As the editorial reviews state above, this is a reference book for libraries and specialists. The book is thorough, and the writing academic in nature. It is best used as a reference work. Anyone who is interested in such things as the development of rock music in China, the evolution of film, the role of newspapers in Chinese society, how Chinese spend their leisure time, and so on, will find this book a valuable resource. Each chapter ends with a section called "A to Z" which serves as a kind of review of the major names, terms, and events discussed in the chapter. I found this useful.Since I am doing research on Chinese pop culture, I did read through the entire book and found it well written and well organized. It is a welcome addition to my library and I recommend it.