ARON SOLOMON

★★★1/2:  “Dealing with China: An Insider Unmasks the New Economic Super Power,” by Henry Paulson, Jr. (Paulson was the 74th Secretary of the Treasury (U.S.) and served as CEO of Goldman Sachs. He is a fellow at the Harris Schoolof Public Policy Studies and is chair of the Paulson Institute at the University of Chicago).

It’s really as good a book from an American perspective, as I’ve seen on the issue of China. Having been to China 56 times, I understand a little about a very complex nation. Paulson’s analysis here is more human and humane than I would have expected, his perspective an interesting one on a hidden and elusive set of increasingly global elites who not only understand but frame China’s relationship
with and to the world.

Many of the stories here, admittedly written about elites from the perspective of an American hyper-elite, are still illuminating and shed new light on issues such as the
urban rural dichotomy in China, cultural residue from the time of Mao,    and how short-sighted American policy towards China has often been.

 Toronto-based Aron Solomon is innovation lead at LegalX.

QUICK TAKE

★★★ “The Art of the Start 2.0,” by Guy Kawasaki (B.A., Stanford).

This primer is an update of the 2004 version and offers a comprehensive orientation to launching a product or service. It’s pragmatic, thorough and almost completely jargon-free. Kawasaki’s advice is thorough and refreshingly direct and savvy. I’ve long-admired Kawasaki, who has authored 13 books. The only complaint: Tantor Audio used actor Paul Poehmer to read the audiobook, and he’s annoyingly swarmy. Guy: Next audiobook, read it yourself! —Monica Bay, CodeX Fellow. 

Join the CodeX Book Club:
Ping mbay@codex.stanford.com for the guidelines!