Poignant accounts
For a couple of years the early 1980s, Mark Salzman was an English teacher and a martial arts master who went to a poor city in China to teach English. Salzman recalls his many episodes and adventures there with vignettes in his book Iron and Silk. He reveals much about the contrast of the Chinese culture from western culture.The poverty in this region of China struck me with surprise. Some of the places Saltzman describes as living conditions seem medival for the 1980's. I was also touched by the politeness and respect shown to Salzman, a white man, by the inhabitants of China. Americans could certainly use a few pointers from the Chinese. Overall, the poignant accounts in Iron and Silk will stay with the reader.