(no subject)

[coraa]

For a Sekrit Project, I'm looking for books about Chinese history and culture. Non-fiction, please, and I know embarrassingly little -- pretty much nothing, really, so I'm going to need to start with overviews.

I realize that this is sort of like saying: "Recommend me books about Science!" in terms of scope -- China is huge and diverse and has a long recorded history, and I feel like I'm trying to scale a glacier -- but I need to start somewhere, and right now I don't know enough to know how to narrow down yet, if you understand my meaning. The books don't have to all be General Overview; since I'm generally mildly suspicious of survey books, I'd actually rather read a diverse spread of reasonably accessible books on specific topics. (By 'accessible' I mean 'don't assume a ton of prior knowledge of the subject;' I'm willing and able to wade through academic-speak. I'm also not embarrassed to read children's books, as long as they're reasonably accurate.)

Doesn't have to be all history, either. Books about modern society and culture are also welcome.

I know so little about China, it's embarrassing, but I'm trying to correct that!

Comments

[ceph.livejournal.com]

I realize it's fiction, but you should read Monkey if you haven't yet, purely for awesomeness value. Arthur Waley has the definitive translation.

I haven't read these myself, but the Rough Guide to China recommends Peter Hopkirk's Foreign Devils on the Silk Road and The Great Game, as well as The Gate of Heavenly Peace by Jonathan Spence.

[coraa.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! *adds*