Nikhil Kamath, the influential co-founder of Zerodha, India's largest stockbroker, has given a strong endorsement to Patrick McGee's book, Apple in China. Kamath rated the book 9 out of 10, highlighting its insights into China's transformation into a global manufacturing and technology leader.
In a social media post, Kamath summarized his key takeaway from the book: "Rating 9/10... Allow outsiders in, let them invest, learn, climb up the value chain, outcompete, replace, export. (Ecosystem ecosystem ecosystem). Easy read, very story book like." His comments emphasize the strategic importance of inviting external investment and fostering industrial ecosystems for economic growth.
How Apple Fueled China's Manufacturing Rise
Published in May 2025, Apple in China meticulously traces the intertwined paths of Apple's ascent as the world's most valuable technology company and China's emergence as a manufacturing powerhouse. The book is based on over 200 interviews with former Apple executives, engineers, and supply chain insiders, offering an in-depth look at this symbiotic relationship.
McGee argues that Apple's investments in China extended far beyond mere iPhone assembly. According to the book, the tech giant transferred crucial manufacturing expertise, engineering know-how, and sophisticated supply-chain practices. These contributions were instrumental in establishing one of the world's most advanced electronics manufacturing ecosystems within China.
A Defining Partnership of the 21st Century
The book further contends that this relationship fostered deep interdependence. Apple became reliant on China's unparalleled manufacturing capabilities, while China leveraged the acquired knowledge and expertise to accelerate its ambitions of becoming a global technology leader. McGee characterizes this partnership as one of the defining business and geopolitical stories of the 21st century.
Patrick McGee, the author, is a Canadian journalist specializing in technology, global supply chains, and geopolitics. He spent a decade reporting for the Financial Times from Hong Kong, Germany, and California, serving as the principal Apple correspondent from 2019 to 2023 before taking a sabbatical to research and write Apple in China.