"... Taylor offers American readers a primer on understanding Chinese economic growth and its underlying ideological basis. While much of the last half century has been shaped by Chinese/U.S. coexistence... the two nations are divided by their underlying ideologies, asserts the author. While the American free enterprise system prioritizes capitalism and democracy, China's economic philosophy, per Taylor, combines state capitalism with censorship and "digitally managed authoritarianism."

The author should be particularly commended for her emphasis on nuances that challenge broad Western assumptions about Chinese worldviews. ... The author also makes a convincing argument that it is imperative for Western businesses and policymakers to understand the ideologies that drive Chinese leaders as the world enters into a fourth industrial revolution....

This is a well-researched, insightful commentary on Chinese economic history and philosophy, informed by Taylor's business savvy and supported by more than 500 endnotes. The author balances her keen observations with an accessible writing style."

- Kirkus Reviews

-Booklife Review - division of Publishers Weekly

In this penetrating debut, Taylor breaks down the ongoing competition between the People's Republic of China and the United States, one she describes as "capitalism and democracy against state capitalism and digitally managed authoritarianism"-a seemingly endless tangle of cultural, political, and military dynamics. Starting with an in-depth study on Chinese history, she digs into its formation as a Communist country and return to a strongman leadership model, with the ultimate goal of being "number one in the world," while examining the "Chinese Dream" of a return to nationalism-and what that means for American companies doing business with China.

Taylor's China is built on the rule of Xi Jinping, forged against the tapestry of a "cult of personality"... Western companies walk a tightrope... in part due to China's opaque business practices, "national collective will," and centrally controlled economy. ... this is a comprehensive account of what external and internal forces helped shape China into the country it is today-and how it plans to become a paramount economic and military superpower. Taylor sharply examines that future vision... and teases apart the generational differences within China that impact the country's economy, social stability, and international commerce. "The US and China have reached a tipping point," she writes, one that will determine which country will be "the leader of the twenty-first century."

Takeaway: Penetrating scrutiny of the forces driving competition between the U.S. and China.

Comparable Titles: Michael Pillsbury's The Hundred-Year Marathon, Paolo Urio's America and the China Threat.