A Huge Stack to Finish

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I brought about 8 books with me to Shanghai. Someone gave me one more, I borrowed two more, and I bought one. That's a lot of books for me to read. I am embarassed to admit I've probably read less than 10 books in the past 5 years. Anyway, I've insisted on reading them all before returning home. I refuse to have them take up space in my suitcases. Books I'm reading/have read during my trip:

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown - I started this book probably years ago, and have not been able to finish it for some reason. I can't get into it, but I insist on finishing it.
One Billion Customers by James McGregor - This book is about doing business in China. Discusses past JVs and deals made by foreign companies. Very interesting perspective and helps quantify the China market.
Collapse by Jared Diamond - A fascinating book I started months ago about why societies choose to fail or succeed. I was motivated to read this book after watching An Inconvenient Truth. The book is a heavy read. I hope to finish this book after my Xijiang trip.
Girl Meets God by Laura Winner - A memoir of an Orthodox Jew convert who then converts to Christianit y. Interesting read, great tone in her writing.
Summons by John Grisham - A hand me down book from my sister that I brought here. I always love his books.
A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks - This is a romance novel with a little mystery. Sparks is the ultimate cheese - which I love. Makes you want to fall in love.
Case for Chri st by Lee Strobel - I bought this book awhile back. About a previously atheist man who tries to disprove God but eventually becomes a believer.
Leaving Mother Lake A story about a Naxi woman who leaves her matriarchal society in Yunnan, China. I got this book as a gift. I will be visiting the province and hopefully meeting Naxi people next month.
Alchemist by Paul Coehlo - A story about pursuing your personal legend, trusting yourself, finding adventure, etc. A great story and reminds me of my own desire to satisfy my curiosity to come to China. At the end of the story he goes home because he realizes that what he was looking for was right in front of him at home the entire time. I've read this book before but I want to reread it. There's some wise advice in the book.
The Dynasties of China 5,000 years of Chinese history condensed into 300 pages. Umm... yeah. It's still pretty hard to take. My classmate lent me this one.
Kellogg on China Strategies for Success. A bit of a nerdy textbook published by the Kellogg School of Mgmt. What's interesting about this book is that it gets the Chinese perspective on foreign companies. It talks about the Chinese concept of "guanxi".

It's National Week next week - nearly everyone in China has the week off! It's going to be so crowded. The Special Olympics are in Shanghai next week. I'd love to see the festivities around it, but I'll be away visiting parts of the old Silk Road (Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar).

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Comments

[Greg]

Interesting list
Very interesting list. Collapse is an interesting read. Good sequel to the popular Pulitzer & Aventis Prize winning "Guns, Germs & Steel". I'm looking foreward to reading several of your books, especially One Billion Customers and Kellogg On China