I Stand Corrected: How Teaching Western Manners in China Became Its Own Unforgettable Lesson

When world traveler Collinsworth decides to spread Western etiquette to China in 2011, she learns more about Chinese customs than she had anticipated. She discovers to her surprise that "everything is slightly illegal in China," from legal documents to business transactions. She joins a friend for a business meeting, whereupon she is promptly offered $20,000 to write a letter to Angelina Jolie%E2%80%94simply because she was American, it was assumed she knew the famous actress. Collinsworth finds that small talk and compliments are particularly difficult to tackle: an attempt by a host to compliment his guest goes awry when he calls her fat, which is considered a sign of prosperity in China. In between these faux pas, Collinsworth interjects her own lessons that address the nature of problem, so that readers can avoid such mishaps. The juxtaposition of these cultures can be funny or, at times, cringe-worthy but overall this is an entertaining take on life as a foreigner in China. (Oct.)