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I'll chronicle the books I read here. I'm happy to openly admit that reading is my favourite passtime.
I read 90% non-fiction, of which approx 60% is about China.
I read 90% non-fiction, of which approx 60% is about China.
Book recommendations very welcome! Especially on China, India, and Middle East history and societies, as well as Big History.
Recently finished Betraying Big Brother by @LetaHong.
Felt an affinity with the Feminist Five in the book. The book really brings these people to life. Some funny moments despite the grim crackdown.
I wish I was as brave as these women.
Felt an affinity with the Feminist Five in the book. The book really brings these people to life. Some funny moments despite the grim crackdown.
I wish I was as brave as these women.
I often read internet commentaries on gender-related stories in China and the amount of misogynistic comments (plus bad science) passing off as common sense really depresses me.
So the book actually offered me a glimmer of hope.
So the book actually offered me a glimmer of hope.
Gender is such a fascinating topic, there are so much to explore: social traditions, history (including Mao time), urban/rural divide, demographics, sex ratio, mum-in-law relations, trafficking, standards of beauty, spousal standards, domestic violence etc.
I read the Discourse of Race in Modern China by Frank Dikötter last month. While I have some knowledge of how people in China see race since the 90s, the book covers from 1900s.
Most interesting to me is how the conception of racial superiority or hierarchy changed over time.
Most interesting to me is how the conception of racial superiority or hierarchy changed over time.
One of my friends found the description of European people at the start of the book exceedingly funny.
For me, the book is more academic than what I expected from reading his other books.
For me, the book is more academic than what I expected from reading his other books.
Frank Dikötter, along with Rana Mitter, are my two favourite writers of modern Chinese history.
I highly recommend his books on Great Famine, Chinese Revolution, and Cultural Revolution for a good understanding of Chinese history. Especially how CCP policies affected laobaixin
I highly recommend his books on Great Famine, Chinese Revolution, and Cultural Revolution for a good understanding of Chinese history. Especially how CCP policies affected laobaixin
I was pleasantly surprised by the book Maoism: A Global History by Julia Lovell.
I started the book with the expectation of learning some history, but discovering that the book is highly relevant to today, especially on spreading ideology overseas under Xi.
I started the book with the expectation of learning some history, but discovering that the book is highly relevant to today, especially on spreading ideology overseas under Xi.
I got this book mainly to understand a bit more about Mao, but I actually found the chapters on Maoism elsewhere much more fascinating (such as India, Malaysia, and Peru).
Highly recommended for understanding how China has spread its ideology in the past.
Highly recommended for understanding how China has spread its ideology in the past.
Just finished Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China's Last Golden Age by Stephen Platt.
The book mostly looks from the perspectives of the Brits (most likely due to availability of sources).
I was surprised by the diversity of views and interests in Britain.
The book mostly looks from the perspectives of the Brits (most likely due to availability of sources).
I was surprised by the diversity of views and interests in Britain.
The National Humiliation patriotic education I was subjected to treated Britain as an evil monolith, but the book detailed the diverging views and public debates occuring at the time. Many of the views expressed favoured the Qing Govt.
Apparently the McCartney and kowtow incidence was almost a non-event at the time, but was used to justify the Opium War after the War. The historiography of this is interesting.
Overall I found the book a bit too detailed for me. I also read Platt's other book on Taiping Civil War earlier this year and thought that one was more engaging.
Cowshed: Memories of Chinese Cultural Revolution.
While I have read many books on CR (it is, after all, my favourite topic, along with Great Leap Forward and June 4th), this is the first autobiographical work I read on CR.
While I have read many books on CR (it is, after all, my favourite topic, along with Great Leap Forward and June 4th), this is the first autobiographical work I read on CR.
Having family experience of CR (perhaps another time), I was not surprised by anything described in the book.
But it's still a good first hand account of atrocities committed during CR, inflicted on someone who tried so hard to not get involved in politics.
But it's still a good first hand account of atrocities committed during CR, inflicted on someone who tried so hard to not get involved in politics.
It's personal and easy to read, for those who do not know the subject well. You can really feel that there was no choice but to get involved. It's beat or be beaten. Everyone's implicated.
I felt guilty, because I read this while on holiday in a Fijian resort.
I felt guilty, because I read this while on holiday in a Fijian resort.
Just finished Germany: Memories of a Nation by Neil MacGregor. First non-China book I've read for a while.
I've only been to Bavaria and Berlin, and I wish I had read this book before my visits.
I've only been to Bavaria and Berlin, and I wish I had read this book before my visits.
This book, along with his A History of the World in 100 Objects, again reminded me of the power and art and architecture in telling history.
I have often ignored the importance of art. Their stories doesn't stop after their creation, but forms a living history that continues.
I have often ignored the importance of art. Their stories doesn't stop after their creation, but forms a living history that continues.
