China Books

Eric Stone's first novel reveals the underbelly of Macau, Hong Kong, and other colorful cities as backdrop to an original suspense story: protagonist Ray Sharp tries to rescue a Russian prostitute from a deadly crime syndicate. The novel's strength is its vividly depicted settings. Even well-traveled readers will be enlightened, often surprised, and sometimes shocked as they follow Stone on a tour of some of the most exotic places on Earth.

This book was a great read. Within a few pages, protagonist Ray Sharp feels like a real person. The descriptions of HongKong and Macau never strain for effect, yet they are incredibly vivid (and accurate, based on my modest HK experience). The plot avoids the tired "then things became implausibly dangerous but the narrator miraculously prevailed in the end" cliche that infests many thrillers. It is terribly gruesome in spots, but if you read through to the author's note at the very end, the sickening parts seem well justified. While this is definitely a "man's book" - the point of view is decisively male and our hero never once bemoans his weight or gets nagged by his mother - it is accessible to a female readership as well; in fact, Ray directly addresses a few issues in a way that seems designed to interest female readers. Finally, the world as narrated by Ray is ideal for a series. The infrequent use of details about Ray's background as fuel for the book's development seems a promising method for avoiding the excessive review that can plague series books. It will be a pleasure to see what Ray encounters in future novels.

This book is by and about two guys from the UK who retraced the route of the original Long March. I had seen some stuff about the project in the news, but I really got turned on to this book when I heard one of the two give a lecture at the Bookworm. I was also a member of the studio audience when he appeared as a guest on UP CLOSE (for those of you who don't live in Beijing, UP CLOSE is a local TV show on the 24 hour English channel).

My main interest was to see if this book could help to clear up some areas of conflict and fill in some gaps in the history of this much heralded event in the history of New China. The recent book by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday has focused attention on the Long March, because they seem to feel that the Long March has been blown out of proportion for propaganda purposes.

So my primary interest is history rather than geography or sociology. But in reading this book, I did learn a fair bit about the geography of this area, and also gained some insight into current Chinese culture. For example, the writers mentioned several cases where a newspaper would call them and ask for an interview. They were not able to accommodate every request, so they had no choice but to turn down some of them. But they noticed, to their amusement, that the article appeared anyway, with completely fabricated information. Retelling this story brings to mind the story Ronald Reagan used to tell about when he was a sports announcer for an Iowa radio station during the depression, and he made up the end of a baseball game because the teletype connection had been interrupted for some reason, and he didn't want to lose his audience. So I do not imply that this problem is limited to China. But hearing the story and others like it does support the growing consensus that it would be good to see a little more openness in the Chinese media.

Regarding the march itself, there is a lot of controversy about just what took place. Jung Chang gives the impression that the Long March was an "easy ride" for Mao, and pictures him riding in a litter in a grand tour through the mountains. That picture really does not jibe with history. But her contention that the route of the march was influenced by political factors that went beyond the best way to get where they were going has given me some pause. That, I have to admit, does sound like something Mao would do. But if you want to write history with integrity, you can't just say something that you think would be typical of a given historical figure, without providing the historical evidence that it actually happened the way you would like to surmise. This is one of the main reasons I recommend this book. It was written by two guys, one of whom has a PhD in history, who actually retraced every step of the trail. And they did it at a time when several people who had either been on the march or remembered it vividly were living along the route of the march.

But there is another side benefit of this book. These guys talked to a lot of country people along the way, who gave them a colorful picture of how the laobaixing in the countryside see their country and the world. For example, they saw many large character signs proclaiming the importance of the "Three Represents (Jiang Zemin's contribution to the legacy of Mao Zedong thought)." They asked people along the way about the importance of these proclamations. Everybody they talked to insisted that the "Three Represents" were very important, but no one could tell them what the three represents actually were. Finally, one young girl said she thought she knew. She said the Three Represents were Mao Zedong, Deng Xiao-ping, and Jiang Zemin.

Andy McEwen (one of the authors) showed a bunch of slides at the bookworm one night. He asked us to guess which one was censored from the Chinese edition of their presentation. No one could guess. But when he told us, it made perfect sense. It was a picture of some coal miners, very noticeable by their black faces, and by the fact that they were quite young.

I could go on, but I think I have made the point that this is a multi-faceted book that will definitely add to your understanding of China. It is really two stories in one. It gives insight into the Long March, but it is also a very intimate story of two foreigners who hiked through the countryside of China. As such, it would have value even without the historical significance of the route they chose. Five stars for a job well done.

The "original" Long March was an epic movement of Mao's communist troops escaping from the Kuomintang in southern China to a "soviet" enclave in the north via the fringes of Tibetan highlands. It is possibly the best-known "heroic" event in the history of Chinese communism, having become almost "mythical" in its status/importance by today.

The authors are two journalists who have decided to try and compare the myth with the reality by retracing the Long March. Despite burocratic hurdles and the dearth of resources, they succeed to do so, meeting surviving eye-witnesses, and possibly even Mao's "long-lost daughter" along the way. They blend the story of their own march with the existing reports of the historic one all along, for one proving that the Long March did indeed happen in the first place.
This is fascinating enough for the history buff, but even if you aren't one, the book still holds plenty of interest.
Following a route through the rural backwaters of China no one else has done for decades, the march takes authors through extremely varied corners of this giant country, letting them provide fascinating insights into the mix of modernization and backwardness that is the China of today. From booming cities to minority villages steeped in dire poverty, from warm traditional welcome to hostile suspicion, they experience and expose it all, made all the more insightful by their excellent command of the Chinese language.

One of the very best "travelogues" I have ever read about any country, this book can only be most highly recommended.

This is one of the most fascinating stories I have ever read. Politically correct academics have succeeded in erasing Longfellow from the American canon, replacing him and his contemporaries with names you've never heard and will never know how to pronounce. Perhaps this bit of exotica if not to say erotica will give life back to this former pillar of American culture. It is the son, not the sage of Cambridge whom Professor Guth has chosen as her subject. But what a character he is. Longfellow Jr. had very little going for himself besides boredom and a nearly limitless bank account, so he went on an extended grand tour of the Orient, setting himself up in a Japanese harem, stocked like a koi pond which nubile Japanese maidens. Besides an addiction to Asian flesh, young Longfellow seems to have keyed into that great American pastime known as shopping with the result that he brought a warehouse full of souvenires back to fill Boston's museums and the mansions of his father's aristocratic friends. Any way you look at it, this story has legs. It's a miracle Hollywood hasn't grabbed hold of it. Stay tuned.

Charles Longfellow was the son of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Charles visited Japan in the 1870s intending a brief visit, and stayed for two years, returning to Boston with photos and elaborate tattoos he had 'collected' on his body. But Christine M.E. Guth's Longfellow's Tattoos: Tourism, Collecting, And Japan is not so much a survey of collectible items nor even tattoo history, as a cultural expose of Japan in the 19th century travel world. Chapters survey the state and nature of Japanese culture in the world of the times, using art and curios as a focal point.

Most of LOST LHASA documents the peaceful years that Heinrich Harrer spent in Tibet. The map of Tibet and its border with northern India is shown inside the front cover, with a line marking Harrer's route from Dehra Dun near the Ganges River in India, up into the Himalayas far northwest of Mt. Everest. After escaping from a prison camp in April, 1944, and climbing for 18 days to Tibet, then stuck in Traduen until December, 1944 while they waited for permission to travel further, they waited in Kyirong on the border of Nepal until November, 1945, when they escaped again. "To avoid large cities, we decided to move even farther north, into the Changthang region--the famous Tibetan Plateau. Here we would see only nomads and brigands; government officials avoided the area." (p. 43). Walking into Lhasa like starving beggars on January 15, 1946, "We thought of our adventures and of our comrades still in the internment camp at Dehra Dun." (p. 47).

Heinrich Harrer is famous, now, as the author of the best-selling book, SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET, which told the same story. LOST LHASA was not published until 1991, when the 2000 negatives which he had kept became the best reminder he had of the years he had enjoyed most. There is a lot of writing in this book to tell the entire story again, and in places where there aren't many pictures, the people are still fascinating. A young couple, who had given Peter Aufschnaiter and Harrer each a dried apricot on a 20,000-foot pass two months before, had much to complain about after they reached Lhasa. "They were surprised that they had to work for daily necessities, even if it was only a place to spend the night or a cup of tea. They felt that people in Lhasa were greedy, demanding things that in the Changthang you wouldn't think about. . . . We invited them to our modest home, where we had lots of barley, rice, and butter, and we supplied them for their return to the Changthang, their nomadic home, where they had plenty of meat, butter, cheese, milk, and where nature would provide for all their needs." (p. 65).

Picture captions are jumbled together. The caption under the picture on page 116 explains "Noblemen and women . . ." with everyone in winter clothes "in front of the Kumbum monument in Gyangtse [above]. The girl [right] sits behind three fancy teacups, complete with stands and cover." also explains the picture of a young child on page 117 with very short hair and a necklace of beads sitting behind a table with four teacups. My first clue that it was a picture of a girl was the covers on the teacups. The 7-inch-square picture on page 116 shows plain cups and saucers. I did not realize that four teacups with stands and covers were on the table in front of the kid until I tried to measure the height of each cup to see if they were taller than the kid's head in the picture. Allowing for perspective, it might be possible for a knob on top of the fourth teacup to be mistaken for an earring, just below one of the kid's ears, but the earring pictures are elsewhere in this book.

Several trips to Lhasa are described in this book, including "When I returned in 1982, I found that the Chinese had destroyed the medical school that perched atop Chagpori and replaced it with a radio tower." (p. 208). A Glossary on pages 218-219 explains terms like Dob-Dob (monk-police) and Tsampa (parched barley flour, the Tibetan's staple food). Notes on the pictures on page 220 identify two of the people in the picture on page 116 and explain that the picture following it is of the daughter of Surkhang Wangchuk, the governor of Gyangste. Harrer had fled Lhasa and was staying with the governor of Gyangste when the Dalai Lama with a caravan that contained more than a thousand animals came through on the flight from Tibet to the Chumbi Valley. Harrer left there in March, 1951. "Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama returned to Lhasa to find posters of Mao plastered against the walls of the Potala." (p. 207). Among the brighter aspects of the nostalgia in this book is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Dalai Lama in 1989 because he "opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect, in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people." (pp. 216-217). This book is a monument to that tradition.

What a lovely book! Engrossing illustration of a way of life destroyed by the Chinese conquerors. I love reading Buddhist writings, but I think this would appeal even to those who are not interested in Buddhism, as Harrer seems to be not particularly religious and he concentrates on the everyday life of Tibetans in Lhasa.

while reading this story I was gripped by the touching stories met by the author in labor camp. It's not just a story or an biography, it's so much more, it depicts the maturation of a chinese citizen who, previously oblivious to the dictatorship of the Chinese Communist regime, grew to learn about how the world around her was actually not what she had thought...
it's a painful process of negating what one had developed since young, a love for something and an entire mindset of how things work, then suddenly learning that they're all wrong. it must have been a painful process, but very well written and the feelings flow from the book to the reader, touching deeply and personally....
also a great book for its historical importance... i can't think of many biographies written by Falun Gong practitioners about their experiences in China throughout this persection... as it turns out, this book also gave me an entirely new perspective of the persecution - it's not just physical torture, it's much more psychological... living in constant fear of death and torture...
would recommend it to everyone for a read.

Hongwei Lou weaves her love for her husband, from the first day they began to date to becoming parents and their parting, their being both incarcerated in one of China's notorious detention centers and slave labor camps to her efforts to have her beloved released.

The book does not disclose the gruesome truth, but tastefully brings the reader closer to understanding the China that is hidden behind shudders. It tells the people that there is more to China than economics. It speaks of torture and killing of innocent people because of their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. It asks people to awaken to the truth and keep the promise given after WWII -- "NEVER AGAIN."

The book speaks of tender love, making a life together and overcoming the problems a young married couple faces in an environment that breeds hatred and viciousness. It speaks of the hardship faced by many Chinese people and the hope of an ending to misery.

The above permeates the entire book and it makes reading an experience that opens ones eyes, brings tears to the eyes and instills the reader with a determination to get involved and be a part in stopping suffering.

When putting the book down, I felt that I had read the recount of a true historical event and that it was important to be involved in rooting out evil and suffering.

The 36 Secret Strategies of the Martial Arts: The Classic Chinese Guide for Success in War, Business and LifeThe Art of the Advantage: 36 Strategies to Seize the Competitive EdgeNegotiating in China : 36 Strategies

Mr. Gao wrote this book for the modern readers on the 36 stratagems of ancient China. Well organized, he went through Chinese history to current West in vivid case study in principle and application.

This book of wisdom enables readers to survive and win the business war. In addition, it helps and empowers citizens to identify the monkey business schemes played by politicians in fooling and doping.

In this dangerous modern world, do we see the directive?
- Kill with a borrow knife - the neighbor who gets rid the Iraq dictator with American knife

If the big brass in Pentagon is student of this book, American history in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan would have a different outcome.

The wisdom of the East made practical and easily digestable for the West. No matter what barriers you find in life, one finds a concise approach here. Excellent

This was a gift for someone who is enthralled with Everest, although he isn't finished with the book, he hasn't be able to put it down since it arrived! Very interesting stories, we both liked how there was a wide variety of successful climbed and failed attempts, including a sherpa's perspective!

To mark the 50th anniversary of the first successful climb to the summit of Mount Everest, editor Lewis assembled thirty chapters written by literal Everest eyewitnesses. Not every writer whose account he includes climbed the mountain at all, let alone made it to the summit. The earliest chapter is set in 1913; the last, in 1999. The writers take us from early survey missions, during which Westerners ventured close enough to the then forbidden mountain to begin planning eventual assents, all the way to the intriguing moment when climbers on the verge of the 21st Century discovered and positively identified the remains of Everest pioneer George Leigh Mallory. In doing so, they solved one mystery - "What happened to Mallory?" - but didn't find answers to the greatest Everest riddle. Which continues to be: Did Mallory and his climbing partner, Sandy Irvine, actually reach the summit almost 20 years ahead of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay?

The sheer variety of stories told in this book guarantees it a place in my library, instead of a trip to the local Good Will where books I read just once wind up. Some tales are tragic, some humorous, some enlightening (most notable in the latter category: Tenzing Norgay's account of his Everest summit in 1953, "The Dream Comes True"). I especially enjoyed the appendices at the book's end, which are anything else but dry.

A well-chosen, well-edited collection that's sure to have "something new" to offer even a dedicated reader of Everest tales.

This one definetly one of the best books available with regards to the history of the Jews of Kaifeng. Pollak writes a convincing and yet entertaining piece of history that is sure to educate all its readers.

* Me: I'm someone interested in serious, semi-academic books about Jewish history. I'm not someone looking for a James Michener book, but I'm not some equipped to critique Pollak's scholarship. * The book: This is a wonderful, well-written book that seems to discuss every old reference to the Jews of China in just about every language. It seems to give every known detail about the lives of China's Jews. Because China's Jews were one of the peoples of the "Silk Road" (the collection of ancient trade routes that linked China with Europe for many centuries), the book is also a pretty good introduction to the history of the Silk Road. * Who for: I think this book might be especially useful to anyone interested in Central Asian history; Jewish history; or extreme Jewish genealogy (i.e., the DNA testing folks). It could also be the basis for a pretty fine martial arts movie.

All of his major books are exceptional reading and extremely informative. They aren't for someone who wants a casual understanding of Manichaeism, but they are never unreadably obtuse or so loaded with jargon as to be incomprehensible. I used them extensively in university and was sad when I had to return them to the library.

If you're interested in Late Antique religion of the Roman Empire and Syria, early Christianity, or Manichaeism, you must hunt this book down. It is not only the best introduction to Manichaeism available to date, but every page drips with the astounding erudition and expertise of the author. Thus, it is inspiring academically as well as an invaluable historical reference work. I paid $100 for this book, and, after having read it, I think every penny was well spent.

As a novice trying to learn Tibetan, I have purchased a few books on the subject, and I'm currently enrolled in a Tibetan class. I avoided this book at first because of the high price, but, "you get what you pay for" rang true in this situation. The charts are especially valuable, the explanations are clear, and the dialogues are useful. It also has a healthy content relevant to Tibetan Buddhism and culture. This edition also contains 2 CDs containing all the dialogue, absolutely neccessary in order to capture the correct pronounciation of the Lhasha dialect. An appendix in the back contains a useful bridge between Standard and Classical Tibetan. Simply put, I am extremely pleased with this book and totally "geeked out" by its content!!! It's a beautiful thing, so get it!

Since I've hesitated a long time between Hopkins' "Fluent Tibetan" with tapes and Tournadre's "Manual of Standard Tibetan," I thought it would be helpful to write a comparative review. I ended up getting both, and I find they complement each other quite well.

Tournadre's Manual is amazingly comprehensive, quite sufficient, it seems, to keep a student busy trough four semester courses or so. This text is useful to lay a strong foundation to build on later on. Prior to the forty-one Lessons, over forty pages present the reader with a thorough introduction to the alphabet, pronunciation and a clever system of transcription of the author's devising. The latter is helpful in precisely describing the pronunciation of the words introduced at each lesson. I counted about 2000 words in the glossaries at the end, which makes quite a rich vocabulary.

The book is also replete with cultural notes, maps and descriptions of the different Tibetan dialects. Another nice touch is the amount of supplementary material, including videos of the dialogues, exercise answer keys and supplementary exercises, all available on the web at the University of Virginia's Tibetan and Himalayan Digital Library website.

On the down side, I found the lessons very hard going. One sometimes gets lost in detail, that is to say, each topic is examined extremely thoroughly (e.g. the spelling variations of the word for "one" and other numbers). Those details are not always essential at the beginnning. This is probably the typical experience of a self-learner like me, while in a classroom situation the teacher would know when to instruct students to skip over the extra details. It is quite apparent that each lesson needs to be expanded and developed in a classroom situation, with perhaps ten times as many exercises, drills and dialogues as are provided in the book, in order to bring out all that it has to offer. I therefore decided that this book was hard to use as a primary text by a pure self-learner, but is probably the best of its kind for classroom instruction. I use it as a reference and will probably go back to it more methodically when I am done with the "Fluent Tibetan" set.

"Fluent Tibetan" is based on the unsurpassed method devised by the Foreign Service Institute, which aims at developing fluency in a short period of time. The tapes are quite audible and provide an extensive set of oral drills, something I haven't seen elsewhere. Some reviewers have complained about the amount of repetition, but I think being bored with repetition in an indication that one is becoming fluent with the material, i.e., the course is delivering the goods. Drilling is quite important when a language has a very different grammar (from my experience with Hebrew). On the other hand, the vocabulary is rather sparse at about 500 words. I find the main strength of the set is in the drills and in the fact that it is mostly, but not exclusively, based on audio material. The set aims at the low-intermediate level. This can keep you busy for about three months if you keep a good pace.

The "Fluent Tibetan" CD-ROM, available separately, does not have any drills, and in summary is quite useless.