China: Empire and Civilization

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful into to China
Review: I bought this book as a gift for my sister who went to China this year but I ended up keeping it for myself. So many illustrated books on Asia only pick out what's exotic and exploit it. This book, however, offers an even-handed introduction to China's past, focusing on politics, philosophy, technology, daily life and the arts. The section on beliefs is particularly fresh. I learned so much, yet I didn't feel the book wowed me with pieces of jade and the like that so often show us how we'd like to see imperial China, not how it really was.

Rating:
Summary: Great research and art
Review: The team of historians headed by Edward Shaughnessy did a fantastic job on this book, covering the most interesting fascets of imperial China (and its legacy in 20th century China). But the illustrations were my favorite part. The Chinese were masters at fusing beauty with function. Some of their inventions, artworks, and everyday tools make the West seem so clumsy. The captions are meaty and provide for good reading as well. I only wish the book were longer and went into more detail. A must have for China lovers!