Books have formula for success

All three books by former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji enjoyed success in China from the moment they hit the market.

Zhu Rongji Meets the Press (2009), Zhu Rongji on the Record (2011) and the latest Zhu Rongji in Shanghai (2013) were all published in Chinese by People's Publishing House.

The first two books have English versions that were published by Oxford in 2011, and by Foreign Languages Press under the China International Publishing Group and the Brookings Institution Press in 2013. For the latest English release, the two presses organized a grand launch in New York. 

Zhu's particular use of language and the interesting topics covered are behind the books' success.

Zhu Rongji on the Record and Zhu Rongji in Shanghai were compiled by selecting the most interesting stories and speeches from a wide range of materials.

The book drew much interest because it describes a critical period of social reform and it helps people understand the current transformation.

Huang Shuyuan, president of People's Publishing House, believes the book sells because it reflects Zhu's personal glamour and "provides good governing examples".

Also in the book, Zhu reveals why he sticks to his forthright and forceful style in talks and speeches. "I believe in independent thinking and I say what I mean," Zhu says in the book.