Dr. Matthew B. Christensen holds degrees in Chinese, international relations, and Chinese linguistics. He is Professor of Chinese in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University where he has been teaching for the past twenty years. His research interests include Chinese language and culture, Chinese poetry, Chinese culinary culture, and teaching Chinese as a foreign language. He blogs about his adventures exploring China at intothemiddlekingdom.com.
I'd suggest this book for anyone looking to learn about China -- and then, when they are as intrigued as I am, to plan a journey there. It would be an incredible resource in a classroom, home library, or as a gift to curious, intercultural friends. Highly, highly recommended. --Wandering Educators blog A Geek in China is a precious and all-encompassing guide through the intricate maze of practices, manners and patterns that shape the Chinese lifestyle. By all means read it whether you are moving to China or even only planning a business trip. You will be traveling with the right baggage of information to embark on a productive journey and learn the values of patience, community, modesty and humility. --Chasing the Unexpected blog A Geek in China is the perfect book for anyone who wants to be culturally savvy about China, fast. In 150 pages that make for terrific reading, you can quickly transcend the usual travel guide stuff on China and really delve into the intricacies of the country. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to be more knowledgeable about China, especially when it comes to basic cultural literacy. --Speaking of China blog It's readable and interesting even if you're not ready to board a plane for Asia immediately: it finds a nice balance between researched pieces on history, culture, and the arts, and fun, funky personal recollections of Christensen's time in China. --Cosmos Mariners Blog Packed with photographs and short articles on all aspects of Chinese culture, past and present, A Geek in China is a smart, concise and accurate guide to the world's most populous and longest continuous culture. -Shanghai Daily -Packed with photographs and short articles on all aspects of Chinese culture, past and present, A Geek in China is a smart, concise and accurate guide to the world's most populous and longest continuous culture.- -Shanghai Daily -A Geek in China is the perfect book for anyone who wants to be culturally savvy about China, fast. In 150 pages that make for terrific reading, you can quickly transcend the usual travel guide stuff on China and really delve into the intricacies of the country. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to be more knowledgeable about China, especially when it comes to basic cultural literacy.- --Speaking of China blog -It's readable and interesting even if you're not ready to board a plane for Asia immediately: it finds a nice balance between researched pieces on history, culture, and the arts, and fun, funky personal recollections of Christensen's time in China.- --Cosmos Mariners Blog