Beijing for Beginners: An Irishman in the People's Republic | 
 enlarge | Author: Gary Finnegan
Publisher: Liffey Pr
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $21.15
You Save: $6.80 (24%)
New (6) Used (3) from $21.15
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 1179588
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 243
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 1905785445
Dewey Decimal Number: 915
EAN: 9781905785445
ASIN: 1905785445
Publication Date: October 31, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Finnegan finds himself in the world's fastest changing city. His attempts to adjust to an altogether alien culture make for an often hilarious travelogue, peppered with fascinating insights into Chinese history and its transforming society. From Chairman Mao to the recent surge in IVF and plastic surgery clinics, Finnegan attempts to understand modern China and learns a little about himself along the way. However, he begins with more questions than answers: Can he survive without Western comforts? Is the new consumerist China still communist? And why are people calling him Big Nose? As the attention of the world focuses on China, Beijing for Beginners"" is ideal for anyone curious about the most populous nation on earth, and the weird and wonderful things on offer for a foreigner grappling with serious culture shock.
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| Customer Reviews:
Real Beijing November 1, 2008
A great book for anyone who's ever been to China, thought about going there, or just wanted to know what it would be like to live abroad. Finnegan describes his day-to-day discoveries and trials as a journalist-turned-ESL-teacher, living in the capital of China just as the 2008 Olympics are about to take place.
While Beijing for Beginners is a laugh-out-loud read as Finnegan and girlfriend attempt to learn Mandarin and communicate with locals, dodge puddles of spit, and navigate chaotic Beijing city streets, Finnegan also delves into the deeper issues facing China. He researches as best he can through heavily censored Chinese media, and talks with Beijingers to understand their views on family, marriage, Communism, pollution, and how they see themselves in comparison to the rest of the world.
Reading about Finnegan's adventures, I felt like I was experiencing Beijing too. The best aspects of Finnegan's writing are his unpretentious nature and his self-deprecation. As suspicious as he is of Beijingers' motives whenever he is offered hospitality or a random act of kindness, Finnegan generally comes to the conclusion that he, and perhaps the western world as a whole, have a lot to learn from the Chinese about generosity and trust.
I highly recommend this fabulous read!
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