This month’s book club book is Rising to the Challenge by Avery Goldstein. Good Day Books, is the sponsor of this reading group, if I haven't mentioned it before. I have to say that this selection is a bit too academic for me. The focus is on policy and there’s not much of a compelling narrative. However, having read a couple books on China, it is interesting to analyze what China is trying to do as far a foreign policy is concerned. But this seems more like a book for policy wonks than general readers like myself. Goldstein outlines China’s “Grand Strategy” policy, which would allow China a peaceful transition to becoming a great power. He talks about the many issues that China is facing in regards to America, Japan, Russia, Asia, and the rest of the world, as well as potential internal problems along the boarders within China where most of its minorities reside. Taiwan haunts China as a major bugaboo with their foray into democracy and seeming independence. I didn’t like the design of the book-too many footnotes for those academics and poorly defined typeface. That being said it was also well-researched and comprehensive in its limited scope.
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