Book excerpt: These 15 essays comprise a multidisciplinary evaluation of how mutual perceptions and appearances affect US-China relations. The first section, addressing American perceptions of China, includes discussion of the role of American merchants and businessmen in the making of image in China and the role of the American media in shaping public opinion about China. The second section treats Chinese perceptions of the US, including Chinese students' perceptions of the US and anti- American nationalism in China, among other topics. The five remaining essays address policy matters. Lacks an index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR