Chinese Books

If you enjoy historical books about Asian American or California history, this is a "must read." Lani Ah Tye Farkas tells the fascinating true story of her great grandfather, who arrived in California in the early 1850s and overcame racial oppression and other challenges to successfully settle in America. She then traces the fortunes of his progeny, and tells their stories through two generations. The resulting book accurately portrays the many struggles and challenges that early Chinese immigrants faced in California in the last century and a half. The book features wonderful family photographs, some tragic stories, and is fully footnoted.

If you enjoy historical books about Asian American or California history, this is a "must read." Lani Ah Tye Farkas tells the fascinating true story of her great grandfather, who arrived in California in the early 1850s and overcame racial oppression and other challenges to successfully settle in America. She then traces the fortunes of his progeny, and tells their stories through two generations. The resulting book accurately portrays the many struggles and challenges that early Chinese immigrants faced in California in the last century and a half. The book features wonderful family photographs, some tragic stories, and is fully footnoted.

This beautifully illustrated and written story of a Chinese immigrant is fascinating in its scope, detail, and in putting his experience in the context of our California history. As a fourth generation Chinese, there was much here that I did not know about my ancestors' struggles and triumphs, courage and tragedies. Enjoy this wonderful story and receive an education.

In this remarkable memoir, Gus Lee presents a clear and compassionate picture of his parents, grandparents and their 'clans' set in turbulent times. He brings alive the social, historical, religious and cultural context which informs their actions and reactions making them comprehensible to a reader with a totally different cultural viewpoint. It reads like a multi-generational adventure novel where the characters play parts in or are impacted by major events, from the Taiping rebellion through the British opium trade to the civil wars that raged from the early twentieth century through the brutal Japanese occupation in WWII. It is a wild ride and a great read. Gus presents his forbears and related characters warts and all, but always with great compassion and subtlety. There are no cardboard characters. Readers of his novels, which have a strong autobiographical base, particularly 'China Boy', will know what a hard childhood he endured with a stern and distant father, a mother prone to 'magical' beliefs who died when he was five, and a rigid, vindictive step mother. In this memoir, Gus reveals to us what he subsequently discovered about his parents and he honors them both. Gus's own life has been a testament to using adversity to build strength. He has wasted no time blaming, or scoring points off his parents or using his experiences to excuse failings in his own life. There is no 'poor me' here. His story helped me understand a completely different belief system and cultural perspective. And it was at times moving, at other times funny, but always interesting.

Get ready to give up your weekend because once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down. Lee's dramatic descriptions cover the conflicts between historical Eastern and Western traditions woven into poignant family events. While his relatives and their antics seem quirky and particular, in fact they resonate with all families facing abrupt changes and adaptation --be they generational or cultural. For those who have read and loved China Boy and Honor and Duty, Chasing Hepburn gives us the pre-story we've all been wondering about.

Get ready to give up your weekend because once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down. Lee's dramatic descriptions cover the conflicts between historical Eastern and Western traditions woven into poignant family events. While his relatives and their antics seem quirky and particular, in fact they resonate with all families facing abrupt changes and adaptation --be they generational or cultural. For those who have read and loved China Boy and Honor and Duty, Chasing Hepburn gives us the pre-story we've all been wondering about.

I made three recipes - stir-fried Chinese cabbage, sweet-and-sour tofu and spicy tofu with shrimp. Wow. It took a bit of concentration, because I've never made Chinese food before and this is such a new style. But the instructions were clear and I was successful. First time out! I've tried a lot of cookbooks, but never had one take me from no-nothing to rich, succulent, dreamy-smelling simple food so easily. This book is GREAT.

I agree completely with the comments of reviewer #1 (above). Nina Simonds CRANKS, and this book does a slightly easier (more manageable to non-cooks) version of some of her other, always delectable recipes. It's a fantastic book, and would make a great gift. There's no justice! :-)

I want this book. I ordered another Nina Simonds book from the Library and they sent this one instead. I have been doing Asian Cooking (Chinese,Thai,Japanese, etc.) for many years. I have also taken many Chinese and Thai cooking classes and run a cooking school out of my home.

This is one of the best Chinese cookbooks that I have come across. I made BBQ spareribs last night that are better than you find in most restaurants. It took 5 minutes to make the sauce. Preparation was very quick and easy. Recipes are clear and well written. The ingredients can be found in any supermarket.

In her introduction Ms. Simonds states that she wrote this book after becoming a working Mom. This book is perfect for people who do not have the time to go to an Asian market to shop--you will find most, if not all, the ingredients that you need in a good supermarket. It is also perfect for someone who wants to come home and have dinner on the table within an hour. You may want to marinate something overnight; but you do not have to do a lot of preparation to make these dishes. Her section on substitutions in the front is also invaluable.

My one criticism is that she uses turkey (a non-traditional Chinese food) in so many recipes. I would use chicken or pork or ground pork instead. However, for someone on a low fat diet the turkey might be another plus. Other than that this book is great.

So, you think the currently accepted paradigm of China's so-called "peaceful rise" is accurate? Have you been bamboozled by the stories of the gleaming new cities in China and the desires of China for peace? If so, it isn't your fault. This is a common thread since the rise (and even during the rebellion) of the Communists in China. There are few better at manipulating American media and so-called scholars than the Chinese Communists.

This work is a survey history of the history of China's manipulation of the U.S. media and academia. Some of it was deliberate manipulation, but there is also an element of anti-Americanism among those in the U.S. eagerly willing the stories coming from China.

Mosher does an excellent job of showing the history of that manipulation. Those who said that China's communists believed in democracy have since been discredited. Those who said that Chinese ate well during the Cultural Revolution have been discredited. Those who believed that the Chinese Communists were headed toward a more gentle authoritarianism in the 1980s were painfully proven wrong once again in 1989.

For those who blindly accept today's version of China, read these accounts of the mistakes of the past. Doing so will cause you to step back a minute and look at the reality of today's China: People's Armed Police, Christians and Falungong continually persecuted, along with Tibetan nuns and monks, propoganda-filled Chinese media, Gulag-style prisons known as laogai, escalating threats against its neighbors accompanied by a fearsome military build-up. To this day, the government still denies entry to people known to oppose the regime.

This is an instructive work to the unintiated about the realities of China. This will tell you more than anything else that you will ever read that you believe the current "super-story" regarding China at your peril.

Despite its politically conservative credentials, the book takes a needed and hard look at the overly romantic view of China still held dear by many in Washington and Wall Street. More importantly, Mosher details why this view of China has persisted with a balanced and careful analysis that traces the roots of American views of China.

Readers will come away knowing that criticizing the necrotic thugs who rule China doesn't constitute "anti-Chinese" racism and doesn't make them a conservative crank (I'm a democrat). For too long, critics of our China policy have been labelled ignorant and lacking the exclusive understanding of China's "uniqueness" that Holbrooke-types claim to possess.

An important work that deserves a look and that has been vindicated by China's recent behavior. Of course, all that will change after WTO, I'm sure someone is saying in Washington right now...

Another excellent book by Steven Mosher. It explores the reasons for the persistent misunderstanding by Americans of China's motives and methods of operation.

The bottom line is fairly simple: if an expert criticizes China, they're denied access, if an expert praises China, they're given access. Without access, how can an "expert" be expert? Thus, the only "credible" China "experts" are those whom of whom the government in Beijing approves.

Author Gu is a brave fellow. He offers straightfoward info and analysis on what is really inside Chinese business and political world. He is highly critical of the Communist ills that continue to cause hellish problems for China and foreign operations inside. Other than this abusive bureaucratic power, Chinese people are very diligent and creative. But the key is to get rid of the overextended bureaucratic power, as so claims by Gu.

This book is a must read -- it is a rare book that reveals the inner workings of the Chinese bureaucratic system. This new edition is very nice, which is sharply revised and expanded. (Five stars for his new edition)

This book is for all readers. Not to mention other things, it contains several dozen case studies on global multinationals doing business in China, like Wal-Mart, P&G, Intel, HSBC, Bank of America, Ford, Siemens, BP, Unilever, Sony, GE, GM, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. (Amazingly, this revised and updated volume gives most current info on China -- even events happened in May 2006 are contained here.)

It also gives huge info on emerging Chinese multinationals. All the leading Chinese companies such as Haier, Huawei, TCL, Lenovo, China Telecom, Baosteel, China Oil, Sinopec, CNOOC, and Ping An are studied here. Furthermore, comparisons are made between the Chinese companies and their international counterparts. These discussions are straightforward, covering both strengths and weaknesses.

Its scope is rather wide: the author aims to identify key factors behind global development: causes, effects, and consequences. He offers vast info and analysis on a changing global production, investment and trade map, which involves all nations, rich or poor. Interesting comparative studies involve US, Canada, Europe, India, Japan and China. Above all, he pinpoints opportunities and challenges under globalization.

Also it is highly critical of the abusive Chinese bureaucratic power. Gu claims that China's fundamental weakness is with this overextended, self-appointed bureaucratic power. Vast info and facts are presented to support his statement.

He is a high-profile newspaper commentator/consultant that adds much color to his discussions. The book's key strengths come from the fact that the author has vast first-hand experiences, so that he gives countless insider's stories. Its style and presentation is very reader friendly and straightforward, but its analysis is overpowering.

Author George Zhibin Gu is a high-profile Chinese journalist whose powerful newspaper pieces are widely read. This book is a must read. The reason for my recommendation is simple: This book summarises the key lessons from a fast-changing China under globalization and capitalism.

These lessons are powerful. First, an open society is a must in order to gain true development. Second, having foreign involvement is a key driving force for China's quick development in this era. Third, a truly meaningful development must depend on individual private initiatives other than government bureaucracy.

This book gives rather straightforward analysis on what is behind China's new development. It gives tremendous information on foreign multinationals and investors doing biz inside. Furthermore, it gives huge info on how this foreign involvement affects China's society, government and economy. In particular, it is extremely open about the ills of the Chinese bureaucracy. To overcome bureaucratic barriers, it emphasizes the need for greater private initiative as well as openness, among other things.

Also, the book talks about the ever-increasing influences of China's surge on global development. It gives very insightful analysis on a changing global production, investment, and trade map, as well as manufacturing and job transfers, among other issues.

The book also offers much practical advice on doing biz in China. Numerous case studies are presented, including both successes and failures.

The author's approach to telling the stories of the families of Chinatown makes the book credible and interesting. Few people realize that Chinatown is much more than a destination for buying imitation purses and cheap watches - Chinatown is a vibrant community where many families have made there home for decades. Seeing it from their point of view makes it come alive. Chinatown is truly one of NYC's greatest communities.

This has Got to be hands down the BEST ever written, photographed, illustrated and designed book about Chinatown New York I have ever had the pleasure of coming across. Ms. Volkwein has done an Incredible job collecting the pertinent history, personal testimonies, fun and interesting facts regarding the Chinatown culture and it's people. She made it darn near sound like Disneyworld (in the best way mind you) You cannot read most parts of this book without planning in the back of your mind when you'll next trek down to Chinatown for some soup dumplings or fresh seafood dishes. If you've ever seen the movie, "Eat drink Man Woman", Ang Lee's underated movie about a Chinese Chef and his daughters,
you can remember craving a Chinese meal afterwards. This book makes you swallow just as hard. Beautifully composed and so descriptive that it highlights all there is that makes Chinatown the jewel it is. As a Chinese person who has not lived in Chinatown but spent a great deal of my life visiting it, the book made me appreciate the nieghborhood so much more. I learned so much about this everchanging downtown enclave. the next time I spend time there i can safely say I will take more time and enjoy exploring some of these little known treasures that abound from this book. on another note, this is also one of the most POSITIVE books/press concerning this part of historic lower Manhattan that i've come across in years. Ms.Volkwein's focus was set and the tone of the book was clearly set on entertainment,culture and the area's pleasant aspects. Down to great photos and nice touches of calligraphy, the book's design is real easy on the eyes. It was a TRUE delight and I highly recommend this book to anyone as a mandatory precursor to their next Chinatown visit. Ten Thousand Felicitations Ann!

I was looking for a gift and stumbled across this incredible book. What a fantastic design! The historical photos and pictures of modern-day Chinatown are spot-on for all the romance and bustle of the neighborhood. But as I started reading, I realized it's one of those rare books that is just filled with real information--really fascinating information about the history, culture, and food. It is truly an anthropological tour of the neighborhood.

Although I've lived in New York most of my life, I've always been intimidated by Chinatown. This book beautifully and reverently presents the area in all its history, diversity, and complexity....And of course the food! I recommend it for people like me who aren't familiar with the area, but also for anyone who knows it well--a gorgeous homage to the Chinese immigrants and their history.

This book is great help in understanding the difference in cultures of Me, an american, dating a Chinese girl. I understand the Chinese family unit better and will ease problems that arise. Also great explaination of Chinese names and family tree.

~In searching for resources for my Asian American Studies paper at B&N, I found this book. I wish I had found it earlier because it explains many things. May Tung knows Chinese culture and she knows Western-American culture. She knows how they conflict, and can explain it so well to one caught in it all. Many times, it felt like she was describing my life and my parents. It has made me thoughtful about my actions - what is from the Chinese influence? what is from the American influence?

~Most of all, because I grew up Americanized, it helped me understand the Chinese aspect of my life. It helped me understand my parents' actions and helped me understand how to deal with them.

In addition to this book, I'd like to recommend Maxine Hong Kingston's book, The Woman Warrior. It's another great look into growing up American with Chinese parents.~~

I found this book to be extremely validating of my experience as a Chinese American. The book strikes a nice balance between the traditional cultural influences which affect the social behaviors of Chinese and Chinese Americans, and how such behaviors can come under pressure and become identity issues in an Euro-American dominated society, with its mythologized notions of cultural superiority and racial entitlement. Important reading for any Chinese American who honors self-respect, and refuses to accept her or himself as a second-class American; a compliant and passive "model minority".

I bought this book as a gift and ended up keeping it for myself. Not only is the historical information complete, but it is also spiced with interesting tidbits that make the text a great read in and of itself. On top of this, the photos are just phenomenal, and quite additive to the text. This book is the total package.

The photograph on the front cover of this oversized book caught my eye before I looked at the title. The picture is of Chinese men in Chinatown, San Francisco in the last century. The book is a pictorial and historical text about the Chinese experience in America. The book chronicles the history of the first Chinese immigrants to America, the jobs they had and the adversities and prejudices they faced despite the contributions they made. For example, they were no longer useful in the labor force once they finished building the railroads in the last century during the development of the American west. The book is a learning experience for me because I heard stories from my parents about how their grandfathers came to America for a better life. I also heard stories about several of my aunts whom I known as elderly women; were sold as prostitutes to Chinese men in the early 20th century, but were instead married off and had families; they were the lucky ones. I looked at the photographs from the 1930s and 1940s in the book which reminded me of the many photographs that my own husband's grandmother had of her family here. I find this book very useful to anyone who is interested in learning about the Chinese and their contributions over 100 years in this country. I also liked the web sites for viewers who want to learn more about genealogy, historical information, art exhibitions, Asian magazines and miscellaneous sites. It's a good website that has Asians in news and entertainment. There is also an "encyclopedia of notable Asians" in various occupations. The book is good for people who are interested in Chinese immigrants and how they deal with life in America.

This weighty oversized title is a 'must' for any serious collection of ethnic history: Chinese Americans covers the immigrant experience for Chinese Americans, one of the earliest groups to arrive in America - and one of the most persecuted. Historical text blends with 200 black and white photos and many color panels and illustrations to add depth and detail to the story of Chinese American experiences across the country. Very highly recommended.

In Chinese Archery, Stephen Selby draws upon his years of study and interest in Chinese language and culture, as well as an accomplished archer, to present a definitive history of traditional archery in China as related by historians, philosophers, poets, artists, novelists and strategists from 1500 B.C. down to the present day. Written around parallel text translations of classical Chinese sources (some famous, some obscure), the reader is provided vivid and detailed explanations of the techniques of bow-building, archery and crossbow technique over the centuries. Chinese Archery is unique, definitive, and a very impressive contribution to Chinese history, and the sport of archery.

I have not only read through most of this book, but also met the author. He is someone who is quite the expert at practicing the archery in which this book discusses. I have found this book to be extremely thorough in both the history of archery in Asia, as well as the forms and exercises associated with it's practice. The level of research makes this a scholarly work but presented in a readable fashion full of pictures and diagrams where appropriate, translations of period references on almost every other page, and instruction on how to shoot a bow in the Chinese style as can only be told by someone with personal experience in addition to the translations of instruction from various texts.

A nice feature of this book is how archery in China is put into perspective across the large span of history and geography it covers. It is not an isolationist view of a single culture but rather it takes into account the styles of archery as well as the attitudes about it from the various cultures that were both influential to and influenced by China.

Overall I would say it is an intense, well rounded book and I highly recommend it.

"Chinese Archery" by Stephen Selby is a book that iseasy to use. The author introduces the subject of each chapter, thenfollows with the original Chinese sources and his straightforward translations. He then discusses the texts and the ideas they present. Selby is careful to include references to variant interpretations, where the texts may be ambiguous or where there may be scholarly debate. Unless it is vitally important to reading a given section, most of this discussion is kept to footnotes. The book covers three thousand years of archery in China and discusses bows, arrows, crossbows, archers' rings, targets, and shooting technique. Selby includes some clear and relevant colour photographs at the beginning of the book and supplements them with black and white photographs in the body of the work. He also uses old woodblock prints, computer-generated drawings and diagrams to illustrate the translations. "Chinese Archery" is a good resource for the scholar and an interesting book for the nonspecialist. An extensive bibliography and the careful discussions of the translations are a positive advantage. Having the Chinese texts present makes this book more valuable than a translation only because the reader can check the original. With the discovery of new material, "Chinese Archery" will become a reference for identification and comparison. The bow-maker and the archer will benefit from the descriptions and instructions in this book. Readers, who are interested primarily in other forms of traditional and modern archery, will at last have an insight into what really was going on in Chinese archery over the last three thousand years. The general reader will see through the window of a particular activity the many ways in which a culture can approach dealing with its problems, including education and social relations.

This book makes me really want to travel. Being a citizen of the world, I found this book to be well written and a very exciting book. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in exotic places and/or travelling.

This is the best adventure book I have ever read. It's the kind that sinks its claws into your mind and won't let go until you're done. I have read it many times and enjoy it each time I read it.

A thrilling yet thoughtful adventure, set in the chaotic China of 1947. An American marine, fleeing military justice, hooks up with a gang of Chinese bandits and learns some universal truths while dodging bullets of many armies.