Sounds like it could be Borat’s first novel. Though in China, something like this on the cover of a book is not meant as a joke. Instead, it’s meant to grab the attention of Chinese book buyers who are actually interested in making money. The Jewish way. The Washington Post, in a story Wednesday, uncovered many real-life how-to business books with English titles that would make most Jews scream “Oy gevalt!” Books such as “The Legend of Jewish Wealth” and “Jewish People in Business: The Bible of How to Live Their Lives” are shelved with all the other normal business-related books. My favorite title that the Post found was a book called, “The Eight Most Valuable Business Secrets of the Jewish.” I wonder if “convince China that you have eight really valuable business secrets” was one of them. There are around 50 distinct “Jewish” business titles floating around Shanghai bookstores. In today’s China, where the Chinese are racing to get ahead, capitalist self-help books are a big industry. And according to the Post, the ones with Jewish this or Jewish that in the title are incredibly popular. The dangerous element to these books, however, is that these books are all the Chinese have to learn about Jewish culture. In a country of over a billion people, there are only 10,000 Jews. And while these books are normally chock-full of ridiculous stereotypes like “Jews don’t break their promises” and “Jews show up places on time,” mostly all of the stereotypes are actually quite complimentary. The Post highlights the cover of January’s Shanghai and Hong Kong Economy Magazine which read, “Where does Jewish people’s wisdom come from?” Moses? While I suppose one could look at these books as propagating harmful stereotypes, the truth of it is the Chinese are somewhat in awe of Jewish culture and the two groups are historically very close. And not just in Manhattan’s Chinese restaurants. In Shanghai, for instance, Jews built up pretty much the entire riverfront, or the Bund, in the early 20th century. And when World War II broke out, the Chinese were instrumental in saving and protecting many of Shanghai’s Jewish community, which numbered 30,000 at its peak. So while I understand it’s the American’s reflex to get all bent out of shape about books such as these that classify Jews as successful and smart and hardworking, I think any group would just be proud to be associated with these attributes. And when I read about the Chinese buying up books that talk about Jewish business sense, I can’t help but think that maybe there are some stereotypes that aren’t half bad. It’s really nothing to kvetch about.
•Washington Post: Sold on a Stereotype