The Accidental Capitalist A People's Story of the New China

This remarkable book paints intimate portraits of some of the faceless millions of migrant workers who have made China's economic miracle possible. Through their stories of hope and heartbreak, Yaghmaian takes readers beyond the statistics to show the revolutionary changes of the last generation. -- Ivan Watson, CNN Foreign Correspondent A new account of China's epic transformation, told through the personal biographies of men and women working in factories and construction sites. A fascinating, moving and highly readable book. -- Jeff Crisp, Head, Policy Development and Evaluation Service, UNHCR Like Ian Johnson's Wild Grass or Leslie Chang's Factory Girls, The Accidental Capitalist takes us to the epicenter of China's world-changing transition through a series of portraits of the men and women who make that change possible. Living among them, Yaghmaian trains his political economist's eye on China's throes of export-led commercial expansion ... He vividly conveys his acquaintances' sense of excitement and even optimism. -- Professor James Millward, History, Georgetown University A modern Alexis de Tocqueville, the author lived among his subjects in Shenzen, 'the heartbeat of the rising China,' while scouring the metropolis for stories. -- Publishers Weekly