Sara Bongiorni

This is an incredibly problematic piece of journalism. It came out at a time when "a year of" books were very prominent, but this one, while I think trying to be jaunty and fun, comes across as xenophobic. The author relies heavily on a conceit that I hope an editor urged her to make up about her one Chinese ancestor resurfacing periodically as single strands of black hair on she and her daughter's otherwise beautiful, blond heads.

Basically the family is going to boycott products made in show more China, not (as her mother asks) because of the deplorable conditions in many Chinese factories or the totalitarian government, but because of a vague unease with relying so heavily on a single trading partner. Yet even that seems thin, a palatable explanation for what reads like xenophobic racism. Would there be this much consternation if all cars were made in France? or all plastic children's toys made in England?

Also, this is so petty, but her now husband asked her to marry him after knowing each other two weeks. show less

“A Year Without ‘Made in China’” is essentially Bongiorni’s memoir of her year and her struggles keeping faithful to her China boycott. She made the decision to boycott not out of any deep-seeded hatred of China, or even because of safety or human rights concerns, but simply to see if it could be done. The verdict: yes, sort of, but with great difficulty. Difficulties included “the weakest link” (her husband); the fact that certain components of lamps are not made at ALL in the show more U.S., but only in China; and the all-consuming desire of a four year old boy for a light up plastic sword.

This book doesn’t explore the intricacies of globalization, but if you want to know how hard it would be to stop buying things from China, pick this up when it comes in paperback or get it from the library, and give it a read.

For the full review:
http://devourerofbooks.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/a-year-without-made-in-china-boo... show less

I think if you go into this book hoping for some big revelation, you may be disappointed. There's not much information in here that most people will find revealing (although there is some), especially as the book is about 15 years old at this point. That being said, if you just want a fun read about a family trying something different, I found it very winning.

I've read many reviews of this book, and while I don't disagree with many of the points the reviewers made, I enjoyed the book immensely because it offered an interesting look at how challenging it can be to avoid Chinese goods, regardless of your intentions or commitment level. It was a human story of globalization -- one based in the idea that the ubiquitous nature of Chinese production is so all encompassing as to make life for a family in the US that wished to avoid its products rather show more challenging.That's it. It's not a political book per se. Nor did it claim to be on the jacket. In my view it is a personal, human story -- not a political one. And that's why I liked it. I suppose on some level many of our most mundane purchases are indirect political acts, but this book proved that in many cases people don't really have choices at all. show less