An exploration of the economic power of the overseas Chinese, particularly their domination of the Pacific Rim. The overseas Chinese are a vast, highly interconnected net of 55 million expatriate Chinese who control up to two trillion dollars in assets, and not only dominate the Pacific Rim but are making increasing inroads into the West. Part economic analysis, part Pacific Rim history, and part chronicle of fortunes won, lost and won again, this book tells who the overseas Chinese are and how they got to be so powerful. Spanning thousands of years, it encompasses stories of murder and betrayal, bravery and corruption; of triads syndicates, kingmakers, merchants, emperors, generals, spies and pirates. The book is also a cautionary tale - for the Chinese stategies that have proven so successful for so long are just as effective today. Sterling Seagrave is the author of The Soong Dynasty.