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Red Roulette

An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption, and Vengeance in Today's China

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Red Roulette

By: Desmond Shum
Narrated by: Tim Chiou
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“THE BOOK CHINA DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ.” —CNN​

SELECTED AS A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by THE ECONOMIST and FINANCIAL TIMES

This “powerful and disturbing” (Bill Browder, author of Red Notice) New York Times bestseller is narrated by a man who, with his wife, Whitney Duan, rose to the top levels of power and wealth—and then fell out of favor. Whitney had been disappeared four years before, but this book led to her dramatic reemergence.

As Desmond Shum was growing up impoverished in China, he vowed his life would be different. Through hard work and sheer tenacity he earned an American college degree and returned to his native country to establish himself in business. There, he met his future wife, the highly intelligent and equally ambitious Whitney Duan who was determined to make her mark within China’s male-dominated society. Whitney and Desmond formed an effective team and, aided by relationships they formed with top members of China’s Communist Party, the so-called red aristocracy, he vaulted into China’s billionaire class. Soon they were developing the massive air cargo facility at Beijing International Airport, and they followed that feat with the creation of one of Beijing’s premier hotels. They were dazzlingly successful, traveling in private jets, funding multi-million-dollar buildings and endowments, and purchasing expensive homes, vehicles, and art.

But in 2017, their fates diverged irrevocably when Desmond, while residing overseas with his son, learned that his now ex-wife Whitney had vanished along with three coworkers.

This vivid, explosive memoir shows “how the Chinese government keeps business in line—and what happens when businesspeople overstep” (The New York Times) and is a “singular, highly readable insider account of the most secretive of global powers” (The Spectator). Asia Business International Professionals & Academics
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Very useful, interesting and absolutely unique insights into the workings of this regime, that affects not only chinese, but everyone in the world

Very impressive and insightful

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This book speaks to everyone who has lived in or done business with China throughout the last decades. On a literary level it isn’t a very skilfully written book but it nevertheless carries a strong important message from someone who knows and tells a great story from someone who has lived it. Please read!

Must read

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Great and very interesting insight story. A bit hard to follow all the Chinese names.

Too many names to memories

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It’s just one of the most fascinating stories! I was so hooked that I finished the entire audiobook in 3 days, over lunch and dinner (for context I am a university student).
Capitalism with CCP characteristics. Though not the same, u can hear the echos of Soviet Union ( fierce competition, scientific community, the bureaucracy). It’s ultimately pretty sad.

Given how these things are, the author has some ginormous balls for publishing this. If it’s of any value, I really appreciate the effort.

Wow, the house always wins !

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It is rare to get this insight of how the business has been done in China. How the Communist party works and how the wealth is distributed in a country that will lead the world economy in less than 20 years. It is fascinating, shocking and thrilling. I really do hope that this book won't get him and his ex-wife killed/I hope that she is still alive.

They both played high game: high stakes/high reward. He escaped in time, she disappeared same as many other Chinese tycoons and celebrities.

Forbidden memoire of a Chinese tycoon.

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