tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post925099124330629899..comments2023-09-18T09:55:35.795-04:00Comments on China in Africa: The Real Story: A Title for My New Book?Deborah Brautigamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10813215294689392170noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-53542197849688531692014-10-27T17:19:02.264-04:002014-10-27T17:19:02.264-04:00Good idea, but the title spins off of "who wi...Good idea, but the title spins off of "who will feed China?" By Lester Brown (1995)Deborah Brautigamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03141925702416939602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-31028552427145684242014-10-27T16:48:51.571-04:002014-10-27T16:48:51.571-04:00Sounds like a really interesting book! I like the ...Sounds like a really interesting book! I like the title but have one reservation: "Will Africa Feed China?" presupposes that Africa can potentially feed or has a surplus to send China's way. Perhaps the title should have been phrased "Can Africa Feed China?" to really explore the perception that Africa abounds with vast tracts of arable land and the potential for surplus agricultural produce...in addition to understanding the extent of Chinese investment in the African agricultural sector.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02518942203831179040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-69656429753662300192014-10-26T19:38:39.776-04:002014-10-26T19:38:39.776-04:00Oh, I like that title: The Food Connection with al...Oh, I like that title: The Food Connection with all its implications! I think it's probably too late. The publisher likes "Will Africa Feed China?"Deborah Brautigamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03141925702416939602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-69208900817169318662014-10-26T04:33:24.995-04:002014-10-26T04:33:24.995-04:00Dear Deborah,
My suggestion - "The Food Conn...Dear Deborah,<br /><br />My suggestion - "The Food Connection - Is China treating Africa as its future rice bowl?"<br /><br />The title is a play to the thriller movie "The French Connection" back in the 1971, with a sprinkle of "mafioso" flavor added in - after all, the West keeps on trying to portray China as a "big bully" or something not that dissimilar to a character from a gangland / mafioso backgroundAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-16398808926836651322014-10-14T05:13:27.377-04:002014-10-14T05:13:27.377-04:00The next book you write should be:
" Africa: ...The next book you write should be:<br />" Africa: Caught in the dragon's teeth?... Really?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-4075696174040908852014-10-10T10:01:05.252-04:002014-10-10T10:01:05.252-04:00Oxford has decided to go with "Will Africa Fe...Oxford has decided to go with "Will Africa Feed China?" -- no subtitle, but the cover will have a blurb or other written material that makes the point about the myths and realities. They liked the link with Lester Brown's famous 1995 book: "Who Will Feed China?" and the simplicity of the title which, they said, "says it all." So there we are. If anyone thinks this is really a problem title, please post! I still shudder to recall the original title selected by my last editor for The Dragon's Gift. They wanted to call it Rogue Donor? Deborah Brautigamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03141925702416939602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-27136048698563230662014-10-10T07:50:32.794-04:002014-10-10T07:50:32.794-04:00When the book will be published? Thanks!When the book will be published? Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-25799915987271440892014-10-05T13:49:21.691-04:002014-10-05T13:49:21.691-04:00how about: The Hans are farming: investigating the...how about: The Hans are farming: investigating the myths and realities of Chinese agribusiness in Africa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-37548371267930019732014-10-03T14:00:17.460-04:002014-10-03T14:00:17.460-04:00OK -- I spoke to my editor yesterday. Most book co...OK -- I spoke to my editor yesterday. Most book contracts give the publisher the final word in the book's title and cover, as I learned with The Dragon's Gift. The marketing department folks like "Will Africa Feed China?" which plays on the famous 1995 book by Lester Brown, "Who Will Feed China?" But he seems to like Mandarin Harvest, with a subtitle. So, thank goodness, no dragons. Will post when the title is final.Deborah Brautigamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03141925702416939602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-7601171565350304182014-10-03T10:54:23.888-04:002014-10-03T10:54:23.888-04:00Just no dragons please! let's move away from c...Just no dragons please! let's move away from clichesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-72174978160577807562014-10-03T10:04:04.069-04:002014-10-03T10:04:04.069-04:00Feeding China: Myths and Realities of China's ...Feeding China: Myths and Realities of China's Agricultural Engagement in AfricaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-86208968229892956142014-10-02T12:04:01.900-04:002014-10-02T12:04:01.900-04:00Thanks to all for such great ideas. I'm talkin...Thanks to all for such great ideas. I'm talking to my editor this afternoon. Will post on the results.Deborah Brautigamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03141925702416939602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-62360871907414649872014-10-02T10:44:09.555-04:002014-10-02T10:44:09.555-04:00Planting the seed for future harvests: Chinese Agr...Planting the seed for future harvests: Chinese Agribusiness in AfricaGlenn Honoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-12671615465567587942014-10-01T16:37:51.900-04:002014-10-01T16:37:51.900-04:00Is there a Chinese Feeding Fenzy for African Land:...Is there a Chinese Feeding Fenzy for African Land: Unearthing facts from mythsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12599006340469818689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-90136881043050883012014-10-01T07:44:28.590-04:002014-10-01T07:44:28.590-04:00Yeah, another vote for 'Feeding the Dragon? Fa...Yeah, another vote for 'Feeding the Dragon? Facts and Fiction about Chinese' from here!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-49250887388400845032014-09-30T18:19:56.624-04:002014-09-30T18:19:56.624-04:00We would strongly support "Feeding the Dragon...We would strongly support "Feeding the Dragon? Facts and Fiction about Chinese "Land Grabs" in Africa" - it is very attractive and will sell well while avoiding unnecessary '2nd continent' stupiditiesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-58170968867226150732014-09-30T16:38:42.214-04:002014-09-30T16:38:42.214-04:00Or perhaps Mandarin Harvest: Is China stealing Afr...Or perhaps Mandarin Harvest: Is China stealing Africa's Dinner?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14537443836909855638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-11273805094095602912014-09-30T16:36:54.841-04:002014-09-30T16:36:54.841-04:00I'm not sure I like the quote marks and overly...I'm not sure I like the quote marks and overly long title. It only needs to give a taster and shouldn't be too complex if for popular consumption. How about Mandarin Harvest: The Myths and Realities of China's African Dream?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14537443836909855638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-44196537673738305422014-09-30T11:51:04.327-04:002014-09-30T11:51:04.327-04:00# 5 The Dragons Harvest sounds sinister. Mandarin ...# 5 The Dragons Harvest sounds sinister. Mandarin Harvest too soft. On the cover I can see a muted picture of a dragon in the shape of Africa and the type in red. Also big machines in foreground. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05733959151275901131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-11965725099604320832014-09-30T09:25:31.423-04:002014-09-30T09:25:31.423-04:00The Dragon's Harvest: Fact, Fiction and China&...The Dragon's Harvest: Fact, Fiction and China's 'Land Grab' in Africa<br />Micknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-20458225905043400612014-09-30T08:19:02.826-04:002014-09-30T08:19:02.826-04:00Congrats on the new book. Alternative Oxford sugge...Congrats on the new book. Alternative Oxford suggested title is terrible. I like continuing the dragon theme but would prefer "The Dragon's Seeds: China and African Agriculture" since we don't know what is being planted. If you want to move away from the dragon theme there is "Planting the Seeds of the Lotus: China and Agriculture in Africa." The lotus in Budhism is a transformative plant eg. A beautiful flower arising out of murky and muddy waters. It suggests the idea that China can transfer their knowledge and technology to benefit African agriculture so it can also bloom. However it is still a Chinese flower and it raises the idea that their investment in African agriculture would benefit China more than African countries. My two cents worth... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-84143219310788049582014-09-30T06:24:00.702-04:002014-09-30T06:24:00.702-04:00I agree that the second bit of 2) is the most grab...I agree that the second bit of 2) is the most grabbing: 'Fact and Fiction (or myths/realities) of Chinese "Land Grabs" in Africa'. But I'm less keen on the first-bits of some of the proposed titles. How about something like Feeding the Dragon? Bit more evocative, it's still got the dragon-theme continuity, conjures up a sense of some of the power dynamics...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01788174504985800195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-35880203668944839612014-09-29T19:13:26.878-04:002014-09-29T19:13:26.878-04:00I'm in process of writing a much shorter paper...I'm in process of writing a much shorter paper to finish my degree, dabbling in the subject. I have been batting around this very theme, with a 10 page draft already evaluated and ripped to shreds lol, it's a tough subject! I look forward to your book.<br /><br />Would you prefer a slice of African Pie or Rice Pudding? <br /><br />African Agri-trends:<br />The world is coming over for dinner, how shall we feed her? .. and ourselves too.<br /><br />Sustainable Pie:<br />Slicing out equal portions of African Agricultural resources .. forever.<br /><br />I like your #1 .. also. I don't know your thesis, but seeing traditional Green Revolution techniques being over-utilized or revamped over the African continent seems to be a hopeless and perilous path for a promising future, for China, and especially Africans who have to suffer the consequences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-65602991197626083522014-09-29T18:23:30.008-04:002014-09-29T18:23:30.008-04:00I dig Mandarin Harvest or The Grain Strategy, or i...I dig Mandarin Harvest or The Grain Strategy, or improvising on one of the comments, the Black Rice Bowl. Or Chopsticks in Africa, which would allow for interesting cover art on your book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189930829940284211.post-13950180645264451482014-09-29T18:22:05.414-04:002014-09-29T18:22:05.414-04:00Picking a good title is definitely harder than I t...Picking a good title is definitely harder than I thought. I like the second proposed title the best: Mandarin Harvest: Fact and Fiction of Chinese "Land Grabs" in Africa. "Land grabs" definitely is a catchy phrase, but I am not sure if it sends the right message. Having something short and representing China is a good idea. "Mandarin Harvest" would be easy for people to remember, just like the "Dragon's Gift". I like "Green Dreams" too though I agree with one comment saying that it sounds a little bit like some ecological projects in Europe. Just my two cents. I was thinking the title could be "The Grain Strategy (echoes "the grand strategy"): Myths and Facts of Chinese Agriculture engagement/Chinese 'Land Grabs' in Africa". Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com