Book Review: China – People Place Culture History

When I got an e-mail a few months back from book publisher DK to see if I was interested in reviewing their new book, “China: People Place Culture History“, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I had, wrongly, assumed that the book would simply be a token collection of pages about the Middle Kingdom. However, what came in the mail was a massive tome full of eclectic photos and information, as its title suggest, about the country’s people, geography, culture and history.

The absolutely beautifully bound book features stunning photography by Christopher Pillitz capturing China from a number of different angles – its diverse geography, its people going about their daily life, and contrasting images of its architecture old and new. (check out this interactive map for some samples)

The content is equally encompassing and divided into five sections – Landscape (China’s Horizons), History (The Story of China), People (A Day in the Life), Culture (The Spirit of China), and Architecture (Building a Nation). Each section of the 350+ page book is filled with a balanced collection of in depth articles and informational tidbits – making it a book you can pick up and read for hours, or just flip through leisurely between commercials.

Renowned Chinese author Anchee Min / 闵安琪 provides the forward to the book and rightly states:

For so many years I wanted to describe to my Western friends where I came from but was unable to. With this book, I can.

I feel the same way. Obviously China isn’t the place I come from, but it is the place I live, and trying to explain to people what it’s “like” is an impossible task. This book isn’t going to give the folks from home the ‘on the ground’ experience, but it does capture so much of China in one place.

I’ve bought a lot of things over the years to act as mementos or reminders of China for when/if I eventually move home,
and I’m happy to add “China: People Place Culture History” among them – although its weighty 5+ lbs. may cause me to exceed my baggage allowance.

Note: This book, along with many other China-related products, is available in the Lost Laowai Shop.