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Mr China: A Memoir (平装)
by Tim Clissold
| Category:
China Business |
| Market price: ¥ 168.00
MSL price:
¥ 148.00
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Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
Tim Clissolds tells a fascinating story that many old China-hands and senior managers of multinational companies will be able to relate to: his own, and the story of Asian Strategic Investment Corp., set out to invest ahead of the curve by acquiring and merging Chinese companies n the early 1990s . |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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Andy Orrock (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-06 00:00>
Tim Clissold became smiiten with the potential of China and - unlike many of us - acted upon those feelings by plunging into a two-year dedicated study of Mandarin. Through luck and hard effort, he then got himself paired up with a larger-than-life Wall Street investment banker looking to make his mark as Mr. China.
After rigorously looking at hundreds and hundreds of potential investments, the two of them raise over $400 million and begin to put the cash to work in a series of JVs. In what should be a cautionary tale to anyone looking to invest or do business in China, Clissold describes - in rather remarkable detail - the unique "challenges" they encounter in making a return on their investment. Clissold wisely focuses on three episodes - each involving plant managers or owners - where the Western and Chinese views of banking and contract law begin to diverge... then unravel. Can Tim and team keep it together? It'll require superhuman effort. I was exhausted simply reading some of these chapters. I can only imagine the stress and strain of actually living it. Indeed, at one point Clissold's body seems to simply give out. This, however, is not a man easily defeated.
Despite the travails Clissold faces in the book, the book is all about the potential of China. He brings life to the sheer numbers and masses of people - his description of Chongqing for example (how many people know that this is China's largest city?)..."The density of people was staggering: millions and millions swirling in the roadways, all in faded blue overalls and with piles of baggage, blocking the gates at the station, crammed into buses, milling about on the pavements."
Wonderful writing, made all the better by the pithy little proverbs that Clissold has chosen to begin each chapter. I stared at each of these for a minute or more, admiring their brevity, significance and - upon finishing the chapter - realizing how apt Clissold's choices were. Well done, Tim.
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Arleen (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-06 00:00>
As a person who was born in Taiwan and came of age in the States, I marvel at Tim's in-depth understanding of Chinese culture. All those proverbs he quoted at the beginning of each chapter are old sayings that are known for almost all Chinese and capture much essence of Chinese view of life and world through ages. His sincerity and truthful portrait of the Chinese that he encountered makes this book truly educational for anyone who wants to do business in China, like many reviews have already mentioned. What makes this book so special is Tim's compassion toward fellow human beings, in the instance of this book, toward people who live in the land that European happened to call "China." Scratching the surface difference of customs or language, people everywhere are pretty similar - they all long for a better live, try to do the best of what they are given and want to be treated respectfully. Being a member of this exclusive five-thousand year old club, I admire and appreciate Tim's efforts to put a humane face of Chinese people and try to build deeper understanding between two great nations.
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Steve Koss (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-06 00:00>
The title of this book, MR. CHINA, refers to the notion in the early 1990's that many Westerner businessmen wanted to be the first to get inside China's nascent boom, to become a "master of the universe" with respect to the People's Republic. While the winner is ostensibly the author's mysterious business partner, known only as Pat, the author lays his own claim to that award. By the end of this book, however, it's quite clear that no Westerner could ever be "Mr. China," and that those who chased earliest and hardest missed out almost completely on the real blossoming of mainland China's relationship with Western business. The author's near miss bicycling through a dark tunnel, intended as a metaphor about the emerging China, seems far more apt as a metaphor for his own decade of hopeless running in place.
In MR. CHINA, Tim Clissold tells a remarkable story of some of the first Western business forays into China during the 1990's. The model seemed simple enough - bring Wall Street to the People's Republic by raising huge sums of capital in an investment fund, trade that capital for majority shares in going businesses that seemed promising, infuse them with new technology and management practices, then buy up weaker competitors and consolidate them into massive, unbeatable players in the domestic and export markets. Of course, it was all far easier on paper than it was in reality, and that is the crux of Mr. Clissold's story.
By any measure, Clissold's tale is a businessperson's nightmare, a sort of Wall Street meets the Wild, Wild East. Politics infects every transaction, rules and contracts are broken as fast as they are made and signed, paperwork is a mess, accounting principles are nonexistent, money disappears or moves from one bank account to another to hide it, local managers lie, embezzle, or compete against their own employer, and everyone works hardest when they are busy lining their own pockets. Attempts to fire managers spark massive lawsuits, beatings, and even riots. Clissold spends nearly all his time putting out fires, holding off his investment fund managers, arguing with Chinese managers he has fired, and pleading his case to judges, government officials, and Party representatives. The harder he works, the more the fund's companies fail until his own health suffers.
Tim Clissold tells his story in a surprisingly matter-of-fact tone; he deserves to be far angrier and more cynical. He writes in an entertaining and engaging style, mixing a sort of detached amusement about events with some interesting cultural background. His Chinese managers and officials come across a bit too stereotyped and some of his background is clichd, but those shortcomings are far outweighed by his outrageous exploits. The only false note occurs in the final two paragraphs of the book when the author attempts - badly and unnecessarily - to soften his message and rationalize the dishonest and outlandish behaviors he has spent the previous 248 pages describing.
While Western companies have almost universally eschewed the joint venture approach in China, MR. CHINA nevertheless offers valuable insights about doing business on the mainland. From my own three or four years' observation living in China, I can say that much of Clissold's cautionary advice applies today. Agreements and contracts are still more symbolic than enforceable, adhered to only if and when it suits Chinese interests. I recommend this book highly for both its entertainment value as well as its lessons learned.
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Hooper (MSL quote), Japan
<2007-03-06 00:00>
Mr. China puts us in the shoes of a western businessman delving into the opening China market of the late 80's and early 90's. When Deng opened up China for business, the author, Tim Clissold, was one of the first into China with western funds to invest. However, the dream of endless profits turned into a nightmare. In this book, you'll face conflict after failure as China is dragged into capitalism. The experiences in this book may serve as a warning for those who are doing business in China. In the end though, it seems that many of these problems could have been avoided by a little more research and cultural sensitivity. Also, in being first in China, Clissold came face to face with a clash of systems. Westerners assumed that they could do business as usual without concern for the loose business practices of a formerly communist China. They run into thousands of unexpected problems. Clissold tries to put a positive spin on it in the end, but after reading the book, you'll wonder where he gets his optimism from. Overall, it's a quick and interesting read on the opening of China. If you're doing or thinking of doing business in China, check it out.
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Mike Todaro (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-06 00:00>
Several days ago, I learned of the book Mr. China by Tim Clissold. I started reading it last night and finished it early this morning - only 252 pages. It is an absolutely mesmerizing chronicle of the investing in China in the 90's, and of the challenge to traveling out into the hinterlands of that enormous nation.
To a great extent it explains to me the situation I was actually in during my trip to Humen China last November - the balance between the Party and the private sector there, the role of the press, the work ethic and entrepreneurial drive of the Chinese, the intrigue of their nefarious rules/regulations and the balance between Beijing and the provinces. It reinforces the wisdom of our non-profit trade group having over 30 members with offices in China, a resouce we can draw from in our network. But this book is what individuals must read and come to grips with prior to travel to China.
I almost can not imagine what our members went through in opening factories there. After you read this book, neither will you. And the same holds true for our many members there or soon to be in one form or another.
Simply amazing and an important, informative, moving and almost visceral read for those of us in this global game.
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Ying Chang (MSL quote), Australia
<2007-03-06 00:00>
Finally I finished the book Mr. China by Tim Clissold. I enjoyed the book thoroughly from the beginning to the end.
Out of everything, I have completely enjoyed the author's style of writing - vivid, lively, humorous, and sharp. I couldn't help reading aloud sometimes just to appreciate the powerful words he used and to imagine the pictures in his stories. I have felt like I have being listening to the author telling his stories directly to me, laughing heartily when coming to the funny parts, feeling stressed when being involved in a complicated row or seemingly everlasting stalemate, getting angry when facing deliberate fraud or betrayal, and raising admiration when meeting people with great guts and incredible persistence.
Equally I was totally moved by the unbelievable effort the author has made to dig bone deep to understand Chinese people no matter who they were: business partners, government officials, employees, peasants living in the remote areas of China. I was actually nearly to tears coming to the very end of the book when the author said "If by writing this book I can make the Chinese people seem more human, less mysterious or threatening, just flawed and beautiful like us, then the troubles of the past ten years will all have been worthwhile."
As a native Chinese, I can't appreciate more about the author's genuine intention to explain and illustrate about Chinese people and China to the rest of the world based on his own personal experience. Obviously as a white person from England and as a respresentative for the Wall Street working and traveling throughout China for more than ten years, he can't be more a justifiable person to tell the rest of the world about China and Chinese people. However, he did not abuse this authority by lightly making some unfair or biased judgement, instead, he has been passionately learning about Chinese history and has been persistently discovering the reasons behind Chinese people's "mysterious" behaviour. Disregard of his personal struggling , sometimes even dismal while carrying on his business duty and ambition in China, he was always based on matter of facts to make any comments on Chinese people and always reserved great respect to the nation and its people no matter how much difference there remained either on the surface or in deep.
As a native Chinese who was born , grew up and educated in China and who is living overseas now, I understand perfectly the author's frustration in China with the "Chinese economic environment" such as the banking system, legal system, definition of contracts, land ownership, lack of morale in the workforce etc and I was also educated about my own country because while reading the book, I was looking at China as an outsider rather than a Chinese who is always "in" without seeing the whole picture! You always see the picture more clearly if you are "out" of the picture. And as a younger generation, I was also educated about the early stage of China's opening up and reform which I wasn't aware of because I was still a bookworm in school back then. Now when I see the modern China, I will have a more complete picture when connecting it to the old days and I am sure I will appreciate more about the changes happening everywhere in China.
All in all, Mr. China is an excellent book both in terms of literature and information. It is a great book demanding slow sipping for both western and Chinese people who are interested in China and Chinese people. The world will be a more peaceful and more beautiful place if there is more understanding !
Thank you Mr. Tim Clissold!
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Thomas Reiter (MSL quote) , USA
<2007-03-06 00:00>
I have worked extensively in Russia, rather than China, but most of the author's experiences and lessons are just as applicable to Russia or any other emerging market.
Other than describing some common pitfalls and challenges, the author does a great job of explaining with insight, humor, and feeling why people are attracted to invest and live in emerging markets.
A good, fun, quick, read that might actually teach you something. Highly recommended!
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John Matlock (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-06 00:00>
I read this book on the long flight from the US to China. It wasn't my first flight, and probably won't be my last. But reading this book put a different twist on my thoughts. Well, not too different. His reporting is right on the money. China is different, better in some ways, worse in others.
I can't imagine even thinking of doing a joint venture in China using Western money with any thought that you would ever make a profit. Buy anything you want from China, be it shoes, machine tools or computers. But a joint venture, no way. The author had an ambition to teach the Chinese about business. Are you kidding?
The Chinese have been businessmen for centuries. Because of the confusing governments (for centuries) they have learned that business is best conducted through an extended family system. You can trust your brother (even if he is not too bright) more than any outsider. And if you have trouble, your mother will arbitrate between the two of you.
Nepotism, no crime, it's the way of life. Accounting systems, sure we have one of those, what would you like it to say? As a people, great people - bright, hard working, well educated (go look at the enrollment at any large university). And it's the way and the light of the future.
Mr. Clissold has told a great tale. I'm waiting for the next installment to see if he ever gets any money out of China.
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A reader (MSL quote), Belgium
<2007-03-06 00:00>
This book, which reads like a thriller, relates the tribulations of a Wall Street banker with his investments in China.
The reader discovers with consternation the unstoppable disappearance of millions of dollars in a country that is (was?) not business- but rather "control by one party" - oriented.
Tim Clissold gives a stunning portrait of China's industrial landscape inherited from Mao's tactical ideas (hide China's major industries in remote places) as well as from the passage from military to civilian industrial production.
He gives also an excellent picture of the different 'management' styles of the Chinese industrialists: from the bullying old Red Guard over the clever opportunist to the cunning visionary.
This book is a must read for all those interested in China's history and economic revolution and even more for those interested in doing business with a key economical world player.
Napoleon has said (citation in this book): "Let China sleep, for when she wakes up, she will shake the world".
China woke up and the stakes are formidable.
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1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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