I just found an interesting Linkedin Q&A:

If you had to read one book (okay, two or three) on China before going to work there what would it be? Is this question naive??

Here is the response from my friend Etienne Charlier, manager of ProcurAsia (a sourcing agency based in Shanghai):

There are so many books about China that it is hard to pick only a few. However, the list of 4 books below will give you a good basis to cover several aspects of China.

1. “This Is China: The First 5,000 Years”by Haiwang Yuan, Ronald G. Knapp, Margot E. Landman, Gregory Veeck.

The simplest and easiest book I have see so far to understand the long history of China. And history is key here. Chinese have a much stronger and longer understanding of their history then most people in the West – not the least because they still can read text written 1000 years ago.

2. “When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order” by Martin Jacques

Good book that highlights a few fundamental trends and also draws in a balance manner what the impact of a growing China can be for other countries.

3. “Dragons at Your Door: How Chinese Cost Innovation Is Disrupting Global Competition” by Ming Zeng, Peter J. Williamson

Gives a good understanding of what the good companies in China are doing and why increasing costs here is not a real problem yet.

4. “China Inside Out: 10 Irreversible Trends Reshaping China and its Relationship with the World” by Bill Dodson.

Good book by a China hold hand who also happens to be a friend of mine.

For the day to day life and tips, I suggest you read blogs instead of books. There are so many outdated dos and dont’s books around that it is becoming depressing.

—-

The question is certainly not naive. It is really important to learn a lot before coming to China. Most people take about 12 months before they can fully operate here. So anything you learn at the outset is a few months less you will waste at the beginning.