China Books

An excellent overview of what it is to be Asian American in America today. Joann Lee writes beautifully and puts you in touch with the individual struggles and victories of her subjects. A must read.

This book by Joann Lee is an excellent book on Asian-Americans. It tells the life stories of Asian-Americans without so much stereotypical baggage found elsewhere.

It shows Asian-Americans as people. Instead of the shallow, stereotypical views found in the movies, it gave me a deeper view of what it feels like and means to be a person of Asian descent living in America. And it does so honestly. It gives the reader a view into a very intimate but often overlooked part of life in America.

I recommend this to all who are interested in this topic.The book reads well and easily.

Enjoy!

This book provided many personal accounts of Asian Americans. The people and their experiences are very different from one another, but they are all considered as one category 'Asian American' perhaps because of similar social problems they've encountered living in america. The accounts portrayed truthfuly, and give an honest look at racism and prejudice, and the complexity of the issue. very inspiring

Studs Terkel meets Asian America. The author, affiliated with Queens College at the time the book was compiled, records oral histories from first through fourth generation Asian Americans from China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and Pacific Islands. (Chinese immigrants began to officially arrive in 1848; they were not allowed to apply for citizenship until 1943. Japanese and Koreans were not allowed citizenship until 1952; Filipinos and Asian Indians beat them by six years) These histories are grouped into three major section: Living In America; Americanization; and Refections on Interracial Marriage. In "Living In America", selections include Will Hao on being a true Hawaiian, and Andrea Kim on being born and raised in Hawaii, but not being Hawaiian. Sam Sue, a Chinese American lawyer, talks about growing up bitterly in Clarksdale Mississippi during a time of segregation. The Americanization section includes stories of escape and exodus, the bumpy road of acculturation, 3 stories just on run-ins with traffic cops (driving while Asian), and over 9 stories on Americanization, racism, tension, being Asian versus being American, and even on being a minority within a minority. Cao O discusses life as an ethnic Chinese in Vietnam and being Chinese-Vietnamese in America and dealing with social service agencies in Chinatown that is staffed by Hong-Kong born Chinese. In "No Tea, Thank You", Setsuko K. discusses the subtleties between the generations, such as politeness and their hidden meanings (when "no" means "yes", and "yes" means "no"). In a sub-section of nine stories about family, Cao O discusses the idea of `obligation', while Hideo K talks about the "Company as Friend". Tony Ham discusses Mah-Jonng as a family social focus. In a sub-section on religion, there is an interesting piece on Koreans and church membership. In one of eight stories on "Interracial Marriage", Jody Sandler writes talks about "So He's Not a Jewish Doctor", in which a 23 year old Woodmere Long Island Five Town girl marries an Asian America and faces pressures from family and friends, and contrasts Tony's values with those she grew up with in Five Towns.

Just as the title says, At the Dawn of the New China gives us a
benchmark perspective on the amazing transformation that's taking
place in China. And it's the first book I've come across that
actually helps me solve the mystery of just what it is our diplomats
are trying to do for us out there in the trenches.

I myself was the child of an expat living in Asia around the same time and the book brought me back to my childhood and memories of growing up in a foreign land.

This is a fascinating book, a window on modern, pre-ascendant China, the work of an American diplomat, and his family's life in Guangzhou. I found it fascinating in part because I was born and lived (obviously, or I wouldn't be here to write this) in the Far East in the early 1970s, when most of it was still a different world from the West, before both (along with the rest) were homogenized by "globalization." But the book is fascinating for reasons other than my own. Richard Williams was in Guangzhou at a time when it was still foreign to Americans and America was still foreign to it. Business deals failed because free markets were new and still alien. Today, Guangzhou is not only a high-technology manufacturing center, but a locus of R&D as well, and China is no longer remote. Richard Williams' family bridged the gap between China and America by living in Guangzhou (and, later, Hong Kong) and because his wife is Chinese and his children inherently multicultural.

Reading this book was like having dinner with a diplomat -- and not the guarded bureaucratic kind. Williams has an eye for colorful detail and absurdity, and recounts tales of everything from negotiating with recalcitrant local officials to getting accustomed to squat toilets. Anyone who's visited China in the last decade or two will be particularly fascinated by Williams' account -- so much has changed since then, yet much remains the same.

Richard Williams's story is unique and multidimensional. His work in setting up a new American diplomatic mission, his Chinese wife reuniting with brothers and sisters just emerging from the ravages of the Cultural Revolution, and his kids' experiences as the only foreign teenagers in the city all lead him into areas of Chinese society and life seldom accessible to foreigners. The result is a memoir of unparalleled richness.

And it goes way beyond that. By including declassified diplomatic cables and newspaper accounts, Williams situates his personal experiences in the wider perspective of what was happening with China globally and Sino-American relations in particular. He combines a touching family saga with an in-depth portrait of a China on the brink of historic change.

Michael Twohey sets aside the long-standing disposition to see political arguments in China in the past hundred years from a liberal or Marxist point of view, argues that to call them "Confucian" is too simple, and demonstrates their strikingly pragmatic continuity from Kang through Sun Yat-sen and the early Mao and Deng to the present. The result is a clear, powerful and persuasive intellectual history, of the first importance for understanding China in the twentieth century and its likely progress into the twenty-first.

Geoffrey Hawthorn University of Cambridge

Twohey's book re-thinks the usual Confucian-centered view of the development of Chinese political and economic thought. Focussing instead on the influence of Xunzi, Twohey convincingly demonstrates that China's leadership has, for centuries (and particualarly at the present time), relied extensively on the practical thought of Xunzi to provide sound economic and social moorings for the development of China. His views on New Authoritarianism help one better understand the philosophy and thought processes behind the decisions of China's modern leadership. I found the book to be readable, thorough, and well-researched. I strongly reccomend this book to academics, business people, or anyone else interested in China

In this thought-provoking study, Michael Twohey persuasively argues that the Confucian conception of the relationship between authority and welfare, informed by Xunzi's political thought, is a pertinent frame of reference for understanding contemporary Chinese statecraft. He has demonstrated that familiarity with Xunzi's ideas of group, natural inequality and great harmony can significantly enhance our appreciation of the rhetoric and ritual of exercising power in the People's Republic of China. His analysis of the debates on New Authoritarianism offers a fresh perspective on democracy and socialism in China.

Tu Weiming Professor of Chinese History and Philosophy, Harvard University and Director, the Harvard-Yenching Institute

Michael Twohey has written a book that is vast in scope, innovative in theme and clear in execution. Who would have thought Confucius irrelevant to Chinese political traditions? Who would have thought Deng Xiaoping a follower of ancient philosophical virtues? These and other revelations come to the fore as Twohey challenges one orthodoxy after another, supports his arguments with over six years of extensive research and re-positions contemporary Chinese authoritarianism on Xunzi's classical notion of welfare. The result is a must read for China specialists and non-specialists alike.

Dr. Sepideh Gharai Thornhill, Ontario Canada

The title of this book, 'Awakening the Mind, Lightening the Heart' is, in essence, the core topic of this book. This book is entirely dedicated on teaching us how to awaken our minds and lighten our hearts.

His Holiness's eloquence and understanding of compassion are great and vast as an ocean. I realized this while reading the book. It took me over two months' time to get to page 30, because I was determined on completely understanding and grasping the meanings of each page before I moved onto the next. I was also determined to apply each page's teachings into my life before I'd move onto the next. How wrong I was to think I would finish this book in a timely fashion.

I would read a few pages, then set the book aside and contemplate on the teachings. I'd carry His Holiness's words in my heart and my mind as I went about my day's events. I'd go back to read the book, thinking I'd pick up where I left off. While skimming through the pages I had already read, I'd stop and notice that I realized something about a paragraph. How curious, I had already read it, but suddenly it was as if I were reading it again with fresh eyes, and I'd learn yet something else. Doing this again and again, it took me two months before finishing page 30. Then I'd look back on the past few months and realize I had basically changed into a much more patient and caring person.

I started on this book a long while back, and I'm still discovering and rediscovering truths and revelations in His Holiness's simple words.

The reason I provided the small anecdote is because this book can last you a lifetime if you apply His Holiness's teachings into your life. There is a lifetime's worth of lessons to be learned from the seemingly simple exterior of his teachings.

This book basically starts us at the basics and teaches us the fundamentals of Buddhism. What is suffering? What is the cause of suffering? How do we overcome suffering? The Dalai Lama goes over the Four Noble Truths and the Three Poisons (ignorance, greed, hatred) in such a friendly, warm, simple and engaging manner that we can't help but sit there and listen. I felt as if I were a preschooler listening to my favorite teacher while reading this book, and truly, when reading this book with an open, receptive mind, you'll feel as if you're re-learning all the basics about everything. It's as if we've walked all our lives in a manner that has caused us to trip and fall constantly, and here His Holiness is giving us a guide that teaches us why we were walking incorrectly, why our previous way of walking would cause us to fall, and finally, how to practice walking correctly in a manner that won't cause us to fall and hurt ourselves.

Usually, I review books and items pretty harshly. I'll point out descrepancies, things I didn't like, etc. I'm at a loss with this book. I've been a Buddhist for my entire life and after reading this book, I realized just how far from understanding I was. Don't be fooled by the deceptive simplicity of this book. It's one thing to read something and understand it, but in trying to apply it, this book will provide a lifetime's worth of lessons, knowledge, and understanding. It's as if the closer you come to accepting what the Dalai Lama always teaches -- compassion -- the more understanding you gain from the book that perhaps you never saw there before.

This is a book, I feel, that anybody can read. All it does is offer insight into suffering, what causes us to suffer, and how we overcome suffering. It's not about His Holiness preaching on and on about the Dharma. It's about him taking the best of the Dharma and bringing it to you in a very reader-friendly format, coupled with his own explanations.

I couldn't think of anything better.

I have been reading the book each day,it has become so well worn I decided to buy another.The concise step-by-step information appealed to me. The book is well written, illustrating a clear path to enlightenment through wisdom and compassion. The simple steps guide the reader to an easy understanding of the peace and beauty of a compassionate life. I was drawn to discovering more about Tibetan Buddhism after reading "some of the dharma" by Jack Kerouac. In contrast, this book by the Dalai Lama compelling in its advice about the importance of disciplining the mind. Kerouac struggled with these issues, and may have found some measure of comfort had he had this book available to him.

The teachings and the wisdom written by His Holiness is incredible. I regret not knowing his teachings during childhood. The book is an easy read and quite powerful. I shall meditate each day in hopes of following His teachings. I have passed it along to a good friend and am looking forward to reading it again.

Core Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. I can't recommend this series high enough.

Cameron has achieved somthing remarkable here. He has produced a superb scholarly work, and infused it with a warmth and humanity which beggars description. He evokes the sense of awe, of wonder, of sheer disbelief felt by these European visitors. He revels in their confusion, laughs as they grope their way through a world of which they have no comprehension. And is completely sympathetic. That is not to say this is a lighthearted book. He can be savage in his critique, and his description of the Opium Wars will anger many. Still, for a balanced, lively and superbly scholary book, you can not find better. I recomend it wholeheartedly.

If you are not interested in China you should read this book, to understand more of your own country. If you are, then you will find it insightful, erudite, empathic, and comfortably delivers the quality you would want when reviewing the scope of 13 centuries of western engagement with traveller. Based on my reading of innumerable other books on the subject, one of the best informed. Except maybe about the Last Empress.....such a small point. This writer has lived for decades in the region, and it shows. Highly recommend.

I have made China, its history and future, a dedicated hobby. It also helps that my work requires me to covers Greater China. As such I have read 100's books, and visited many times, and published - although nowhere near the scholarly work of this. It is a great work, very well researched, sympathetic, and empathic - rare in the case of a western writer in my experience. He has spent decades in the region, and it shows. A project on a broad scale, 13 centuries of China's engagement with western travellers is readable, insightful, human, and even if you do not have an interest in China - it will change the way you think about your own country[men] and the geopolitical landscape. However, you should know about China, it is now a major player on the world stage. Highly recommend.

Through the accounts of representative Western travelers -over thirteen centuries- in China, the author provides a historical thread of encounters between West and East, starting with the christians-nestorians in the year 625, and continuing with Marco Polo and the Mongols. Then, the great saga of Jesuits scholars and Dominics during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The author moves on to the 19th century with detailed accounts on traders and diplomats intertwining with the Opium War and the Unequal Treaties, finishing with the boxer attack of the Foreign Legations in 1900 and the Sun Yat Sen's first republic in 1911 .

In the background one reads of the comings and goings of the Chinese dynasties dealing with increasing waves of "ocean devils". In the forefront one finds the portrayal of a gallery of actors : sages and villains, missionaries and eunuchs...The underlying clash of cultures enhances the reciprocal fascination and disbelief of two worlds, each one convinced of his own superiority but nevertheless enthralled by the other.

Nigel Cameron -- in a well documented exposition of hundreds of historical clues, with over 100 illustrations-recounts the introduction of western astronomy to the Middle Kingdom, the enchantment of Jesuits with Confucianism and the subsequent conflict with Christianity, the antiforeignism as official Chinese policy confronting the Western "gunboat" extraterritoriality.

History repeats itself ?.I am writing this review in Beijing, July 1999, myself a " bearded barbarian" European staying in China since early 1989. A few weeks ago I saw in Beijing demonstrations of Chinese students stoning two western embassies. Recently we have seen on the news the emotional confrontations between Chinese and Western (Americans) diplomats and political leaders regarding atomic espionage. At the threshold of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the New China and the upcoming China entrance into the World Trade Organization, the story of the East and West, face to face, is an unending and fascinating one .

A copy of its out of print 1989 edition has been on my desk as a special reference book, so I am glad that it has been recently reprinted.I would recommend it for someone who has more than a mild interest in the subject matter, and mainly for the next barbarians coming to China in the next millenniums...

I have been to Beijing 4 times and took this map for my last 12 day visit. It was GREAT! Got me to all my meetings, Olympic events, and even my native friends were loving my Map! If only they could do more maps on every district in BJ, but then you would need a book. Worth every penny I paid! Thank YOU.

During my 2 weeks in the Beijing area this map was indispensible! It's laminated, so it holds up great. The streets are labeled in pinyin (roman characters). This is perfect, since these days almost every street sign in Beijing is also labeled in pinyin (as well as Chinese characters). Almost every landmark you want to find is on the map in English as well as Chinese.

Subway lines and their stops are indicated (except the brand new line #5). The map makes it very easy to get around Beijing and even includes overlays with major places such as the forbidden city and summer palace.

In looking at maps of Beijing, my criterion was simple: "Does the map show the street where our hotel is located?" This was a challenge: the hotel we chose was a converted mansion on a narrow "hutong," or side street. The Borch map was the only one I could find that did - much, much more detail than any similar map - certainly vastly better than any of the free maps that hotels give out. Note that the current version is updated for the Olympics and does show the new Beijing Metro lines that are about to open.

During my ten day trip to Beijing The Berndtson laminated map of Beijing was indispensable. It is easily readable and has many of the best places to visit highlighted which made planning each day easy. The map not only survived the hundreds of openings and refolding, but is still in excellent shape for many future uses. The only shortcoming is that the map does not cover the outlying areas of Beijing. It covers only the central area out to the "third ring road"

Betty Crocker recipes have always been favorites. These recipes for Chinese Cooking are great because America likes Chinese food. The book also includes an introduction to Chinese Cooking and needed utensils and ingredients. There are even suggested menus to review. Book has recipes for appetizers, soups, beef, pork, chicken and duck, seafood, rice, noodles and dumplings, and vegetables. Please get this book and really LEARN the art of Chinese cooking.

We love to eat Chinese food. This book offers an array of good recipes that are laid out in such a way as to make it simple for anyone to achieve great, effortless dishes. This is my second copy of this wonderful book, my dog ate the first one - I'm really telling the truth. I guess he realize how good it was too!

The recipes are outstanding. Taste just like a restaurant made it. You can't go wrong with anything in this book. Food made from recipes in this book go over extremely well at parties!

this is an EXCELLENT cookbook filled with all the most popular chinese dishes. from sesame chicken to hot and sour soup, it gives all the tricks on how to make a delicious chinese dinner! if you aren't familiar with lee ann chin, her recipes produce meals similar to PF chang's and other chinese bistros. good luck and happy cooking!

"The Bitter Sea" is the BEST kind of autobiography; it's riveting, fast paced, beautifully written, and educational. When I say that it "reads like a novel" I mean that as a compliment.

I read "The Bitter Sea" while hurricane Ike raged around me and during the aftermath I read it by candlelight. Learning about Li's hard life in China helped me put my own discomforts in perspective! Li's descriptions are occasionally horrific and always captivating.

The book ends when Li comes to America...with a promise that his experiences with the two opposing societies are a story for another day...I took that to mean he's working on Part Two of his life's story and I will be among the first in line to read it.

There are many good narratives by survivors of this period in Chinese history. This short narrative, by the son of a player in the drama of 20th century China, is unique for its descriptions of the number of facets of Chinese life experienced by the author as a boy and young man.

Before leaving his teens he had lived in sheltered wealth and in the slums of Nanjing, in the freewheeling city of Shanghai, in various places in Hong Kong (including living through the exodus of refugees within 3 days of border closure) and in a "reform school" on mainland China. We learn about each of these through his descriptions and anecdotes.

The chapter on the "reform school" needs to be incorporated in larger annals of modern Chinese history. He tells how students who went back to their mother country to carve out careers in the "new China" were separated by previous country, how they lived, ate, swatted flies and received an education that did not need books. With student Mei's revenge, you forget the seriousness of his transgression for a moment because you just have to laugh out loud.

Most dramatic is the portrait of the author's father, whose high station in life resulted from his important role in the Japanese occupation. The advice he gives his son is like that of Machiavelli to the young Prince. In the beginning we have the child's eye view of how the family's good fortune during the Japanese occupation ended, and later the author's adult perspective on how his father became the man that he was.

I was surprised to see, at the end that the author credits Judith Regan for initiating the project and encouraging him in writing this book.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in 20th century China.

This book tells a personal story of a boy growing up in a very unusual Chinese family during the turbulent times of world war II and the Chinese civil war that followed. The story unfolded as sort of a self analysis, an older man looking back at his childhood and his father with pity, ambivalence, and nostalgia. It is deeping moving, tear-jerking at times, and yet entertaning in its own special way. I read the book on a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai--I couldn't have picked a more appropriate time/space for reading this good book.

Charles Li's story of his life in China is a must read. I found it to be well written and difficult to put down. Li's account of his family's difficult relationships and the constantly changing political climate in China is dramatic and heart-breaking but at the same time inspiring. I recommend it highly.

This is a gorgeous book. Beautiful pictures and pleasing art. I enjoyed reading it very much. However, I wish I knew how to pronounce some of those mantras. I worry I am doing them all wrong. A pronunciation guide would have been helpful.

As the previous reviewer commented, this book is powerfully visual; filled with gorgeous imagery of various depictions of the Buddha and photography of young monks holding candles. Intermingled in this is a pretty good introduction into Tibetan Buddhism, wisdom applicable to your life is found herein on every page. Lillian Too's approach is simultaneously open and honest. So, if you are looking for a book of masterful art, here is your book. If you are looking for a daily devotional, here is your book. If you are looking for a brief autobiography of a typical layperson practicing the Buddha's Dharma, this is your book. It's truly fairly all encompassing. Grab it today, it will serve wonderfully in all the areas I mentioned, as well as an attractive decorative coffee table piece.

I love this book! I was looking forever for a book with mantras in it and this one really delivered. I keep it with my altar and use it regularly in my meditation practice. It's instructions on the rituals and meditations are really clear and it is beautifully illustrated. This book had totally blessed me!

This book pulled it all together for me. I found it more easily absorbable then the class of Buddhism that I took in college. One doesn't have to be a sole practicing Buddhist to enjoy the rich variety of all the different Buddhas depicted in this book, for me, I am a Gnostic Hindu at first, and I found myself meditating on the beautiful artwork that is depicted in this book and manifesting the energies the Buddhas continuously give to us who are open to the energy. Such a valuable book that can be used as powerful as any Bible, or Koran.

This is a great collectible book. The Buddha paintings are presented in one long sheet, but because the book has an accordian fold, it possible to view the entire scroll at once. Also, the fold makes it possible to display the book, if so desired. Printing is fantastic and very fine and clear. A great find!

The writer of the review calls this scroll, ***An exquisite 36-foot-long full-color Buddhist scroll*** but gives it no stars?

Takeout that and the ranking is where it should be at 5 stars.

My guess is the reviewer meant 5 stars anyway...

A very original way of binding to keep the idea of a scroll. The quality of the paper and images is very good. A book to be collected.

While not a textbook or a 'fieldguide' to Buddhist practice and belief, THE BUDDHA SCROLL is an amazing visual treat, a fantastic technical achievement and a delight to all those who enjoy the study of iconology. Image after image unfolds before the eyes revealing Buddhas,Bodhisattvas,Dieties and Notables from every school of Buddhism- from the most familliar (Avalokisteshvara) to the more obscure (White Leaf Buddha Mother). An eclectic collection of imagery with a fascinating history which is well expounded in the consise introduction... you get more than you would expect from the price.