Book description
When a Billion Chinese Jump is a road journey into the future of our species. Traveling from the mountains of Tibet to the deserts of Inner Mongolia via the Silk Road, tiger farms, cancer villages, weather-modifying bases, and eco-cities, Watts chronicles the environmental impact of economic growth with a series…
Why read it?
1 author picked When a Billion Chinese Jump as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Author Jonathan Watts covered environmental issues across China for many years for The Guardian.
The book title originates from the author's childhood fantasy belief that if everyone in China jumped simultaneously, it would shake the earth off its axis, leading to catastrophic consequences. This has morphed into a metaphor for China's massive footprint across Asia. And a massive footprint in the Third Pole region—as China occupies Tibet by military force and does not give a toss about the environmental impact of its irresponsible policies. China is experiencing catastrophic water shortages and is hell-bent on diverting water resources from Tibet.
From Michael's list on The best books to understand the water crisis at the Third Pole.
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