20 Best Books About China (2023 Update)

This work presents the results of a monumental study of diet and death rates from cancer in more than 6,500 adults across china and taiwan and explains the study's significance and what it reveals about the implications of poor nutrition. while revealing that proper nutrition can have a dramatic effect on reducing and reversing these ailments as well as obesity, this text calls into question the practices of many of the current dietary programs, such as the atkins diet, that enjoy widespread popularity in the west. the impact of the politics of nutrition and the efforts of special interest groups on the creation and dissemination of public information on nutrition are also discussed.

On march 8, 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from china to "proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas." when the fleet returned home in october 1423, the emperor had fallen, leaving china in political and economic chaos. and they colonized america before the europeans, transplanting the principal economic crops that have since fed and clothed the world.

The revised and expanded edition of the bestseller that changed millions of lives the science is clear. the results are unmistakable. you can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetesjust by changing your diet. more than 30 years ago, nutrition researcher t. colin campbell and his team at cornell, in partnership with teams in china and england, embarked upon the china study, the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease. what they found when combined with findings in colin’s laboratory, opened their eyes to the dangers of a diet high in animal protein and the unparalleled health benefits of a whole foods, plant-based diet. in 2005, colin and his son tom, now a physician, shared those findings with the world inthe china study, hailed as one of the most important books about diet and health ever written. the china study—revised and expanded editionpresents a clear and concise message of hope as it dispels a multitude of health myths and misinformation. the basic message is clear. the key to a long, healthy life lies in three things: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Spence is george burton adams professor of history at yale university and author of eight acclaimed books on china. here he has written a very readable history of this fascinating country. "to understand . . . china's past there is no better place to start than jonathan d. spences excellent new book".–the new york times book review front page review. 136 pages of photographs.

John king fairbank was the west's doyen on china, and this book is the full and final expression of his lifelong engagement with this vast ancient civilization. it remains a masterwork without parallel. the distinguished historian merle goldman brings the book up to date, covering reforms in the post-mao period through the early years of the twenty-first century, including the leadership of hu jintao. she also provides an epilogue discussing the changes in contemporary china that will shape the nation in the years to come.

It's the tantalizing smell of chinese food that's enticed the binkerton children back into the creepy good times travel agency. this time they land in first-century china, where little libby quickly manages to slip away from josh and emma in an official carriage headed to the capital city. but while she's living the ancient china high life with nobility, the twins get mistaken for barbarian spies and soon they're being chased by imperial guards! will the twins manage to find libby, and their way back home, before the guards catch up to them? this graphic novel from the critically acclaimed time-travel series by award-winning duo linda bailey and bill slavin offers a fun read with a terrific historical overview of ancient china. bailey's fast-paced narrative is quirky and funny. the fun device of featuring excerpts from an engagingly-written guidebook on every page keeps the key historical facts and figures easy to digest. slavin's detailed and humorous illustrations are pitch perfect for the story. thoroughly researched, this book would be an excellent companion to social studies and history lessons, encompassing politics and government, philosophy, science and technology, travel and trade, civic rights and responsibilities, community and traditions. the back matter includes an index, further resources and six pages of additional information about ancient china.

The iconic history of the chinese communist leaders who forever changed the course of china the first westerner to meet mao tse-tung and the chinese communist leaders in 1936, edgar snow came away with the first authorized account of mao's life, as well as a history of the famous long march and the men and women who were responsible for the chinese revolution. out of that experience came red star over china, a classic work that remains one of the most important books ever written about the birth of the communist movement in china. this edition includes extensive notes on military and political developments in china, further interviews with mao tse-tung, a chronology covering 125 years of chinese revolution, and nearly a hundred detailed biographies of the men and women who were instrumental in making china what it is today.

After the communist revolution, desmond shum's grandfather was marked as belonging to a "black category" that included former landlords and rich peasants–meaning the shums would be stigmatized and impoverished. as desmond was growing up, he vowed his life would be different. through hard work and sheer tenacity shum earned an american college degree and returned to china to establish himself in business. there, he met his future wife, the highly intelligent and equally ambitious whitney duan who was determined to make her mark within china's male-dominated society. whitney and desmond formed an effective team and, aided by relationships they formed with top members of the red aristocracy, vaulted into china's billionaire class. soon they were developing the massive air cargo facility at beijing international airport, and they followed that feat with the creation of one of beijing's premier hotels. they were dazzlingly successful, traveling in private jets, funding multi-million-dollar buildings and endowments, and purchasing expensive homes, vehicles, and art. but in 2017, their fates diverged irrevocably when desmond, while residing overseas with his son, learned that his now ex-wife whitney had vanished along with three coworkers. this is both desmond's story and whitney's, because she cannot tell it herself.

Evoking gatherings of royalty, diplomats, politicians and celebrities at the white house, this volume depicts more than 200 years of china and porcelains purchased for presidential entertaining. from george washington's personal selection of french and chinese porcelains to the gold-encrusted american china used for more recent state dinners, the book shows trends in taste and culture that reflect both personal and national aspirations. the second edition includes essays by white house curators that provide information on pieces acquired since 1975.

A most-anticipated book of the year: newsweek * refinery29 “timely and urgent . . . pang is a dogged investigator.” —the new york times book review“moving and powerful.” —chris hedges, pulitzer prize–winning journalist and author discover the truth behind the discounts in 2012, an oregon mother named julie keith opened up a package of halloween decorations. the cheap foam headstones had been five dollars at kmart, too good a deal to pass up. but when she opened the box, something shocking fell out: an sos letter, handwritten in broken english. “sir: if you occassionally buy this product, please kindly resend this letter to the world human right organization. thousands people here who are under the persicuton of the chinese communist party government will thank and remember you forever.” the note’s author, sun yi, was a mild-mannered chinese engineer turned political prisoner, forced into grueling labor for campaigning for the freedom to join a forbidden meditation movement. he was imprisoned alongside petty criminals, civil rights activists, and tens of thousands of others the chinese government had decided to “reeducate,” carving foam gravestones and stitching clothing for more than fifteen hours a day. in made in china, investigative journalist amelia pang pulls back the curtain on sun’s story and the stories of others like him, including the persecuted uyghur minority group whose abuse and exploitation is rapidly gathering steam. what she reveals is a closely guarded network of laogai—forced labor camps—that power the rapid pace of american consumerism.

A bbc history magazine best book of the year – a foreign affairs best book of the year – the history the chinese communist party has tried to erase: the dramatic political debates of the 1980s that could have put china on a path to greater openness. – on a hike in guangdong province in january 1984, deng xiaoping was warned that his path was a steep and treacherous one. “never turn back,” the chinese leader replied. that became a mantra as the government forged ahead with reforms in the face of heated contestation over the nation’s future. for a time, everything was on the table, including democratization and china’s version of socialism. but deliberation came to a sudden halt in spring 1989, with protests and purges, massacre and repression. since then, beijing has worked intensively to suppress the memory of this era of openness. – julian gewirtz recovers the debates of the 1980s, tracing the communist party’s diverse attitudes toward markets, state control, and sweeping technological change, as well as freewheeling public argument over political liberalization. the administration considered bold proposals from within the party and without, including separation between the party and the state, empowering the private sector, and establishing an independent judiciary. after tiananmen, however, beijing systematically erased these discussions of alternative directions. using newly available chinese sources, gewirtz details how the leadership purged the key reformist politician zhao ziyang, quashed the student movement, recast the transformations of the 1980s as the inevitable products of consensus, and indoctrinated china and the international community in the new official narrative. – never turn back offers a revelatory look at how different china’s rise might have been and at the foundations of strongman rule under xi jinping, who has intensified the policing of history to bolster his own authority.

Lonely planet's china is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. explore beijing's forbidden city, climb the great wall, and discover sacred lhasa; all with your trusted travel companion. get to the heart of china and begin your journey now!

The story of hong kong and the rise of china in an era of globalisation, authoritarian power and democratic defiance. – the recent protests and crackdown in hong kong shook the world. a prosperous city with its freedoms enshrined by international treaties and conventions, hong kong is a unique part of the people's republic of china. its passage from a british colony to chinese rule was a joint diplomaticaccomplishment. but since then its people have struggled for democracy against dictatorship. in the gate and the wall, michael sheridan, who served for two decades as a foreign correspondent in asia, provides a vivid modern history of hong kong from china's break with maoism in 1977–its first steptowards economic superpower status — to the present. – hong kong stood astride two of the most important events in modern world history; the rise of china and the economic transformation of east asia. its great port and chinese culture made it the natural gateway for china to reach a wider world after decades of self-imposed isolation. despite the symbiosis, it was an uneasy partnership. by the time the british left, hong kong had westernized in importantways, particularly in its politics. that set it upon repeated collision courses with a revived authoritarian china, determined to absorb the city into its own system. – sheridan draws new insights from chinese archives and memoirs as well as the papers of well-known british leaders — margaret thatcher and the last governor, chris patten — whose actions forged hong kong's destiny. he gives a voice to hong kong's people: its leaders, its tycoons, its hard-workingfamilies, and the young generation who made the fight for freedom a cause that resounds far beyond the south china sea. more broadly, the gate and the wall illuminates how economic globalization and the competing trends of democracy and dictatorship are shaping one of the world's most importantregions.

When you are learning about ancient china, you may want to make it fun for your kids. learn about the most advanced civilization in the world and how it advanced in so many ways. for example, you can read about the invention of noodles or the great wall, two very modern things. you can also learn about the famous confucius and his teachings. these are all important facts to share with your children, and they will surely enjoy learning about them.the spring and autumn period lasted for over 300 years. by the 5th century bc, there were seven main rulers in china. each of these states had conquered smaller areas, and they continued to fight one another. historians refer to this period as the warring states period. finally, in the early fifth century bc, ying zheng unified the seven states and became emperor of china. his advancements changed the world.before the chinese civilization reached the west, the region was populated by earlier forms of human beings. the earliest known humans lived in china around 1 million years ago. these early people were called homo erectus. the first ones arrived in the region from africa around 65,000 years ago. they hunted wild animals and picked plants. they learned to farm and eventually developed civilizations, which led to the invention of the wheel, paper, and the internet.

A gripping history of china's deteriorating relationship with hong kong, and its implications for the rest of the world.for 150 years as a british colony, hong kong was a beacon of prosperity where people, money, and technology flowed freely, and residents enjoyed many civil liberties. in preparation for handing the territory over to china in 1997, deng xiaoping promised that it would remain highly autonomous for fifty years. an international treaty established a special administrative region (sar) with a far freer political system than that of communist china—one with its own currency and government administration, a common-law legal system, and freedoms of press, speech, and religion.but as the halfway mark of the sar’s lifespan approaches in 2022, it is clear that china has not kept its word. universal suffrage and free elections have not been instituted, harassment and brutality have become normalized, and activists are being jailed en masse. to make matters worse, a national security law that further crimps hong kong’s freedoms has recently been decreed in beijing. this tragic backslide has dire worldwide implications—as china continues to expand its global influence, hong kong serves as a chilling preview of how dissenters could be treated in regions that fall under the emerging superpower’s control.today hong kong, tomorrow the world tells the complete story of how a city once famed for protests so peaceful that toddlers joined grandparents in millions-strong rallies became a place where police have fired more than 10,000 rounds of tear gas, rubber bullets and even live ammunition at their neighbors, while pro-government hooligans attack demonstrators in the streets. a hong kong resident from 1992 to 2021, author mark l. clifford has witnessed this transformation firsthand. as a celebrated publisher and journalist, he has unrivaled access to the full range of the city’s society, from student protestors and political prisoners to aristocrats and senior government officials. a powerful and dramatic mix of history and on-the-ground reporting, this book is the definitive account of one of the most important geopolitical standoffs of our time.

A practical and accessible guide to an ancient but rapidly changing culture—now revised and updated perfect for business, pleasure, or armchair travelers, china a to z explains the customs, culture, and etiquette essential for any trip or for anyone wanting to understand this complex country. in one hundred brief, reader-friendly essays alphabetized by subject, this fully revised and updated edition provides a crash course in the etiquette and politics of contemporary china as well as the nation’s geography and venerable history. in it, readers will discover: · how the recently selected president and his advisors approach global relations· why china is considered the fastest growing market for fashion and luxury goods· what you should bring when visiting a chinese household· what’s hot in chinese art· how recent scandals impact chinese society from architecture and body language to confucianism and feng shui, china a to z offers accessible and authoritative information about china.

The revised and expanded edition of the bestseller that changed millions of lives – the science is clear. the results are unmistakable. – you can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes just by changing your diet. – more than 30 years ago, nutrition researcher t. colin campbell and his team at cornell, in partnership with teams in china and england, embarked upon the china study, the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease. what they found when combined with findings in colin’s laboratory, opened their eyes to the dangers of a diet high in animal protein and the unparalleled health benefits of a whole foods, plant-based diet. – in 2005, colin and his son tom, now a physician, shared those findings with the world in the china study, hailed as one of the most important books about diet and health ever written. – the china study—revised and expanded edition presents a clear and concise message of hope as it dispels a multitude of health myths and misinformation. the basic message is clear. the key to a long, healthy life lies in three things: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Lonely planet the world's leading travel guide publisher lonely planet discover china is your passport to all the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. pass through the gate of supreme harmony in beijing's forbidden city, hike along the great wall, or slurp up wonton soup amid shanghai's neon lights; all with your trusted travel companion. discover the best of china and begin your journey now! inside lonely planet discover china full-colour maps and images throughout highlights and itineraries show you the simplest way to tailor your trip to your own personal needs and interests insider tips save you time and money and help you get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots essential info at your fingertips – including hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, and prices honest reviews for all budgets – including eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, and hidden gems that most guidebooks miss cultural insights give you a richer and more rewarding travel experience – including customs, history, art, literature, architecture, religion, landscapes, cuisine free, convenient pull-out beijing map (included in print version), plus over 60 colour local maps coverage of beijing, the great wall, xian, the north, shanghai, yangzi region, hong kong, the south, yunnan, sichuan, the silk road and more the perfect choice: lonely planet discover china , our easy-to-use guide, is perfect for travellers who seek the most popular attractions a destination has to offer. filled with inspiring and colourful photos, this guide focuses on the best of the best. looking for a comprehensive guide that recommends a wide range of experiences, both popular and offbeat, and extensively covers all the country has to offer? looking for a guide for hong kong, beijing, or shanghai? authors: written and researched by lonely planet, damian harper, piera chen, chung wah chow, megan eaves, david eimer, tienlon ho, robert kelly, shawn low, emily matchar, bradley mayhew, daniel mccrohan, dai min, phillip tang. about lonely planet: started in 1973, lonely planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. lonely planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves in.

Informative headnotes accompany the selections, helping readers with unfamiliar names, places, and events. with a chapter organization mirroring that of the search for modern china, this collection is the perfect supplement, providing a first-hand look at the modern chinese society.

Informative headnotes accompany the selections, helping readers with unfamiliar names, places, and events. with a chapter organization mirroring that of the search for modern china, this collection is the perfect supplement, providing a first-hand look at the modern chinese society.