Rupert Murdoch's China Adventures: How the Worlds Most Powerful Media Mogul Lost a Fortune and Found a Wife

Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul and global celebrity billionaire, is well-known for his impulsive actions and enormous deals. Prior to his recent takeover of the Dow Jones, Murdoch spent years working to gain a foothold in China. Rupert's Adventures in China tells this scintillating story, offering insight into the infamous Murdoch's News Corp.

Beginning in the mid-80s, Murdoch quickly discovered that gaining media access to China was a whole different ballgame then anywhere else in the world. Unlike in the West, the Chinese Communist leadership didn't need the support of the media to retain power, robbing him of his usual leverage, and their ability to regulate and control business was close to absolute. The Propaganda Department was given a watching brief on Murdoch's activities, and he was kept well away from the upper echelons of power.

But despite the bungling and barriers put in his way, Murdoch's News Corp has still had a profound effect, transforming staid Chinese television into a popular entertainment medium and effectively connecting China to the world through the internet. Rupert's Adventures in China by News Corp insider Bruce Dover traces Murdoch's journey from dangerous 'capitalist' to compliant partner to being held at arm's-length again. Along the way, he paints a personal picture of Murdoch at work, with telling anecdotes of the impulsive billionaire in his prime, and recounts how he fatefully introduced his boss to Wendi Deng. A great read, this fascinating book is engagingly written and peppered with entertaining anecdotes of the trials and tribulations of an eccentric billionaire and his interactions with the Chinese government.