Iron and Silk

I was at Michael Knapp's house last week while I was in Vermont for a meeting, and staying in their guest room reminded me about Iron and Silk, a book by Mark Salzman.

I had seen Iron and Silk on the shelf in their guest room the last time I had stayed there, and remembered that Michael had recommended it to me. So I started reading it before turning in for the night and was instantly hooked. Salzman hooks the reader by leaping head first into detailed descriptions of life in China. It's informative, but entertaining at the same time, as his descriptions of various run-ins with Chinese beauracracy are simultaneously painful and hilarious.

As soon as I returned from the trip, Solveig and I bought a copy and read it aloud to each other. In fact, I think that this book is probably best enjoyed aloud, for it would be difficult to fully appreciate moments such as the African Elvis impersonator singing the Chinese song "Socialism is Good" any other way.

Highly recommended.