From Ships to Revolutions: Book Reviews
histories take you into the hearts and minds of Asian immigrants to the United States and Canada. There are success stories and stories which will make you angry. Sometimes people say and think things you don't want to hear. Some of it is uncomfortable, some is inspirational. Why do some find America to still be the land of opportunity while others suffer? Most of all, the stories will make you question the blanket generalization in the word "Asian." There is no one Asian experience and several cultures are well represented in this book. Thankfully, there is no analysis of the stories in this book. The people speak for themselves and readers are free to form their own opinions. In a country founded and populated by immigrants, books like this one are vital. Read this book and take a walk in another person's shoes. It is a riveting journey.
The Cambridge Illustrated History of China by Patricia Buckley Ebrey. Cambridge University Press, 1999. How exactly does a general text lead to an understanding of the lives of ordinary people in China? By starting at the beginning of history, focusing on social history and including a wealth of photographs and lavish illustrations. The text is well written, the historical photos aren't widely known reproductions and in some respects, this could be thought of as an art history book. It is certainly a visual feast. Beyond that, it is a well rounded account of Chinese history, which does not leave out the role of women, and includes important, as well as relatively unknown, pieces of poetry and literature. The sidebars are great fun. A background is always necessary to understand why and how people lived. This book provides that, and does not leave one with the feeling of being forced to read a dry textbook with a test at the end.
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