East Asia at the Center

Rating:
Summary: As epic in scope as East Asia itself
Review: Mr. Cohen is an able historian. The 400 pages of history flow by effortlessly. One of the most interesting byproducts of such scale is that historic ebb and flow are easily seen. I especially liked how Mr. Cohen broke out different areas, like Japan, to focus on in context of the time being discussed.

Take for example the cycles of military might and success, followed by decadence and the loss of territory to other conquerors or to various groups reasserting their independence. Often we're told that nothing lasts forever, it's fascinating to be able to watch it happen over and over.

It's also instructive to see the economic cycles. The coastal cities that would flourish with trade, only to be taxed into poverty. Since there was no wealth to support the authorities efforts to tax, piracy would flourish. With the piracy came greater wealth, which again attracted the tax man in an ever-repeating sequence.

The awful scale of the murders of millions of people by Tojo, Mao and Pol Pot only seem to be glossed over until one realizes that this same kind of thing has been going on for thousands of years. Individuals in the Eastern cultures have never had the moral importance of those in the West.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cohen is not an economist. While his historical reporting and context are excellent, when it comes to modern times the book fails. Mr. Cohen preaches interventionist monetary policy and fiat currency without being aware that the modern economic failures he decries are the result of just such actions by the governments of Asia in the latter half of the 20th century.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a general background of China and its environment, especially to anyone who was educated in China and wants to know the history that the Party has suppressed in their textbooks.

Rating:
Summary: It's breadth, not depth
Review: The scope of this book is amazing, but the best part is how the author demonstrates the interactions of so many groups in East Asia from the earliest of times to the present day. Instead of focussing only on China and Japan, it also focuses on Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, and all others who were vital to the development of what is Asia today. It is surprising how China, throughout much of its history was so dependent on its tributary states. It is noteworthy to know that the Koreans provided much of Sino-Koreanized culture to Japan, thus it is obvious that the author used sources other than Japanese documents which are already biased to fit their own ethnocentric view. If one is looking for depth, this book is not for you. What this book does is touch on the significant parts of each culture, perhaps for you to look further on your own.