Tangled Titans

The United States and China

By: David Shambaugh - editor

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Tangled Titans offers a current and comprehensive assessment of the most important relationship in international affairs - that between the United States and China. How the relationship evolves will have a defining impact on the future of world politics, the Asian region, and the citizens of many nations. In this definitive audiobook, leading experts provide an in-depth exploration of the historical, domestic, bilateral, regional, global, and future contexts of this complex relationship. The contributors argue that the relationship is a unique combination of deep interdependence, limited cooperation, and increasing competition. Never in modern history have two great powers been so deeply intertwined - yet so suspicious and potentially antagonistic toward each other. Exploring this cooperative and competitive dynamic, the contributors offer a wealth of detail on contemporary Sino-American relations unavailable elsewhere. Students will find Tangled Titans essential listening to understand the current dynamics and future direction of relations between the world's two most important powers.

©2013 Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Very much not for the casual reader

So, if you’re not a poli-sci/international relations/china watcher, this isn’t for you (just read the other reviews). That said, it’s a decent review of Panda Huggers views on the US-CCP relationship a decade ago. Also, all the amusing things the Panda Huggers said “See? There’s been none of this or that, let alone this other! The CCP isn’t that bad!” Yeah, all that and more has happened. Sort of a funny/sad fiction book kind of thing going on. Either way, free was about the correct price for this read overall. Including references to the “June 4th incident” (CCP cryptic verbiage) rather than just saying the Tiananmen square massacre (what it was). Good times.

Comprehensive and thorough coverage of an important topic

Well read and narrated with a professional but engaging tone, this is a thorough and deep dive into a topic that everyone needs to be familiar with to understand the modern world. Many views and many aspects of this complex issue are discussed and anyone interested in current events would benefit from reading this book.

Good info Bad delivery

This no doubt has valuable information but it is very dry and academic to the point that I can’t finish it.

Absolutely Meaningless

I gave this audiobook the benefit of two readings, which took some time. After the first, I felt I missed something, so I listened for the message. It does not exist. What you get, a variety of contributing authors painting historical accounts, followed by academic drivel, pure drivel, ivory tower drivel. Sad, I know the editor and authors placed considerable effort into their respective areas of contribution; maybe I'm still missing something, but I am not going back the third time.

Didn't learn anything about China or its culture

Managing to have a collection of experts all write about China and the US, and have them all systematically leave out any useful info about either country takes amazingly bad editing on the part of the editor. The highfaluting language used by the writers may have explained how they all got past him.