Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0962311332, Paperback)

The first of the Simplex Series, Read Chinese Today unveils the mystery of Chinese writing by providing and describing the historical pictograph for each character, thus aiding the reader to identify, learn and memorize Chinese characters. This compact book is a perfect introductory book for anyone interested in the Chinese language. It is suitable for young students learning Chinese in school programs as well as seasoned tourists and business travelers. A photographic survey of a walking tour through San Francisco s Chinatown, complete with a street map and full explanations of the signs, makes it easier to learn some of the most common Chinese characters. The heart of the book is the dictionary of 68 characters containing the ancestral pictograph, the traditional Chinese character, the definition with the explanation of the ancestral roots of the character, and cross-references to the Chinatown photo section. Dozens of practice exercises designed to help memorize the meanings of the signs.