Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest rating.

I walked into this book not knowing much about the political situation or the fine points of everything going on with the country so I had pretty much a blank slate to start with. The book sounded interesting to me and I thought it would be a good read.

Overall I greatly enjoyed this. The book has a ton of information and you can tell it was well researched. It is written in a very readable manner and is easy to understand. It goes n to a good amount of depth in the past/current/future situation without getting too wordy and hard to read.

I don’t read much history or current event political stuff but I still loved this and highly recommend it.

I found this book very informative and easily digestible. The writer took a country with a very complex history and distilled it into bite sized morsels that were easily absorbed. The topic itself is scary.

Even if you're not interested in geopolitical issues this is an interesting book to read. It's digestible and easy to understand a very complex issue. I recommend this book even if you're slightly interested in Taiwan or politics in general.

A well-researched and accessible look at Taiwan’s history, politics, and its precarious position in global geopolitics. Kerry Brown provides valuable insight into why Taiwan’s fate matters far beyond its borders, making this a timely and essential read. Engaging and informative, it offers a balanced perspective on a complex issue.

I went into this knowing little about Taiwan, and little about Eastern world history in general. Not only is this an informative read, but the author makes a compelling case for why we should be paying more attention to Taiwan and checking in on its relations with China. This highlighted tensions and key players in Taiwan's history and its relationship with China and other nations. While I found this informative, it did read a bit dry, at least on audiobook - the narrator's voice could have used a bit more variance to increase engagement.

eBook - 3 Stars

While this is a well-researched, well-written [mostly], excellently narrated book, and I DID learn quite a bit, I have to admit that a good chunk of this book was above my pay-grade [and unfortunately, it also slogs a bit in some parts] and I really struggled with those parts. I will say that it did make me want to learn more about Taiwan and the struggle with China [and then perhaps a re-read of this book when I understand more] as the stuff I understood in this book really impressed on me how we need to keep Taiwan on our side [that seems to be an insurmountable hill given our current administration] and we all need to be prepared for anything. We all should be learning about the relationship [as fraught as it is] between Taiwan and China because that is the ONLY way to banish ignorance and complacency. May we all strive for that.

Audiobook - 4 Stars
Kerry Brown is an excellent narrator and he made even the tough [and for me, confusing] parts enjoyable [a big feat I think]. Should the author ever want to retire, I would bet that he could have a very popular career as a full-time narrator. I highly recommend this audiobook!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Brown, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

If you are curious about the Taiwan situation but struggle to understand it, this book is for you. It is very straightforward and easy to read, making it a great beginner's guide to learning about Taiwan. Half of the book discusses history, and the other half discusses current political issues.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to read this book, and I am eager to recommend it to my friends.

Kerry Brown’s Why Taiwan Matters is a fascinating nonfiction exploration of Taiwan’s history and its current role in an ever-shifting geopolitical landscape. Going into this book, I knew a little bit about Taiwan going into this and had a general understanding of its significance, but this book went into so much more detail and left me with a much clearer and deeper understanding of all things relating to Taiwan.

This book begins with Taiwan's origins and moves chronologically through its development, emphasizing how external influences have shaped its development. The primary focus, however, is on Taiwan's tenuous relationship with China, as well as it's relationship with the United States, particularly because of its critical role in semiconductor production–an area in which Taiwan holds global dominance. Additionally, Why Taiwan Matters explore Taiwan's embrace of democratic ideas, which further increases tensions with China, which views Taiwan as a part of the People's Republic of China, while nations like the United States recognize it differently.

As previously mentioned, prior to reading this book I was aware of some of the general issues between China and Taiwan, but Brown's detailed explanation showed why those tensions exist, the historical and present day factors that led to them, and potential consequences for the future. He clearly illustrates how volatile the situation can be and the potential threats that it may pose, as well a variety of perspectives on it.

The book is largely split between a history of Taiwan and Taiwan's current political issues and statuses, which I think worked well for the shorter format. It's a concise and efficient way of understanding Taiwan's history and some key insights without every feeling overwhelming. For readers like myself with a limited knowledge and understanding of Taiwan, this is a great introduction to learning more; however, readers who are already well-versed in Taiwan's history and politics may not find anything new information-wise, though perhaps Brown's own insights could still provide value.

One thing that stood out most to me what Brown's emphasis on Taiwan's unique identity and role on the global stage. Brown highlights Taiwan's resilience and importance as a singular place, distinct from influences from both China and the West, and through this is able to create what I thought was a lot of respect for the people, history, and culture of Taiwan. Brown does an exceptional job explaining complex topics in readily accessible ways throughout the entirety of this book.. He also narrated the audiobook version of this book and does an excellent job with that as well.

Why Taiwan Matters is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Taiwan's history, it's geopolitical significance, or anyone generally interested in current events. I really feel like I learned a lot and I would happily read more on these topics from this author!

Why Taiwan Matters, written and narrated by Taiwanese expert, Kerry Brown, is a well-researched, well-written, soundly argued account of the political and sociological history of the island "nation" of Taiwan. This audiobook played like a documentary in my head, and I felt like it lends itself to being made into a documentary as is kept me interested, but it would have been easier to follow along with visuals. The main implication the author is arguing is that Taiwan is in a precarious and volatile situation since China considers Taiwan to still be a part of the Republic of China while the US and many other countries recognize Taiwan as its own nation. He argues that the island poses a rather volatile threat to the world order by pitting communist China and its allies against the US and other nations who have recognized Taiwan's autonomy and pledged aid should the island be attacked. The book follows the history of the island and how it has come to be more and more autonomous. The author presents the history in such a way that the reader can't help but see how volatile the situation could be, should China attack the island that it lays claim to with many other nations promising aid.

I enjoyed the author's narration of this title. He was articulate and easy to understand, plus his knowledge lent itself to the narration. I did feel like this audiobook would make a great documentary film too. This book is not one I would physically read, so I was happy to be listen and follow along instead. I learned something, and was presented with information to think on. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

In this audiobook narrated by the author, listeners can better understand Taiwan and the significance of this small island nation.

I lived in Taiwan for over three years. I weaved a scooter through traffic in Kaohsiung and regularly ate at night markets, which all the English teachers referred to as "Gambei" restaurants. I did not need a ton of lessons in the culture but it was nostalgic. I also understand the political ramifications of the island's status, my undergraduate degree concentrated in international politics. Nonetheless, this was a worthy listen.

I wish that everyone would take the time to read or listen to this important work.

Also, we (the US) need to recognize Taiwan immediately. It is a distinct country with its own distinct culture.

It is an excellent addition to academic and public libraries.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for the DLC. All opinions are my own and are based on my own experiences.

I dnf'ed this book because the background of this author and his former books seemed to be lining up with a propaganda tone and over all message.

This is an important topic to read about as it may become the Ukraine of Asia. Thoughtful recent history of how Taiwan came from being a colony of Japan to refuge of the KMT to a full-fledged democracy.

Over the last year, I have become more interested in global politics, history, and how they affect current affairs. "The New Cold Wars" and "Chip Wars" were some of my 2024 favorites. Why Taiwan Matters is well laid out and summarized nicely, touching briefly on many issues and how they come together, unlike the other two books that are very focused and detailed on their specific title. The book really picked up around 42% and grabbed my attention. I especially liked the last few chapters' take on what could happen, which is a different approach than I have seen in previous books. Not sure people realize the importance of Taiwan in the world and this book proved it's point. If you enjoy books about global politics and want to better understand Taiwan, its culture, and why it is key to the economy, this book is for you.

Review has been posted to Goodreads and Fable.

audio-ARC from NetGalley.

What is there to say about nonfiction such as this except that I was utterly fascinated. The sheer magnitude of what could happen if Taiwan & China's perilous relationship breaks down is frightening. Excellent audio.

This is a very welcome overview of a complex global political situation with Taiwan. The author explains the history that brought us here, why it matters, and covers some potential outcomes. I came to this book completely unfamiliar with the subject so I can't speak to the scholarship, but I can speak to how effective it was at conveying information to a newcomer

Why Taiwan Matters is an easy read for a beginner who understands there is conflict but not why. I found this topic to be extremely interesting, though I will say that the book is only half history, with the other half about current political issues concerning Taiwan. The author self-narrates, and I didn't really love his narration. The book itself, however, was straightforward and simple to understand, without handwaiving overly complex issues out of the picture. This is a great introductory read for someone who wants to know more about this topic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**e-ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Why Taiwan Matters is an excellent introduction to the complexities of Taiwan’s sovereignty and its relationship with China. As a newcomer to the topic, I found it accessible and highly informative.
The book starts with the perspectives of the Taiwanese people, providing a grounded understanding before expanding into broader geopolitical issues. It explains the intricacies behind decisions like U.S. recognition of Taiwan, illustrating why these actions are far more complicated than they may appear on social media or in news segments.
I appreciated how the author broke down the nuances of Taiwan’s challenges, highlighting the risks and competing factors at play. It also addressed oversimplified solutions, offering a deeper, well-rounded analysis of Taiwan’s geopolitical situation.

I went into this hoping for a introduction into Taiwan and it's history and political issues, and this book delivered. After finishing I feel a lot more informed without feeling overwhelmed with information. I also wasn't bored at any point. I would highly recommend this for anyone wanting more information on the subject but not knowing where to start.

There were some points I didn't find as helpful, such as some of the speculation about what the future could hold.

Audiobook narrator was easy to understand, even at a higher speed.