China has always been a fascinating nation. Especially in the last several decades as they’ve had an unprecedented economic rise. It’s a nation of seemingly never ending contradictions, such as the embrace of unbridled capitalism in a nation ruled by the Communist party.

So when I hear about a book that helps explain the China riddle, I put it on my reading list. Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China by Evan Osnos came highly recommended by Fareed Zakaria on his GPS talk show, so I made it a priority to read the book.

I’m glad I did. This might be the best book I’ve read about the current culture of China. Osnos lived in China for decades and has translated the bewildering policies, cultures and trends of the nation in a brilliantly easy to understand way. The title of the book expresses the breadth of the book, covering the economic rise, the political repression (especially on the media), and the rise of an intense need for spiritual meaning. He gives equal time to the nationalists and the liberals who shape public opinion.

Obviously I’ll never be able to say I understand China. I’m not sure anybody can, even the Chinese. But I understand the nation better because of this book. Well written, easy to follow, and utterly consistent in being objective, if you read just one book about China it has to be this one.