“我花了一周的时间，一口气把这本书从头到尾读完了。这本书信集记录了一位美国作家在中国生活三十年间与家人、密友之间的书信往来。这段中国之旅始于1988年，那时作者寄出了第一封信，信中所刻画的形象是一个对中国和亚洲毫无兴趣的美国退役军人；而在这本书的结尾，也就是2017年的最后一封信中，这位年轻人已经育有儿孙，成为了一名在中国大学任教的优秀教师以及厦门的荣誉市民。
这本书以时间顺序展示了近50封原始信件，从此中我看到一对美国夫妇带着两个孩子乘船来到厦门，从此在中国安居乐业，过着幸福安稳的生活。在这段时间内，中国无疑经历了翻天覆地的巨变，经济、交通、住房、人民生活等各个方面都发生了蜕变。
这本书讲述了一个美国家庭的中国故事。此外，书中还展现了中国的方方面面：语言、文化、历史、旅游、教育、美食和传统节日……对中国感兴趣的外国人会发现，这本书是了解中国的万能指南；而对于中国人来说，这本书可以让他们用全新的视角看待自己的祖国，重新理解中外友谊和中国梦。
作者风趣幽默，生动地描绘出中国和中国人民的真实面貌。本书文笔独特、风趣横生，讲述了作者在家庭、校园、教学以及沿海生活中发生的故事。我很享受阅读的过程。这本书时常让我捧腹大笑，同时也给我带来了很多思考和启发。就像书名写的那样，这本书让我真正与中国共情。作者在厦门的奇遇经历和日常生活让我看到了立体的中国：古老而年轻，有趣而美丽，广阔而安宁……
感谢作者潘威廉博士在本书中的深刻见解和肺腑之言。这本书讲述的是真实的人、真实的生活、真实的故事、真实的情感，为读者打开了一扇见证人类与自然，友谊与和平的心灵之窗。”
Sue T. 加拿大列治文市姐妹城市委员会副主席
来信原文
I spent a weekend reading the book, and I couldn’t stop reading it until I reached the last page. This epistolary book is a collection of letters written by an American author to his family members and close friends during 30 years of living experience in China. The journey began in 1988 with the 1st letter about an American young military agent who had no interest in China and Asia, 3 decades later, the young man has become a grandfather, an awarded teacher at a Chinese university and an honorary citizen of Xiamen with the last letter in 2017 to end the book. In a chronological timeline of nearly 50 original letters, I see an American couple with 2 toddlers arrived in Xiamen by boat, then the family has achieved growth and prosperity while living steadily and happily in China, China has certainly gone through the remarkable changes and amazing transformation in all aspects from economy to transportation, from housing to people.
The book is about an American family in China, but there is so much more than that. Language, culture, history, travel, education, food and traditional holidays…, it can be an all-in-one guide not only for foreigners who are interested in China, but also good for Chinese people to see the country in different perspectives especially about friendship and Chinese dream.
The writer has a great sense of humor to draw a real and vivid portrait of China and Chinese people. Witty and original, even hilarious sometimes, I enjoyed reading the book with the impressive writing and detailed stories by the author about his family life, school life, teaching life and coastal life. It made me laugh many times, it also made me think and inspired a lot, just like the book title, it made me really feel about China through his incredible adventure and everyday life in Xiamen: ancient and youthful, colorful and beautiful, vast and peaceful…
Thank you to the author Dr. Bill Brown for writing the book with valuable insights and heartfelt words. All is about real people and real life, real stories and real emotions to open many reader’s eyes and minds for humanity and nature, friendship and peace.