 In his introduction , Townsend describes the book as " an honest attempt to present the facts as they are , however unpleasant " and a counterbalance to the " maudlin sentiment " and " misinformation " of other writers on China who have made " fatuous attempts to sprinkle bright hopes over dark facts . " He argues that existing literature available in the West is skewed in favor of China because of the demands for " political correctness " on the part of publishers and the vested interests of the three major categories of foreigners in China , the missionaries , businesspeople and government officials . He notes that while China 's virtues will speak for themselves , " in appraising a stranger with whom we are to deal , it is important to know his shortcomings " . 
