China Hands: Nine Decades of Adventure, Espionage, and Diplomacy in Asia By James R. Lilley

Review excerpt:

James Lilley, a former ambassador to China and agent with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was a Cold War soldier. Written with remarkable clarity and conviction, his memoir, China Hands, is about the span of his and his family's life in China. But now, as the United States struggles to maintain its image amid scandal and lack of support for its war on terror, Lilley's account also serves as a reminder of the dedication he and others have devoted to serving the U.S.

James Borton is a freelance journalist and director of Asia Pacific Projects for Foreign Affairs.