Books to Change Your Life--The Sand Pebbles

     Author James Michner sent us a strong signal, but we didn’t notice.

     At one level, the novel explores the political conflict with the US as a kind of occupier, in the form of a Navy gunboat on the Yangtze River patrol in 1926 China, opposed by local rebels.

     But a closer look reveals a more important prophecy.

     The captain and crew decided to allow nationals to come aboard and help out. At first, it was with very minor chores, like shining shoes, leaving the serious work with the crew. Gradually the Chinese helpers became more proficient and started taking over more serious tasks. The Americans couldn’t resist. Life was good. What could go wrong?

     Now, you can guess the rest. Just as Detroit auto companies were happy to let the Japanese sell cheap low-end cars in the last century, to their ultimate disaster as the new competitors became more proficient and threatening, the same outcome emerged on the gunboat. Disaster and death followed for the Navy unit.

     Detroit also had a near-death experience, and huge reductions resulted in the industry, which is only now trying to recover.

     As in the novel, China started selling cheap items and seemed nonthreatening. They were awarded favored nation trade status in 2001. What could go wrong?

     Everything.

     Industrial America was hollowed out, with devastating effects on family structure, mental illness, and even life expectancy. We are trying to claw out of that hole.

     They say fiction tells the truth through lying. Michner did his best.

     Now we know.