Asias spectacular growth during the 1990s was described as nothing less than an economic miracle. When the great Asian crash came in 1997, not only Asia but the world felt its force. how did the Asian miracle come about? How did it turn so sour? Who is to blame? Why did the crisis come as such a surprise? What lessons are to be learned? Who will emerge the strongest and weakest? Has the internatinoal community taken the right approach towards global financial market reforms? What does the future hold for Asia? In The Years of Living Dangerously, leading Asia writer and commentator Stephen Vines paints a vivid picture of excess and ignorance, challenging some of the well-established myths about Asian economies, governments, companies and markets. He also highlights the fundamental weakness of Asian companies – a subject little mentioned in discussions about the Asian crisis. He puts into perspective the events which plunged Asias (and the rest of the worlds) economies into chaos following an unprecedented period of growth. Himself an entrepreneur operating in Asia, Vines provides a unique insiders account of the heady days when Asias markets were heading in one direction only, before succumbing spectacularly to a terrifying exodus of capital. The Chinese characters for crisis have the dual meaning of danger and opportunity – in moments of crisis, there exists both danger and opportunity. Vines, moreover, looks to the future, as Asian governments and companies seek new opportunities and new paths. Have the lessons from the recent debacle been taken on board? What direction will economic development in the region take? And, most importantly, can Asian companies be reformed? As restructuring and resurgence gets under way, the author analyses the prospects of another Asian miracle. Stephen Vines has been for years one of the sharpest and wisest commentators on Asian economics and politics. Unlike many others, he was never seduced by talk of miracles, and spotted the dangers in the region as well as the many achievements. Vines has written a fascinating book that will annoy all the right people.