Barbara P. (gotchagal) - , reviewed on 9/16/2014 + 97 more book reviews

I really enjoyed this book. I have always admired Hessler's writing and never been disappointed by any of his books, and I've read almost every one.

We have traveled to China twenty (yes, 20) times - so far, and have found the people and culture to be fascinating. We were in China, cruising on the Yangtze river before there was a dam, when they were in the midst of building the dam and yet again when the dam was completed. The Chinese government lied constantly about how many people were going to be displaced because of the dam. Their numbers were off by several millions and one of the saddest things was that they took people who for generations knew nothing about anything but working the land, and who had never even seen a toilet and sent them to little apartments in the city where they were at a total loss.

Peter Hessler has a great appreciation for and understanding of China. As much as we have learned from our travels and from friends we've made there, we have always learned something new from his books. He is hungry to learn about his subjects and is an excellent writer. His students were also eager to learn.

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