The SQUEEZE: A Year Without ‘Made in China’: One Family’s True Life Adventure in the Global Economy is the author’s chronicle of a yearlong experience boycotting Chinese-made products. Sara Bongiorni decides on January 1, 2005, through sheer will power and creativity, to live without products made from the world’s fastest growing economy. Bongiorni’s goal also was to determine if living without the products could be done at all. Bongiorni suggests that at times the journey is fascinating and frustrating, but also slippery, engaging, and remarkably humbling. As China continues to emerge as a global powerhouse, Bongiorni continues to feel the need to outrun China’s reach by keeping her rebellious husband in line, disappointing her son, and challenging her own views about high-end designer clothing. By the end of this real-world adventure, Bongiorni determines that the most populous nation on the planet influences one or more areas of everyday human life.

Notable Endorsement: “a wry look at the ingenuity it takes to shun the planet's fastest-growing economy." Bloomberg News

Common Q’s Answered by this Book:

• How does the Chinese presence address the global reality of human existence?
• How does China function as an economic giant in comparison to other developed nations?
• What insight do China’s manufacturing processes provide for the U.S. economy facing consolidation?

About the Author: Sara Bongiorni is a writer and journalist. Bongiorni’s research interest includes international trade and its impact upon the local economy. Bongiorni has won local, state, and national awards for her articles, including a 2002 Best in Business award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Bongiorni won the award for a series on the impact of out-migration that affected the Louisiana economy. Bongiorni completed studies at the University of California, San Diego; and graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.

Book Vitals:

Publisher: Wiley (October 2008)