该书由101个故事构成，每个故事都是作者、作者的家庭以及朋友亲身经历的事情。读来让人觉得诙谐幽默的同时也让读者明白在和中国人打交道的时候，什么该做、什么不可以做。有些故事介绍中国的礼节、传授如何购物、如何讨价还价等等；有些故事会指导读者如何避免尴尬和难堪；还有些故事解释了一些在外国人看来难以理解、甚至似乎让人“讨厌”的中国人的举止。此外，作者会在每个故事后面加上评论，向读者说明中国人为什么会这么做，以及在这种情况下外国人明智的反应。

In 101 Stories for foreigners to Understand Chinese People,Yi and Bryan Ellis tell stories about their experiences living in China to introduce elements of Chinese culture,etiquette and interpersonal interaction. When they moved from New York City to Shanghai three years ago, they read several guide books and thought they were prepared. But dozens of small yet significant cultural differences caught them by surprise! Three years (and numerous faux pas, misunderstandings and misinterpretations) later, they have written this book to help readers benefit from their experiences. Their stories explain both the "what's" and the "why's" of Chinese customs, so that readers can better understand and appreciate the Chinese way of thinking and living. Often,what seems bizarre and strange at first makes perfect sense if you see it from a Chinese perspective. Yi and Bryan have enjoyed learning about Chinese culture and hope that the readers will enjoy this journey of discovery as well.