John King Fairbank was the West's doyen on China, and this book is the full and final expression of his lifelong engagement with this vast ancie... read full description
reviews
Jan 05, 2010
Mkp
rated it: 
There is more of a focus on the Qing dynasty and after. In general, when compared to Hucker and Gernet, Fairbank & Goldman (I abbreviate 'Fairbank' from here on) are more closely interested in mechanisms, both governmental and economic, that predominated during historical times. He gives references to the range of academic studies concerning particular issues without getting bogged down in academic disputes.
However none of the books give a convincing explanation of the decline in wea More...
However none of the books give a convincing explanation of the decline in wea More...
Aug 03, 2009
Ethan
rated it: 
Reading this book cover to cover may be one of the nerdiest things I've ever done, and that's saying something. China: A New History is literally a text book. It's what college students are often assigned as their base resource for a class likely to be called "China Studies 101" or "Chinese History 101". It's the kind of thing that professors assign, but students rarely read all the way through. Maybe you catch a chapter here and there, but there's no way you have the patienc
More...
Feb 12, 2008
Barbara
rated it: 
So far I hate this book. The authors have managed to make what should be a fascinating history utterly boring and tedious.
I doubt I'll finish it.
I doubt I'll finish it.
3 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 22, 2010
Douglas
rated it:
Of all of the books I have read so far on China this has been the most helpful to date. Fairbank presents his material in such a way that the reader has a sense that he is getting both an accurate presentation of the facts of history, and a reasoned explanation for them. He has the ability to reach down below the surface and draw up to the mind the reasons why things happened as they did, and why China is the way it is. This is especially helpful when trying to understand China from the perspec
More...
Nov 13, 2007
Jason
rated it:
Wrting a concise one-volume history of China must be akin to the old open-ended essay topic: "define the universe, and give three examples". Fairbank does about as well as one could, using China's past of confucianism to explain the philosophy of say, the Tiananmen Square massacre or the Cultural Revolution of the late 60's. In this he does a very able job, and to this untrained historian at least, the events that transpire become almost predictable.
On the negative side, h More...
On the negative side, h More...
Nov 10, 2010
Just bought this. Psyched to get reading about the Shang, Zhou and Xia dynasties way back at the beginning of Chinese history, the legendary culutres idolized by Confucius and that influenced his teachings.
Nov 17, 2011
Billy
rated it: 
Overall, an excellent introduction to the history of China. It tends to gloss over quite a bit, but it provides enough background and context to get a better understanding about why China behaves the way it does. Fascinating!
Jul 23, 2008
Chase
rated it:
This book is a bit dated (published 1992), but it gives a great overview of Chinese history. The author is a good historian and a good writer. I learned a lot, and this will be a good foundation for future China reading.
Aug 01, 2008
Nick
rated it: 
Borders, recommendation from a friendly Morehouse history professor, 2008-05-13. Good but certainly not great.
Nov 11, 2008
I'm continuing this book that I started on my August trip to China. Actually, I just started over.
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 11, 2012
Jan 21, 2012
Jan 16, 2012
Jan 16, 2012
Jan 20, 2012
Jan 12, 2012
Jan 08, 2012
Dec 18, 2011
Dec 14, 2011
