Good, but not as funny.
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When Joe Bennett bought a five pack of underpants in NZ for NZ$8.59, he wondered who could possibly be making any money from them, so he decided to trace the manufacturing process back to source. This book recounts his travels through China and Thailand trying to find out. It is an interesting journey through China, which might dispel a few western views about the Chinese, and shows their people to be friendly and on the whole helpful, just like any other races. As I say, it is interesting, and it is an easy read, but it lacks the really good humour that you find in his books of newspaper articles. That is the only reason I have only given it four stars, as I was expecting more humour. A good book from Joe, but not one of my favourites of his.
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Humorous, but not fun
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After reading A Land of Two Halves I was expecting more, but that is not to say that this book is in any way not worth reading. Bennett throws jokes all through the book, but few chapters are really fun to read. The book is maybe a bit long and broken up. There are hints of serious topics, but they are left hanging. I guess I am missing more social interaction by the author. Having a better chinese translator with him on his journey could have helped. Without other than retold experiences, some chapters just lack real content.
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page turning underpant fun...
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If you enjoy reading quirky travel books this, you may like this. I picked this up to read on hols, largely for the quirky title and because I enjoy reading travel books. Joe Bennett has a lovely personable, funny and human style and I found it hard to put down. I recently had a trip to Hong Kong, and his experiences in Shanghai were so reminiscent of my experience in Hong Kong that I REALLY want to go. Joe's descriptions of the many accommodating, kind and hard working people are never rude or deprecating, and his visits to factories make you think. I felt that it did start to fizzle out a bit towards the end, but on the whole was not taxing or irritating,or even worse, pompous - which if like me you only read on holiday you don't want to waste your life on.
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He Got China Right!
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I picked this book up in the Relay Bookstore in Hong Kong Airport on my way out of China on a business trip. I have been living in China for three and half years and have read several books on life in China and was drawn to it by the clever cover. The idea was very original and I thought I would give it a try, having never heard of the author.
Joe Bennett has hit the nail directly on the head about what makes the Chinese tick, and he harboured many pre conceived ideas about the Chinese before his trip, and found to his astonishment that he was wrong on so many fronts. The Chinese are a great race of people, much more open and fun than you would ever imagine and Joe talks you through his discovery with skill and incredible wit. I found myself reading out loud long pasaages to my wife, who is pleased that she can now read it for herself as I polished it off in three days flat.
If you like Bill Bryson, you should love this, because in my mind, Joe has much more talent and so much funnier. I have now ordered many extra copies to give to friends who have visited me and those that are thinking about it. As well as ordering some of Joes other titles.
Well done Joe, you have described perfectly what life is like living in the wonderful middle Kingdom. Its a book I have enjoyed so much, I could start right at the beginning and read all over again.
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