This was an interesting title that I feel served as a useful introduction to the vast and frankly intimidating topic of Chinese history. The author admits at the outset that a complete historic overview is beyond the scope of this or any single volume. However, he intersperses his sweeping historical narrative with a wealth of primary sources, giving an excellent feel for the time and place of these events.

I would recommend this to anyone curious about Chinese history and wanting a very brief introduction, or anyone who enjoys well written, informative history books.




















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A well written book that did a great job in condensing 5,000 years if history into a single volume. The book is broken down chronologically into the main dynasties and a brief geo-political description is given, followed by a detail exposition of key aspects of life in China in ch era via the journals/diaries ect of certain individuals. ( )

Obviously a summary, it goes through the dynasties and interregnums, highlights key historical and cultural figures and includes occasional recent discoveries to hint at the depth and texture of the various periods. Useful as an introduction, that it doesn't even mention the one child policy gives an idea of how far it should be trusted as a guide. ( )

Chinese history in not something that is studied with any depth here in the west. As a casual student of history, I have frequently attempted to do this on my own with mixed results. Most of the books that I have read are structured a lot like the history text books from which we learn our own history ... basically a list of dates, events and people on a timeline to memorize. Rarely do we see any attempt to explain the impact of these events on the social consciousness of the society in which they happen. This book not only provides an accessible survey of Chinese history, it compares and contrasts the social difference as well as presenting a reasonable hypothesis for why East and West have such divergent approaches to governance. Key to this examination are the references to contemporary western (greek/roman) philosophers and historians. From this I believe that I have a better understanding of the importance of conformity within eastern cultures, and how such could fall under the influence of such "Machiavellian" thought found within "The Book of Lord Shang." (Loc 1088/12%).

As expected given the time periods covered, this is a huge book packed with a great deal of information; some more interesting to me and some less so. I found myself skimming over a lot of the literary references in part because I had a hard time understanding how they reinforced or supported some of the authors points on Chinese culture. That still left a lot of material to slog through. The book is organized by dynasties (Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing) and interregnums (Warring States, Three Kingdoms, Five Dynasties, Taiping & Boxer Rebellions, etc.), highlighting the cultural contributions (and continuity) of each as well as the reasons for decline and inevitable fall (loss of the Mandate of Heaven). What I found most interesting was the intersection of the Confucian ideal of the sage-ruler and the evolution of rather autocratic rulers (almost as if they knew they didn't have what was needed and through increasing paranoia harshly suppressed any criticism). Criticism and/or failure of any kind seems detrimental to life (not just your own, but your entire family to the 9th degree). This all has something of a discordant feel to people raised within a modern western culture (aka me). For pivotal events ... such as Mao's revolution ... the author tries to show multiple viewpoints (from traditional history to how it played in the rural areas with the common man).

Over all I found this book to be significantly helpful in understanding the differences between the east and west world views and I highly recommend it.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheStoryofChina #NetGalley ( )

A brilliantly told story of a spectacular nation and civilization. The author, who has produced documentaries and books on many major civilizations, including India's, has the rare ability of getting under the skin of his subjects,, and presenting them as an insider, almost. He is at his evocative best when he talks of the tragedy of loss in the collapse of successive regimes in China - especially the demise of the Han, the Tang, the Song, and the Ming, for instance. The sweeping survey of China's history reveals starkly this tragic quirk in this great civilization, that it destroys the best repeatedly even as it goes on to fashion itself anew. The question is, will this happen again in the current expression of its national genius. ( )