"Blockchain Chicken Farm" is a fascinating exploration of the intersection between technology and rural life in China. The author, Xiaowei Wang, offers a series of vignettes that examine how different communities are adapting to new technological developments, from the rise of e-commerce platforms to the use of blockchain in agriculture.

What I appreciated about this book was its focus on the human stories behind these innovations. Wang offers a nuanced and often intimate look at how people in China are grappling with the rapid changes happening around them, and how they are finding ways to adapt and thrive. The stories she tells are often touching and inspiring, and they offer a unique perspective on China's complex relationship with technology.

That being said, I did find the book to be a bit uneven at times. Some of the stories felt underdeveloped, and I would have liked to see more analysis and context around some of the technological developments being discussed. Additionally, while I appreciated the personal touch of the vignettes, I think the book could have benefited from more overarching themes or arguments tying them together.

Overall, I would recommend "Blockchain Chicken Farm" to anyone interested in technology, China, or the intersection of the two. While it's not without its flaws, the book offers a thought-provoking and insightful look at how technology is transforming rural communities in China.

Interesting idea.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All the best to the author for future endeavors.

Pitched review to a couple places, did not get picked up. Reviewed on Goodreads:

"I Went to Rural China and All I Got Was This Valuable New Perspective on the Relationship Between Technology and Geopolitics."

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the Reader's Copy!

Now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indie Bookstore.

It is impossible to live in the US today and not hear about the rise of the Chinese economy. Yet, for most people, the impact of rapid technological changes on daily lives of Chinese folk, especially folk in rural areas, remains a mystery. What "Blockchain Chicken Farm" does is clear some of the misconceptions about rural China (ie that it is backwards, less competitive, laid back) while documenting really fascinating micro industries (blockchain chicken farming, pearl mining, third party buying). What I loved most about this book was the way Wang delved into the personal lives of the Chinese people, whether through interviews or personal explorations. Some of the material seems straight out of science fiction (block chain chicken farms, really???) but as often happens in life, the truth is stranger than fiction. A fascinating read!

A very insightful, beautifully written book about technological advances in rural China. For some time, I am convinced that this country is like Japan in the 80s - they are at least a couple of years ahead of the rest of the world in terms of new technologies, and watching what happens there is like a glimpse into the future. This book confirms my belief. It is like reading some SF novel, you have to repeatedly remind yourself that it is nonfiction. Moreover, it is not a dry account, rather a kind of personal travelog with many digressions and inspiring reflections.

The book is a part of a very interesting series, FSG Original x Logic, which dissects the way technology functions in everyday lives.

Thanks to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This was pretty good, but uneven and didn't hold my interest throughout. There's lots of interesting info, and the book brings up some big questions, which I found intriguing at times. 3.5 starts

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

Xiaowei Wang is a Chinese-American artist, researcher and activist working on technology-related issues. In this book, they describe their travels through the Chinese countryside, searching for the sources and consequences of technological innovation. While it's interesting how they dissolve the myth of the conservative countryside, it's even more interesting how they confront non-Chinese readers with their prejudices only to illustrate how stupid these cliches actually are, and how close Western technological realities are to those in China. In eight essays, Wang talks about the surveillance state and surveillance capitalism, eCommerce and digital multi-level-schemes, social media and influencers, the title-giving chicken farm that uses blockchain to improve food safety, and some other economic and social implications of technology in rural China.

I liked how the author puts economic phenomena in perspective with an intersectional approach: They are Han Chinese-American, traveling between big cities and rural areas, talking with tech specialists and workers, young people and old people, always trying to measure both the chances and dangers of digital innovation. And they also open up the big perspective: What kind of world do we want to live in, and what does that mean for the way we build and use technology? What opportunities and threats does technology bring for social justice?

Unfortunately, I'm not a tech specialist, but the texts are easily accessible, and the social dimensions are way more important than the details of technological processes. This is an intriguing read for anyone interested in the development of digital technologies and how they can change the face of societies. Plus there are some "Sinofuturist" recipes in the book, so readers can find new ways to engineer their food! ;-)