Book · 2025 · Business & Economics
Apple in China
The Capture of the World's Greatest Company
- mentions
- 9
- people
- 6
- podcasts
- 5
- episodes
- 6
- recommendations
- 3
Patrick McGee's, uh, Apple and China, uh, I found just very interesting from an industrial policy standpoint, from a foreign policy standpoint, from a national security standpoint.
What they say about it
- Discusses manufacturing and supply chains“not competitive to manufacture in the United States”2
- Inspired podcast conversation“inspired by the book”2
The best things said about it
I would say one of the most important books written recently is by a Patrick McGee on Apple and China and really to tell the story of how you know, sort of one one company's endeavor to find cheaper labor in China changed the entire trajectory of the global economy, in a sense.
There's a great book Apple in China that documents a lot of this to your point in terms of you know could we get that back in some ways there's no reason why we why we couldn't.
The fact that Apple outsourced so much of that manufacturing and so much of that knowledge and expertise is now in Shenzhen, like now Shenzhen's ability to build phone adjacent products, which I think you could definitely describe drones.
I want to segue to the main focus of our conversation today, which is not a book review of Apple in China, though it's a great book, but inspired by the book.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
6 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Apple in China by Patrick McGee is a detailed examination of Apple's manufacturing footprint and supply chain evolution in Asia. On The Ezra Klein Show, Liam Donovan recommended the book for its valuable insights into industrial policy, foreign policy, and national security. John Collison on Cheeky Pint similarly asked if his guest had read the book, praising its history of Apple's supply chain agility and manufacturing strategies. Stephen on the a16z Podcast referenced the book to highlight details regarding Apple's joint design history, while Erik Torenberg used the text as the inspiration for an episode dedicated to Apple's operational challenges in China. Larry Covert on This Week in Startups brought up the book to illustrate how one company's quest for cheaper labor ultimately shifted the trajectory of the global economy. On an episode of Cheeky Pint, the host mentioned the text when discussing corporate product bundling decisions, and Keller Cliffton later revisited the work alongside John Collison to discuss how Apple's massive direct investments helped build Shenzhen's robust manufacturing ecosystem. Finally, David Sacks mentioned Apple in China on All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg while evaluating manufacturing challenges in the United States and comparing them to operations overseas. Across multiple platforms, podcast hosts and guests repeatedly highlighted the title as a definitive account of modern global supply chains.
Every mention
John Collison People also talk about the fact that it's not competitive to manufacture in the United States anymore, beca… 1
“People also talk about the fact that it's not competitive to manufacture in the United States anymore, because supply chain, I don't know, did you read the "Apple in China" book?”
Liam Donovan Patrick McGee's, uh, Apple and China, uh, I found just very interesting from an industrial policy standpoin… 1
“Patrick McGee's, uh, Apple and China, uh, I found just very interesting from an industrial policy standpoint, from a foreign policy standpoint, from a national security standpoint.”
Erik Torenberg So uh we're here to talk about Apple. We're here to talk about you inspired by the book Apple in China. 2
“So uh we're here to talk about Apple. We're here to talk about you inspired by the book Apple in China.”
“I want to segue to to the main focus of our conversation today, which is not a book review of Apple in China, though it's a great book, but inspired by by the book.”
David Sacks There's a great book Apple in China that documents a lot of this to your point in terms of you know could w… 1
“There's a great book Apple in China that documents a lot of this to your point in terms of you know could we get that back in some ways there's no reason why we why we couldn't”
Keller Cliffton You mentioned the Apple supply chain book. That is a huge reason. The fact that Apple outsourced so much of… 1
“You mentioned the Apple supply chain book. That is a huge reason. The fact that Apple outsourced so much of that manufacturing and so much of that knowledge and expertise is now in Shenzhen, like now Shenzhen's ability to build phone adjacent products, which I think you could definitely describe drones.”
Larry Covert I would say one of the most important books written recently is by a Patrick McGee on Apple and China and r… 1
“I would say one of the most important books written recently is by a Patrick McGee on Apple and China and really to tell the story of how you know, sort of one one company's endeavor to find cheaper labor in China changed the entire trajectory of the global economy, in a sense.”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker2
“My understanding reading the "Apple in China" book is it was like a totally random decision that someone just made it, you know, one day.”
“And the one model was done as a joint design effort with some which was just incredibly brazen for Apple culture to like break out like that and they did and and like it came back and the people at Apple were like wow man this is this is this is not so bad you know and um it wasn't”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“You know, I haven't read this uh Apple China book. Um it's it a lot of people have been talking about it and I and I aim to.”
“McGee is the author of Apple in China, the capture of the world's greatest company, which hits bookstores today.”