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Any city in China shouldn't even be counted in this study. The books are filtered through the government and you are only allowed to read what is 'approved'.

Any city in China shouldn't even be counted in this study. The books are filtered through the government and you are only allowed to read what is 'approved'. I lived there for 5+ years and as an avid reader, it was infuriating.

50CNT 10y ago
cough...pirating ebooks...cough
- red_blobs 10y ago
  Of course this works. So does a VPN back to the US. However, I shouldn't have to jump through all of these hoops for the freedom of information. Anyone who claims China is 'free' should try living there for at least a year. It will open your eyes to the reality of the situation. It also makes you appreciate the freedoms we have in the US.
  - contingencies 10y ago
    I've lived in China 15 years on and off. While bookstores with interesting English language titles are rare, I think you have greatly exaggerated the situation. Almost any copy shop in China will happily photocopy 20+ copies of any book your bring them, which makes it very easy to run book clubs... so it isn't exactly all negative.
  - 50CNT 10y ago
    I've done 5 in total. I live in Beijing, so it's right underneath the watchful eye of the Communist Party. It's not 'free' free but outside of the Great Firewall (nuisance), and various visa and registration related shenanigans (fairly lax), I haven't gotten into situations where I really felt the iron grip of the government.
ihaveahadron 10y ago
Yea your smarter than the average Hong longer. Oh actually your not your a MORON.
byw 10y ago
Curious, do you read in English?
olalonde 10y ago
New account, 95% of comments about politics, think I've seen this before... > I lived there for 5+ years and as an avid reader, it was infuriating I call bullshit. If you had lived in China for 5+ years, you would know that any book censorship there is in place is limited to only a few anti PRC titles and barely enforced. Can you name one book you weren't able to buy in China because it was censored? I doubt so. I would too discount the bookstore counts for Hong Kong and China but because their bookstores are typically tiny.

50CNT 10y ago

cough...pirating ebooks...cough

red_blobs 10y ago
Of course this works. So does a VPN back to the US. However, I shouldn't have to jump through all of these hoops for the freedom of information. Anyone who claims China is 'free' should try living there for at least a year. It will open your eyes to the reality of the situation. It also makes you appreciate the freedoms we have in the US.
- contingencies 10y ago
  I've lived in China 15 years on and off. While bookstores with interesting English language titles are rare, I think you have greatly exaggerated the situation. Almost any copy shop in China will happily photocopy 20+ copies of any book your bring them, which makes it very easy to run book clubs... so it isn't exactly all negative.
- 50CNT 10y ago
  I've done 5 in total. I live in Beijing, so it's right underneath the watchful eye of the Communist Party. It's not 'free' free but outside of the Great Firewall (nuisance), and various visa and registration related shenanigans (fairly lax), I haven't gotten into situations where I really felt the iron grip of the government.

ihaveahadron 10y ago

Yea your smarter than the average Hong longer. Oh actually your not your a MORON.

byw 10y ago

Curious, do you read in English?

olalonde 10y ago

New account, 95% of comments about politics, think I've seen this before... > I lived there for 5+ years and as an avid reader, it was infuriating I call bullshit. If you had lived in China for 5+ years, you would know that any book censorship there is in place is limited to only a few anti PRC titles and barely enforced. Can you name one book you weren't able to buy in China because it was censored? I doubt so. I would too discount the bookstore counts for Hong Kong and China but because their bookstores are typically tiny.