Commentary/review

Another great book in my newly discovered mushroom genre. This time, the mushroom serves as trampoline for ethnological and anthropological extrapolations concerning international economy, social identity across North America and East Asia, and the art of international science. The book is so multifaceted it is either brilliant or an example of research bravado (probably the former but who really knows).

The Author is present in the book as an anonymous adventurer, providing a vehicle for appreciation, understanding and apt analogy. No sad stories lurking in the background. No unfinished business. Very professional, responsible writing for a larger audience. The book strongly reminds me of “Sushi Economy” by Sasha Issenberg but is, in its essence, more complex.

The general thesis of the book is that simple generalisations are usually not helpful. The truth evades them. They are widely accepted and entire nations make mistakes on their basis. These mistakes, however, only make room for new life and unexpected discovery. The Author followed these neglected threads of cause and effect for a rather long sequence of observations. This book fits nicely into my top ten popular science / science books in the English language. Highly recommended.

The cover is absolutely perfect for the subject. It is informative, clear and makes one relax. A good lesson in cover making right there.

Cover Photo by Colin Hills on Unsplash