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A Year Without "Made in China"
Book

A Year Without "Made in China"

One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy

Sara Bongiorni
Wiley, 2007

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

From head to toe, American consumers are walking advertisements for products from China. But few shoppers realize the depth and national economic implications of their dependence on "Made-in-China" goods. Writing with heart and precision, Sara Bongiorni – who decided that her family wouldn't buy Chinese merchandise for a year – uses trade data, shopping mishaps and family squabbles to outline the complex relationship between Chinese merchandise, U.S. consumers and American job loss. Her narrative is funny, factual and entertaining. She delivers insightful lessons about trade, manufacturing and finance. The author attempts to avoid China-bashing and repeatedly mentions her distant Chinese ancestry, but the book occasionally steps into the uncomfortable territory of nationalism on the subject of race and international commerce. Still, this is a delightful, informative read. getAbstract recommends it for every shopping list.

Take-Aways

  • China rules the global market in many sectors, including electronics, clothing, athletic shoes and toys.
  • Cheap labor, a manipulated money supply and state-sponsored subsidies give China a competitive edge in international trade.
  • United States consumers constitute one of China's largest markets, but the U.S. faces a trade deficit with China of more than $202 billion.

About the Author

Sara Bongiorni, a seasoned business reporter, has written for daily newspapers and regional periodicals in Louisiana and California.

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