Rating: 
Summary: derived great pleasure
Review: I derived great pleasure reading Mr. Winchester's book. His Idea of a good travel book he explans at the end is one that derives great pleasure on imagined journeys to exotic and far away ports. This book was all of that and more, he is a wonderful writer, great read from the beginning to the end.
Rating:
Summary: A great travel book by a knowledgeable and gifted writer!
Review: I didn't want this book to end! The author's high and low descriptions of China jive with my limited experience there. His knowledge of the history, culture, flora and fauna were outstanding, while his description of the people really touched my heart. A literary treasure for me!
Rating:
Summary: A jouney unto itself
Review: I feel that this is Winchester's best. I have read some of his other works but "The River . . ." really kept me interested. Admittedly, I know almost nothing about Chinese history, geography or culture so Winchester's descriptions and imagery kept me quite enthralled. I found his use of anecdotes kept the book from getting bogged down in facts and figures while his easygoing conversational writing style made it seem as if you were walking along on the journey. This is probably not the best work for someone seeking a comprehensive scholarly tome on Chinese history but it really isn't meant to be. As a fun, entertaining look into one of the vast populations on the planet, I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book.
Review: I read the book before going to China in Feb. 98. It made the river live and gave me a wonderful background in which to review the river and enjoy the trip up the Three Gorges of the Yangzi. I also traveled to the Leaping Tiger Gorge, but discovered that progress had come. Where there was a path when the book was written, is now a gravel road. To appreciate the middle of China this book should be read.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book for anyone planning a Yangtze Cruise
Review: I read this beautifully written book before my recent China trip and was enchanted by the story. It begins with a story of a visit by the author to a man with an ancient scroll with a drawing of the Yangtze River. He decided to write a book about his travels and, along with a Chinese woman as a guide, journeyed from the mouth of the river near Shanghai all the way to the source in the Tibetan plateau. What really fascinated me was the way the author wove the history and culture of the region into the current day narrative and interactions with people. For example, the author discusses the activities that led to the downfall of the Qing dynasty and the beginning of the republic--all of which occurred in Wuhan along the Yangtze. Skeletons found in caves along the river are among the oldest ever found, making this area one of the cradles of civilization. Some of the descriptions in the book are now dated since the first flooding of the area began in June 2003, covering much of the former riverfront and part of the villages with water. However the history and culture explored in the book are still very relevant, so much so that I reread portions while on the cruise in October 2003. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Fine journalism and great adventure
Review: I read this book while out with the flu, feeling just miserable and couldn't put it down. In fact I didn't want it to end! Simon blends the best of both worlds: Exacting journalism and a great sense of adventure. Too many adventure/travel writers can't quite seem to make the two worlds work well together. They are either adventurers and not great journalists or the other way around. Simon understands issues of economics, sociology, nature, and adventure and brings them together in a formidable way. Great book!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Facts, Poor Story
Review: I was disappointed too. It seemed to me that at the beginning the author makes it appear that his trip up the Yangtze was a very dangerous adventure. I guess the danger and the adventure are in the sequel. What is really scary is what will happen to the millions of people in the path of the "river sunami" should the dam not hold. Also, I wonder what happened to his partner, Lily. If he let her help him knowing that she could face a lot of trouble later--I think he should have found another way of making the trip happen. It appears he used her to make a few bucks on a book. On the back cover of the book is a review that states Winchester's life is "equal parts James Bond and Jan Morris." He's got to be kidding! 2.5 Stars.
Rating:
Summary: Learn how good travel writing can be
Review: I'll just second all of the positive reviews that have already been posted about this book. It is quite simply the best written travel book I've ever read. If you've ever fantasized about becoming a travel writer, read this book. Study this book. You'll be amazed at how effortless he makes travel writing seem. A true joy to read. Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: Unbalanced
Review: Nice, I read the whole book with deep interest and curiosity, but my expectations were quite different. Too many pages are dedicated to the better-known Southern part of the river valley, too many pages on Nanjing or Shanghai and little info about minor towns, which are almost unknown to general public. I wanted to learn more about the Chinese way of life along the valley, not only basic info about the main spots. I'm partially disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A smart, engaging adventure
Review: Simon Winchester delivers a smart, compelling travel adventure of the sort we all would like to have. Winchester brings three advantages to this book. First, he forms strong opinions based on his knowledge of Chinese language and history, second he his accompanied in his trip of several weeks by Lilly -- a beautiful, articlulate, and very forceful Chinese woman. Finally he has a wife in New York who appears to tolerate both of the above. Nice work if you can get it.
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