10 Books to Understand China
On the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, take a closer look at what led up to and what followed this day. There’s no easy place to start, but we’ve compiled ten books that provide an introduction to contemporary China. From classic fiction by Eileen Chang to nonfiction accounts by Liao Yiwu, learn more about Chinese culture and history to better understand where we are today.
China in Ten Words
by Yu Hua
Yu Hua is one of China’s most famous contemporary writers, whose celebrated novel To Live catapulted him to international fame. Framed by ten phrases common in the Chinese vernacular, China in Ten Words uses personal stories and astute analysis to reveal as never before the world’s most populous yet oft-misunderstood nation. In “Disparity,” for example, Yu Hua illustrates the expanding gaps that separate citizens of the country. In “Copycat,” he depicts the escalating trend of piracy and imitation as a creative new form of revolutionary action. Read More…
