China in Ten Words

Relatively easy to read and enjoy, the comparisons I'd heard of the author to David Sedaris seem pretty on-point.

The concept of this book is through ten words (characters) and how they have evolved political and cultural meaning, using the lens of personal anecdotes as microcosms, Hua gives us a look into the everyday social changes and surprising parallels from Mao to Jinping. These stories are sometimes funny and sometimes awful but to read them feels like listening to an old friend.

For anyone interested in how basic Chinese culture has changed over the last several decades as told through the eyes of a man who's formative years came during the Cultural Revolution without getting a dense history lesson, this is certainly recommended.

Of note: I have never had to read the word “bamboozle” so many times in one chapter.