Mr China by Tim Clissold

Mr. China is a memoir by Tim Clissold, an American businessman who invested the first wave of Wall Street money into China in the 1990s, just as China began to open up to the western world.

The book tells the story of Clissold’s misguided attempt to bring the Chinese into the modern world and his subsequent education by the most resourceful and creative operators he would ever meet.

The book covers Clissold’s travels across China to find factories and businesses to invest in, and his struggles to recover any of it back. It provides vivid details and stories that paint a picture of the unique “Chineness” of China – an immense, ancient and all-encompassing culture that keeps thousands of years of uninterrupted history, has China as the center of the world, and is only mildly entertained by the rest of the world.

One of the main themes of the book is the challenges of doing business in China, including navigating cultural differences, corruption, and the unpredictable legal system. Clissold describes some of the ways Chinese directors could outmaneuver foreigners on their home turf, drawing analogies with Russia in the 90s.

What I Liked

I loved everything about this book. It’s part business book, part travel book, and part Asia memoir – all in my interest wheelhouse. Loved it.

What I Did Not Like

Nothing – amazing book.