Listen free for 30 days
-
When China Rules the World
- The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order
- Narrated by: Scott Peterson
- Length: 16 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: History, Asia
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £32.89
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Has China Won?
- The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy
- By: Kishore Mahbubani
- Narrated by: Aaron Abano
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
China and America are world powers without serious rivals. They eye each other warily across the Pacific; they communicate poorly; there seems little natural empathy. A massive geopolitical contest has begun. America prizes freedom; China values freedom from chaos. America values strategic decisiveness; China values patience.America is becoming society of lasting inequality; China a meritocracy. America has abandoned multilateralism; China welcomes it.
-
-
An East Asian perspective on this contest
- By Chris on 21-04-20
-
Stealth War
- How China Took Over While America's Elite Slept
- By: Robert Spalding
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The media often suggest that Russia poses the greatest threat to America's national security, but the real danger lies farther east. While those in power have been distracted and disorderly, China has waged a six-front war on America's economy, military, diplomacy, technology, education, and infrastructure - and they're winning. It's almost too late to undo the shocking, though nearly invisible, victories of the Chinese. In Stealth War, retired Air Force Brigadier General Robert Spalding reveals China's motives and secret attacks on the West.
-
-
Extremely biased, sounds like Trump's puppy
- By Luic on 04-09-20
-
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
- By: Ezra F. Vogel
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 33 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Once described by Mao Zedong as a "needle inside a ball of cotton", Deng was the pragmatic yet disciplined driving force behind China's radical transformation in the late 20th century. He confronted the damage wrought by the Cultural Revolution, dissolved Mao's cult of personality, and loosened the policies that had stunted China's growth. Obsessed with modernization, Deng opened trade relations with the West, which lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. Yet he also answered to his authoritarian roots, most notably when he ordered the crackdown in 1989 at Tiananmen Square.
-
-
Read the book instead
- By Furry Cheese on 22-06-21
-
AI Superpowers
- China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
- By: Kai-Fu Lee
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In AI Superpowers, Kai-fu Lee argues powerfully that because of these unprecedented developments in AI, dramatic changes will be happening much sooner than many of us expected. Indeed, as the US-Sino AI competition begins to heat up, Lee urges the US and China to both accept and to embrace the great responsibilities that come with significant technological power.
-
-
I learned something new every 10 minutes!
- By J.F.Penn on 07-12-18
-
China in Ten Words
- By: Yu Hua, Allan H. Barr - translator
- Narrated by: Don Hagen
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From one of China’s most acclaimed writers, his first work of nonfiction to appear in English: a unique, intimate look at the Chinese experience over the last several decades, told through personal stories and astute analysis that sharply illuminate the country’s meteoric economic and social transformation. Characterized by Yu Hua’s trademark wit, insight, and courage, China in Ten Words is a refreshingly candid vision of the “Chinese miracle” and all its consequences, from the singularly invaluable perspective of a writer living in China today.
-
-
great story
- By Anonymous User on 29-02-20
-
Red Roulette
- An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption and Vengeance in Today's China
- By: Desmond Shum
- Narrated by: Tim Chiou
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the headline-making and best-selling tradition of Bill Browder’s Red Notice comes a unique and incendiary memoir from an entrepreneur who rose to the zenith of power and money in 21st-century China and whose wife was disappeared - and then mysteriously reappeared four years later on the eve of Red Roulette’s publication and global media coverage about it.
-
-
love it!!!
- By Anonymous User on 17-09-21
-
Has China Won?
- The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy
- By: Kishore Mahbubani
- Narrated by: Aaron Abano
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
China and America are world powers without serious rivals. They eye each other warily across the Pacific; they communicate poorly; there seems little natural empathy. A massive geopolitical contest has begun. America prizes freedom; China values freedom from chaos. America values strategic decisiveness; China values patience.America is becoming society of lasting inequality; China a meritocracy. America has abandoned multilateralism; China welcomes it.
-
-
An East Asian perspective on this contest
- By Chris on 21-04-20
-
Stealth War
- How China Took Over While America's Elite Slept
- By: Robert Spalding
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The media often suggest that Russia poses the greatest threat to America's national security, but the real danger lies farther east. While those in power have been distracted and disorderly, China has waged a six-front war on America's economy, military, diplomacy, technology, education, and infrastructure - and they're winning. It's almost too late to undo the shocking, though nearly invisible, victories of the Chinese. In Stealth War, retired Air Force Brigadier General Robert Spalding reveals China's motives and secret attacks on the West.
-
-
Extremely biased, sounds like Trump's puppy
- By Luic on 04-09-20
-
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
- By: Ezra F. Vogel
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 33 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Once described by Mao Zedong as a "needle inside a ball of cotton", Deng was the pragmatic yet disciplined driving force behind China's radical transformation in the late 20th century. He confronted the damage wrought by the Cultural Revolution, dissolved Mao's cult of personality, and loosened the policies that had stunted China's growth. Obsessed with modernization, Deng opened trade relations with the West, which lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. Yet he also answered to his authoritarian roots, most notably when he ordered the crackdown in 1989 at Tiananmen Square.
-
-
Read the book instead
- By Furry Cheese on 22-06-21
-
AI Superpowers
- China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
- By: Kai-Fu Lee
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In AI Superpowers, Kai-fu Lee argues powerfully that because of these unprecedented developments in AI, dramatic changes will be happening much sooner than many of us expected. Indeed, as the US-Sino AI competition begins to heat up, Lee urges the US and China to both accept and to embrace the great responsibilities that come with significant technological power.
-
-
I learned something new every 10 minutes!
- By J.F.Penn on 07-12-18
-
China in Ten Words
- By: Yu Hua, Allan H. Barr - translator
- Narrated by: Don Hagen
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From one of China’s most acclaimed writers, his first work of nonfiction to appear in English: a unique, intimate look at the Chinese experience over the last several decades, told through personal stories and astute analysis that sharply illuminate the country’s meteoric economic and social transformation. Characterized by Yu Hua’s trademark wit, insight, and courage, China in Ten Words is a refreshingly candid vision of the “Chinese miracle” and all its consequences, from the singularly invaluable perspective of a writer living in China today.
-
-
great story
- By Anonymous User on 29-02-20
-
Red Roulette
- An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption and Vengeance in Today's China
- By: Desmond Shum
- Narrated by: Tim Chiou
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the headline-making and best-selling tradition of Bill Browder’s Red Notice comes a unique and incendiary memoir from an entrepreneur who rose to the zenith of power and money in 21st-century China and whose wife was disappeared - and then mysteriously reappeared four years later on the eve of Red Roulette’s publication and global media coverage about it.
-
-
love it!!!
- By Anonymous User on 17-09-21
-
The Fall and Rise of China
- By: Richard Baum, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard Baum
- Length: 24 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For most of its 5,000-year existence, China has been the largest, most populous, wealthiest, and mightiest nation on Earth. And for us as Westerners, it is essential to understand where China has been in order to anticipate its future. These 36 eye-opening lectures deliver a comprehensive political and historical overview of one of the most fascinating and complex countries in world history.
-
-
Brilliant lectures from brilliant lecturer
- By Kolif on 23-08-17
-
The War on the West
- How to Prevail in the Age of Unreason
- By: Douglas Murray
- Narrated by: Douglas Murray
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The War on the West, international best-selling author Douglas Murray asks: if the history of humankind is a history of slavery, conquest, prejudice, genocide and exploitation, why are only Western nations taking the blame for it? It’s become, he explains, perfectly acceptable to celebrate the contributions of non-Western cultures, but discussing their flaws and crimes is called hate speech. What’s more it has become acceptable to discuss the flaws and crimes of Western culture, but celebrating their contributions is also called hate speech.
-
-
In the land of the blind …
- By theantlion on 01-05-22
-
The Emperor's New Road
- China and the Project of the Century
- By: Jonathan E. Hillman
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
China's Belt and Road Initiative is the world's most ambitious and misunderstood geoeconomic vision. To carry out President Xi's flagship foreign-policy effort, China promises to spend more than one trillion dollars for new ports, railways, fiber-optic cables, power plants, and other connections. It touches more than 130 countries and has expanded into the Arctic, cyberspace, and even outer space. Beijing promises that it is promoting global development, but Washington warns that it is charting a path to global dominance.
-
China and Japan
- Facing History
- By: Ezra F. Vogel
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 22 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back 1,500 years. But today, their relationship is strained. China's military buildup deeply worries Japan, while Japan's brutal occupation of China in World War II remains an open wound. In recent years, less than 10 percent of each population had positive feelings toward the other, and both countries insist that the other side must deal openly with its history before relations can improve. Ezra Vogel's China and Japan examines key turning points in Sino-Japanese history.
-
-
Excellent book
- By M. Ismail on 16-12-20
-
World Order
- Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History
- By: Henry Kissinger
- Narrated by: Nicholas Hormann
- Length: 14 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of World Order by Henry Kissinger, read by Nicholas Hormann. World Order is the summation of Henry Kissinger's thinking about history, strategy and statecraft. As if taking a perspective from far above the globe, it examines the great tectonic plates of history and the motivations of nations, explaining the attitudes that states and empires have taken to the rest of the world from the formation of Europe to our own times.
-
-
cringy
- By julien on 18-01-18
-
How China Loses
- The Pushback Against Chinese Global Ambitions
- By: Luke Patey
- Narrated by: Tim Fannon
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How China Loses tells the story of China's struggles to overcome new risks and endure the global backlash against its assertive reach. Combining on-the-ground reportage with incisive analysis, Luke Patey argues that China's predatory economic agenda, headstrong diplomacy, and military expansion undermine its global ambitions to dominate the global economy and world affairs.
-
Sapiens
- By: Yuval Noah Harari
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it. Us. We are the most advanced and most destructive animals ever to have lived. What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us sapiens? In this bold and provocative audiobook, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here, and where we're going.
-
-
Simplistic nonsense
- By RTx on 14-07-19
-
Putin’s People
- How the KGB Took Back Russia and then Took on the West
- By: Catherine Belton
- Narrated by: Dugald Bruce-Lockhart
- Length: 18 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Putin's People, former Moscow correspondent and investigative journalist Catherine Belton tells the untold story of the rise of Vladimir Putin and the small group of KGB men surrounding him. Delving deep into the workings of Putin's Kremlin, Belton accesses key inside players to reveal how Putin replaced the free-wheeling tycoons of the Yeltsin era with a new generation of loyal oligarchs who in turn subverted their country's economy and legal system and expanded its influence in the West.
-
-
Chilling expose of Putin’s People and there control and abuse of Russia
- By Mr M J Wheatland on 16-06-20
-
The End of the World Is Just the Beginning
- Mapping the Collapse of Globalization
- By: Peter Zeihan
- Narrated by: Peter Zeihan
- Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For generations, everything has been getting faster, better, and cheaper. Finally, we reached the point that almost anything you could ever want could be sent to your home within days—even hours—of when you decided you wanted it. America made that happen, but now America has lost interest in keeping it going. Peter Zeihan maps out the next world: a world where countries or regions will have no choice but to make their own goods, grow their own food, secure their own energy, fight their own battles, and do it all with populations that are both shrinking and aging.
-
-
Eye opening insight to the future
- By kingprawn1983 on 18-06-22
-
History of China
- A Captivating Guide to Chinese History, Including Events Such as the First Emperor of China, the Mongol Conquests of Genghis Khan, the Opium Wars, and the Cultural Revolution
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Edwin Andrews
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The history of China is complex - perhaps, more complex than that of other nations. The ethnic groups that compose China go back to prehistoric times, and each group lent its own color to the enormous nation. It is not like a diluted mixture of all its cultures; rather, it is a collage. Yet, there are immutable elements still present today. Rice originated in China, and so did stir-frying.
-
-
Very informative
- By Mrs B. on 01-12-20
-
Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know
- By: Serhy Yekelchyk
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ukraine's sudden prominence in American politics has compounded an already-widespread misunderstanding of what is actually happening in the nation. In the American media, Ukraine has come to signify an inherently corrupt place, rather than a real country struggling in the face of great challenges. Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know addresses Ukraine's relations with the West, particularly the United States, from the perspective of Ukrainians.
-
-
A biased account.
- By William John HAWKINS on 03-04-22
-
Why Nations Fail
- The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
- By: Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine?
-
-
Repetitive, but interesting.
- By M on 25-09-14
Summary
According to even the most conservative estimates, China will overtake the United States as the world's largest economy by 2027 and will ascend to the position of world economic leader by 2050. But the full repercussions of China's ascendancy - for itself and the rest of the globe - have been surprisingly little explained or understood.
In this far-reaching and original investigation, Martin Jacques offers provocative answers to some of the most pressing questions about China's growing place on the world stage. Martin Jacques reveals, by elaborating on three historical truths, how China will seek to shape the world in its own image. The Chinese have a rich and long history as a civilization-state. Under the tributary system, outlying states paid tribute to the Middle Kingdom. Ninety-four percent of the population still believes they are one race - "Han Chinese." The strong sense of superiority rooted in China's history promises to resurface in 21st century China and in the process strengthen and further unify the country.
A culturally self-confident Asian giant with a billion-plus population, China will likely resist globalization as we know it. This exceptionalism will have powerful ramifications for the rest of the world and the United States in particular. As China is already emerging as the new center of the East Asian economy, the mantle of economic and, therefore, cultural relevance will in our lifetimes begin to pass from Manhattan and Paris to cities like Beijing and Shanghai. It is the American relationship with and attitude toward China, Jacques argues, that will determine whether the 21st century will be relatively peaceful or fraught with tension, instability, and danger.
When China Rules the World is the first book to fully conceive of and explain the upheaval that China's ascendance will cause and the realigned global power structure it will create.Critic reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about When China Rules the World
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
- Russell
- 08-09-10
Very disappointing
Thank goodness for audio books as I would not have read past the first chapter of this book. I was expecting the author to look at current events and the power shift in the world today but instead I got a turgid one sided history lesson which looked like it had been written by the Chinese elite. It seemed to suggest that because China once great in the past its destined to be great again. Its packed with figures and dates and a lot of other useless information that only academics could need. The author loads so much praise upon the Chinese that im amazed he is not a citizen, the only negative point the author could find to mention about the Chinese was that they are slighty racist. I doubt you will gain any real joy from reading this book and it certainly will not tell you anything about Chinas future, it will though inform you some of its past.
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Loukas Christodoulou
- 06-05-17
Good book, terrible narrator.
A book-length essay, arguing a very strong thesis. Undermined unfortunately by the robotic and bored narrator.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Steve sudjatmiko
- 28-04-22
a must listen
truly love this book. comprehensive. maybe a tad biased against the European n Americans but definitely a wake up call.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- westside
- 23-11-21
An perspective which is always good.
Must Prescient some hit and miss too..but overall very educative and a trove of information.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cazza
- 25-04-21
Sadly a little out of date but still riveting
This is gripping and, for a westerner, highly alarming. It explains just how and why China is leapfrogging so any other civilisations and economies in its success.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Don
- 06-09-20
Great book to learn about China
The mainstream media information about China are superficial at best. This book helps to understand many aspects of China that goes much further than the shallow narratives we hear in the media.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sally
- 26-08-20
Read the book instead
The narrator mispronounced words throughout the book which was confusing at times. it's really not much to ask for a book entirely about China.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jim
- 28-04-17
Narrator cannot pronounce Chinese
The book can get a bit repetitive and is spoiled by terrible pronounciation of Chinese (and some English) words.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chelin
- 06-05-16
Excellent book, shame narrator mispronounced
An excellent book. Unfortunately the narrator mispronounced most words in Chinese, a big disappointment for an audiobook about China, and something that could easily be remedied. He said 'king' dynasty, for "Qing" dynasty throughout the audiobook! Unforgivable.
-
Overall

- David Blake
- 04-01-10
Lucid explanation of global economic trends
Jacques' book's lucid prose and textbook explanations of global economic trends is a welcome addition to the growing literature on the rise of East Asia. Jacques focuses on China as he analyzes the rise of East Asia and the competing modernities of the 21st century.
Scott Peterson's narration is sped up and edited, which compresses the content for a faster listen. I enjoyed this. What I did not enjoy, however, is that Peterson made ZERO EFFORT to PRONOUNCE CHINESE, making most words unrecognizable. It would have taken Peterson maybe an extra hour of work to learn the fundamentals of pronunciation as Simon Vance did for his narration of Lost on Planet China. Peteron's lazy, ambiguous pronunciation will be extremely frustrating for anyone with even a cursory knowledge of China.
5 stars for solid content. 2 stars for sub-par narration and lazy pronunciation.
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Chris Reich
- 27-04-11
Excellent, Even Handed
I doubt I could be as even handed as this book. It really made me stop to consider the inevitability of China's rise to the top and how our acceptance of this or not will well determine our fate as Americans. Falling to second is never pleasant but it will happen and sooner than we think.
Will it be a soft landing or hard fall? Depends on whether can accept what is going to happen with grace.
Painful but very, very well expressed. I highly recommend this book.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- 01011000
- 02-03-10
Its gets better
This book is way too long and would have benefited greatly from the eye of an editor. First, they could have removed all references to the word "inconceivable" which would have reduced the length of the book by a good 10%. Removing duplicate sentences could have reduced it by a further 35%. Elimiating the inane anecdotes would have cut a further 15%. It would still have been a bit a long winded.
However for those willing to sit through the 16.5 hours, it is quite illuminating and in the 2nd half, things do start to come together in a compelling way.
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- DEXTER C. PHILLIP
- 17-04-17
Find another narrator, please!
The narrators, voice, accent, rhythm, and miss pronunciations of words was quite irritating. I often wanted to turn them off or switch to another narrator. The book was well written and had a lot of great information theories history etc. I enjoyed the
book but not the narration.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- jertry faustinos
- 17-01-22
Thorough and thought provoking
It was intriguing to learn about the political, economic and cultural processes involved in the development of China and of the changing status in the world compared to that of the USA. It amazes me the extent to which China has become the largest producer of goods consumed in our country and the extent to which they depend on us to buy their products. Their investment in our nation in money, students, real estate, tourism et al in my opinion will help promote a strong mutually beneficial relationship that can overcome political differences and efforts by some American zealots who see China mainly as a threat to our security. With the Russians we maintained peace with the threat of mutual destruction until the collapse of the USSR. With China, I think our economic inter-dependency provides a more durable cement for peaceful coexistence. We both have more to lose than to gain in pursuing military solutions to resolve our many differences. Our Nation is still young and although sputtering politically, is not going anywhere and I am confident, will regain her footing. This is important because the nation civilization of China and the rest of the world will need to work in better harmony to overcome the severe challenges resulting from everyone’s industrialization.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Godfree Roberts
- 19-11-16
Comprehensive and Gracefully Written
Martin Jacques manages to make a scholarly work not just readable but thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended as an introduction to modern China.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Fkrauss
- 25-09-12
Great Audiobook
Great audiobook! It tells in every aspect one can imagine how the global geopolitc power is shifting from the west to the east, specially to China and how that affects the western way of life.
It is a required book to understand the current situation of the planet and many major discussions like climate, technology, entrepreneurship and specially, Democracy
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall

- Les
- 19-01-10
Disappointing
This is an interesting topic, but the story is not told in an interesting or lively way. The author uses a lot of dubious statistics such as the GDP of China and India in the 18th and 19th century. These are both hard to take seriously and dull. Also, the cultural analysis about China, the US and Japan sound cliched and uninteresting.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Isiah Rodriguez
- 01-05-22
Learn a lot about China history
Thought he did a very job of explaining the history of China and the reasons why they could and wouldn’t become the the ruler of the world .
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Page-Turner
- 19-03-22
Good book marred by poor audio performance
In print form, When China Rules the World is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the civilizational fundamentals of China. Martin Jacques surveys centuries of world history and broadly analyzes China's economic take-off to offer a primer for the educated layperson, and he does this in a way that respects China on its own terms. The audiobook version, not at all. Inexpicably, the producers of this version failed to ensure that the narrator, Scott Peterson, could pronounce Chinese names in even a ballpark way. I don't mind if a Euro-American can't speak the tones central to the Chinese language, but when "Qing" is pronounced "King" this shows a serious lack of effort. The result is not useful, and represents a missed opportunity to extend Mr. Jacques admirable work in audiobook form. Listen to this excellent book, but check other sources for how to pronounce the names of Chinese cities, historical figures, concepts, etc. When China rules the world, maybe this excellent book will find a competent narrator.