Defining the problem -- Introduction -- Theory -- The environment of chinese entrepreneurs -- Case histories -- Real estate entrepreneur Wang.- Textile spin-off Niu.-  LangLib - an online English study community.- Home renovator Cheng.- Migrant talor Yuan -- Restaurant entrepreneur Mr. B -- Less successful entrepreneur Meng -- Elements of entrepreneurial identity -- Family.- Home region.-  Friends -- Government -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Index.

Entrepreneurship is hot. China is hot. Chinese entrepreneurs are indeed the subject of a rapidly growing body of literature, popular and academic.  There are biographies of 'famous' entrepreneurs which are informative. While informative, these are usually of a non-academic nature. Academic studies tend to focus on the political and economic environment in which present day Chinese entrepreneurs have to operate. Both these types of publications shed light on the entrepreneurial identity. This study aims at filling the research gap with a core question: why do some people become entrepreneurs? The authors have analysed the life stories of a number of Chinese private entrepreneurs to reveal how the entrepreneurial identity of each of them has emerged at the cross section of a number of other identities. This book therefore contributes to a better understanding of Chinese entrepreneurship and the study of entrepreneurship in general.