When China Called: Books Books books!
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| Poet Du Fu Statue at Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Park, Xi’an, Photo Credit: Mohamed Hakim |
Before moving on, since I know you noticed all those book references, I believe it a good time to talk about my book hunting journey, which was not as straight forward as I anticipated. I drove miles in hopes of finding words I'd like to read. Luckily, my pilgrimage, to bookstores, allowed me to stumble on good books, both travel guides and on Chinese culture, as I prepared for the trip.
The availability of said books speaks to the sheer volume of interest in China. Below are a few books I referenced prior to my trip. I am referencing sections of these works for further reading as we chug along. By no means am I endorsing nor promoting these books. They just happened to be the books that found me. I hope that which would entertain you will find you.
There are more books, I'm sure, that might be more appreciate-able to you. For instance, I would've loved to read The China Option: A Guide for Millennials: How to work, play, and find success in China, Travelers' Tales, 2018 ahead of my trip, that was published less than a week ahead of my trip!
Kathy Flower, Culture Smart China, Kuperard publishers, 2017 – This book is a quick read, which gives near complete overview of what you may encounter in China in as concise a manner as you can get. I am aware of a more recent version of this book.
Matthew B. Christensen, Decoding China, Tuttle Publishing, 2013 – This book was practically written for people who are planning to live in China. This is one I really liked. The author shares quite a bit of Chinese for your use during your stay. The author also shares very detailed information about public transportation, especially train transport.
Pierre Ostrowski & Gwen Penner, It’s All Chinese to Me, Tuttle Publishing, 2009 – If you do not have much time before your trip, once you get over the critical tone of the author(s), this book is packed with accessible, easy to understand information about Chinese etiquette. I am aware of more recent versions of this book.
Boyè Lafayette de Mente, Etiquette Guide to China, Tuttle Publishing, 2016 (2016 Etiquette Guide to China, Lafayette de Mente, p. 65).– This book was mainly written for people intending to do business in China or carrying negotiations with the Chinese.
May-lee Chai and Winberg Chai, China A to Z, Plume Publishing, 2014 – This book covers China as a topic essentially. It covers history, politics, economy, religion, and many other areas of interest. It covers a lot of what China is and what China has, and briefly talks about what you would encounter in China.
INSIGHT GUIDES CHINA, APA Publications 12th edition – a tabletop book with alluring photography. I am aware of a more recent version of this book.
EYEWITNESS TRAVEL CHINA, DK Publishing 2016 – a tabletop book with highly accessible information. I am aware of a more recent version of this book.
