Comments on: 6 Must-Read Books for China Travelers | Recommended for 2026

By: Phyllis Warden

Phyllis Warden — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 02:25:07 +0000

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by jung Chang
MAO, THE UNTOLD STORY – same author

By: Deirdre

Deirdre — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:37:05 +0000

Peter Hessler is also worgh reading. Rivertown Is about his year living in a small town on the yangsTze. Later he went To china as a journalist and wrte country driving, wIth 3 sections, the Development of a factOry ( more interesting ghan you might think), the slow change of a Village, and some of its inhabitants, to become a toUrist spot, and an attempt to drive along the great wall. His wife, lesley chang wrote a book
Called Factory Girls.
Then there’s Xinran’s book The Good Women of China, stories Of women during the cultural revolution, and China Witnes: Voices from a Silent Generation. All those books tell you about the lives of ordinary Chinese people.

By: Will

Will — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 00:16:41 +0000

I agree and rec anything by mo Jan

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:13:01 +0000

In reply to Susann Ozuk. Great list, Susann. Personally, I had a hard time reading The Rape of Nanking. Such a terrible period in history!

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:12:20 +0000

In reply to OG. Good stuff. I've read Nick Holdstock's book but not the one by Minzer.

By: Josh Summers

Josh Summers — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:11:59 +0000

In reply to Tyler B. Thanks for sharing, Tyler!

By: Tyler B

Tyler B — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:38:24 +0000

Nice list! I will have to check these out. Another good book about China is A Billion Voices by David Moser. It is about how Mandarin came to be the common language of China.

By: brian n. cox

brian n. cox — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:31:50 +0000

Actually, I think the best book to read, whether going to china as a tourist or to live for a few years, is one i wrote myself:
“understanding china and the chinese people: an insider’s view for visitors, tourists and people planning to live in china” by brian n. cox
http://amazon.com/dp/B01E2NFDLG
my website: https://www.bcoxbooks.com

By: OG

OG — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:31:47 +0000

Great list! I will need to check some of these out. I also strongly recommend “China’s Forgotten People” By Nick Holdstock, and “End of an Era by Carl Minzer.

By: Susann Ozuk

Susann Ozuk — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:21:19 +0000

Dear Josh,

I, too have been immersing myself on China through reading. I recommend the following:
1) The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom, America and China, 1776 tot he Present by John Pomfret
2) Forgotten Ally, China’s World War II 1937-1945 by Rana Mitter
3) The rape of Nanking by Iris Chang
4) Last boat out of Shanghai by Helen Zia