Briefings From Beijing

Chinese State Mediocrity! After two years in China's education system, Abdiel takes on its broadcasting empire when he joins China Radio International in Beijing. Following an ill-fated stint in newscasting, he goes on to record audiobook episodes for the state media giant and becomes fascinated with the Tang Dynasty 'Poet Immortal', Li Bai.
But trouble is brewing as surely as a cup of oolong cha as the station ups his workload, degrades contract terms, and misses salary payments. All amid a culture of paranoia as producers fear "the American embassy might be listening."
If that were not enough, Chinese police get involved, showing up at the author's door one night, dragging him to the police station, and insisting he sign a false confession!
But things look up when Abdiel takes up freelance voice-recording work and "full-throttle immersion" in the performing arts and his belovèd Penghao Theatre.
Briefings From Beijing is the fourth of five memoirs in Abdiel's Dueling the Dragon series and testifies to the deeply embedded corruption behind China's superpower façade. As always, he'll have you laughing between the tears!
"An adventure, a memoir, and certainly one of the more entertaining books about China before us today."
San Francisco Review of Books
"These stories from China are addictive!"
"LeRoy's ability to write so cogently about such AWFUL things and simultaneously give readers a chuckle, is magnificent."
"Wields a wicked and eloquent pen."
"Should be awarded an honorary degree in Anthropology."
"Informative and eye opening."
"Reveals the the dark side of the country."
"The author knows the Chinese better than the Chinese."
"Subverts dominant concepts of China."
Reader reviews