One woman’s experiences while living and writing in China.
Often, the only way to fully understand a foreign country is to actually live in that country for a time. After years of travel around the world, Collinsworth (It Might Have Been What He Said, 2007) found herself drawn once again to China, a country she had visited on many occasions over a period of years. Fascinated by its culture and people, she moved to Beijing with her son, Gilliam, and set out to understand its nuances. “Like a complicated mathematical equation I was determined to solve, China called me back numerous times…” she writes. “There came many adventures, but only one revelation: I would remain forever and beguilingly mystified by the Middle Kingdom.” Based on her observations, she decided the Chinese needed a book on how to interact with Western men and women, so she wrote a guidebook called The Tao of Improving Your Likability: A Personal Guide to Effective Business Etiquette in Today’s Global World. In the process of writing the book, Collinsworth discovered many aspects about her own business relationships that required deeper scrutiny, which she explores here. She also incorporates details of her life with her son prior to her move to China. As he grew into adulthood, they traveled around the world, which proved an eclectic and enlightening education for both of them. Collinsworth’s observations bring the Chinese and their rituals and history to life, and she adroitly circles each chapter around in order to weave in lessons from her Tao handbook as well. These topics include everything from how to shake hands with a man or woman to proper table manners to how to graciously accept an apology or a compliment.
Entertaining, informative adventures of a woman determined to understand the people of China.