China's Second Continent cover art

China's Second Continent

How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa

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China's Second Continent

By: Howard W. French
Narrated by: Don Hagen
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About this listen

An exciting, hugely revealing account of China’s burgeoning presence in Africa - a developing empire already shaping - and reshaping - the future of millions of people. A prizewinning foreign correspondent and former New York Times bureau chief in Shanghai and in West and Central Africa, Howard French is uniquely positioned to tell the story of China in Africa. Through meticulous on-the-ground reporting - conducted in Mandarin, French, and Portuguese, among other languages - French crafts a layered investigation of astonishing depth and breadth as he engages not only with policy-shaping moguls and diplomats, but also with the ordinary men and women navigating the street-level realities of cooperation, prejudice, corruption, and opportunity forged by this seismic geopolitical development. With incisiveness and empathy, French reveals the human face of China’s economic, political, and human presence across the African continent - and in doing so reveals what is at stake for everyone involved. Part intrepid travelogue, part cultural census, part industrial and political exposé, French’s keenly observed account ultimately offers a fresh perspective on the most pressing unknowns of modern Sino-African relations: Why China is making the incursions it is, just how extensive its cultural and economic inroads are, what Africa’s role in the equation is, and just what the ramifications for both parties - and the watching world - will be in the foreseeable future.

©2014 Howard W. French (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC
Africa Business Development China Emigration & Immigration International Political Science Politics & Government Business Imperialism China Politics

Critic Reviews

“China’s trade with Africa has grown dramatically…But China’s investments…are less significant for this rapidly evolving relationship, according to this 15-country survey by veteran African correspondent French, than the significant flow of new Chinese immigrants—often pushed out by the pressure and oppression back home as much as lured by opportunity. In vivid first-person reportage, French explores this momentous phenomenon, while challenging assumptions about China and Chinese immigrants…The book will appeal to students of China and Africa, and anyone interested in the shifting contours of the global economy and its geopolitical consequences.”—Publishers Weekly

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an incredible audiobook

The narrator does an excellent job, and the story is superb. French makes the topic accessible and uncovers the human element of this historic event. I finished this book in a few days because I struggled to put it down (turn off my Bluetooth speaker). I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand China's activities in Africa.

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Eye opener

This book reveals exactly what's involved with Chinese businesses in Africa, what they really think of Africans and how their presence is only benefiting their own bottom line and increasing the wealth of despots through bribery. The poor Africans will remain that way due to the shoddy loan terms reached between their leaders and the Chinese.

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