real history and real persons. Though I didn’t read a lot this year, Animal Farm is still the best fiction books of my 2024. And it is so gripping that I was still reading it in the middle of the night when I was in my bed. I just couldn’t resist to know what would happen in next.
Come on, read this prophecy!
