The Quiet Enigma of the Fake Chinese Books
Sometimes, it’s the little cultural distinctions that tell you the most
When talking about differences between cultures, there are a lot of places to start. Most people will start with big, flashy markers like food, traditional clothing or dance — and likely that’s where they’ll stop, since these are inevitably the least challenging things to discuss. Those who want to go deeper will delve into values, a favorite of anyone who’s ever heard the name Geert Hofstede.
The problem with any big picture approach is it has to miss all of the millions of little things that distinguish countries — little things that can sometimes matter more than they seem.
So let’s talk about fake books.
When I say “fake books,” I refer to decorative objects that are meant to resemble hardcover books, but are nothing of the kind. Typically, these are just boxes with art on the “spine” and “cover.” There is seldom any real attempt to make these resemble actual books (by simulating pages or a dust jacket, for example) and thus they aren’t exactly convincing up close. However, at a passing, distant glance, a less observant type would be forgiven for mistaking them for the real article.
