The Beijing Olympics ensured that the world would be watching China in 2008, a year that turned out to be the most tumultuous and traumatic for the country since the massive Tiananmen uprising of 1989. Crippling winter storms, riots in Tibet, the devastating Sichuan earthquake, and many other dramatic events grabbed international headlines. This innovative book-based on postings from the noted group blog/electronic magazine
China Beat
as well as works from other leading publications and completely new material-takes the unique approach of bringing the timeliness of the blogosphere into book form, expanding and reflecting on stories in the news while retaining the eclectic, opinionated, and engaging feel of the blog. It will be invaluable reading for everyone with a keen interest in China today.