Learning about China
Jan. 4th, 2006 06:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellarienI have just over six months to educate myself about China in preparation for the trip in July. It probably doesn't make sense to try to learn the language, but it might not hurt to know how to say 'Please' and 'Thank you' and order tea. Mostly, I want to learn about the history, geography, and culture. It's a big and populous country, with at least as much history as Europe, about which I know next to nothing.
To start with, I've picked up three books:
China, its history and Culture,, by Morton and Lewis
The River at the Center of the World, by Simon Winchester
Silk Road, by Luce Boulnois
After that, via Amazon recommendations and some browsing around the campus bookstore, I'm eyeing some slightly deeper titles:
The Retreat of the Elephants: An Environmental History of China - Mark Elvin
Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China - Jung Chang
The Search for Modern China - Jonathan D. Spence
and some fairly serious textbooks:
Ancient China and its Enemies : The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History - Nicola Di Cosmo
Imperial China 900-1800 - F. W. Mote;
China Marches West : The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia - Peter C. Perdue
I know at least two of the people on my flist have been to China. Does anyone have any recommendations or disrecommendations? I'd be particularly interested in something about the recent state of the country, preferably not written by crusading Marxists or evangelizing capitalists.
To start with, I've picked up three books:
China, its history and Culture,, by Morton and Lewis
The River at the Center of the World, by Simon Winchester
Silk Road, by Luce Boulnois
After that, via Amazon recommendations and some browsing around the campus bookstore, I'm eyeing some slightly deeper titles:
The Retreat of the Elephants: An Environmental History of China - Mark Elvin
Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China - Jung Chang
The Search for Modern China - Jonathan D. Spence
and some fairly serious textbooks:
Ancient China and its Enemies : The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History - Nicola Di Cosmo
Imperial China 900-1800 - F. W. Mote;
China Marches West : The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia - Peter C. Perdue
I know at least two of the people on my flist have been to China. Does anyone have any recommendations or disrecommendations? I'd be particularly interested in something about the recent state of the country, preferably not written by crusading Marxists or evangelizing capitalists.
