Hu (U. of California, Berkeley) has edited this series of essays that examine China, which is currently the world's largest consumer of tobacco, and the inter-relationship between health care costs and the revenue generated through taxation. Arguments from the book's contributors stress the fact that the Chinese government should have intervened in the tobacco consumption of its citizens based on available research data before cigarettes became a leading cause of death (almost 1 million Chinese die every year from tobacco-related illnesses). While this book is aimed at students of Asian cultures, it should also be relevant to general audiences as well. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)