Jeffrey Wasserstrom's book "China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know" is an easy and important read.

Why is it important?

Because China already is, and will increasingly become more, influential in global economics.

Because we must understand the Chinese mindset about politics, economics, law, human rights, etc.

Because we have deep misconceptions about China which hamper our ability to understand and interact with a nation of 1.3 billion people.

Wasserstrom, Jeffrey. China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010).