This is the best book I've read this year. It's not only enjoyable, but I learned more about China than I had in 50 years of reading.
This author knows how to write. If you've read John McPhee, you'll know what I mean, as he took McPhee's seminar at Princeton and best of all, applied it.

This book is beautifully written, but the end is totally baffling [edited for plot spoilers]
This ruined reading the book for me. And I haven't been able to
find any answers after searching online. I guess not enough
people have read it yet.