China: Alive in the Bitter sea

Awk I havent updated, which is odd for me but I have been in such a gaming mode lately.

This book I found, in a second hand store I frequent all to often (along with a stack of others).

This book I think just might be the most unique eye opening book I have red thus far.

I love Asian culture but to be honest, I know nothing of their history. So finding this book is how i plan to change that.

The writing is seamless, easy to read and gives you a clear picture of his experiences.

I look for forward to what this book has to teach.

Conclusion - The Industrial Revolution

Done and done.
What a slow, informative, unbiased read.

I give it a 3 stars.

[From my goodreads.com review]

I rated this book a three for a few reasons:

1) there is a lot of information in it.
2) it's well organized and thought out
3) it covers everything truthfully with out subscribing to the American habit of changing the history text books. [It also admits other books do just that]

I am a history buff but buff or not, this is not a book that I could just read with out taking breaks and jumping into another book at times, because it is a very slow read.

Had it not been for the 3 factors above the rating would have been lower for that reason.

Book Update

I visited the library and came back yesterday with:
Becoming Enlightened - the Dalai Lama
Life Below the Stairs [Domestic servants in England from Victorian times] - Frank E. Huggett
What Muslims Believe - John Bowker
The Way of the Sufi -Idries Shab
The Victorian Underworld - Kellow Chesney

I started with the Dalai Lama.
Now, I have a huge amount of respect for His Holiness - however I'm a tad confused.
I am also reading a book called What Buddhism is not, the author claims they don't believe in reincarnation yet its plainly stated in this book.

But that aside its a well written, fast read.
I think because I have a bit more of a background having read more books on Buddhism that its less informative for me then others might find it but something I am glad I picked up at our local library.

My library shocks me at times because this city is not one for culture being its smaller and known for not liking change.
The pocket sized paper back was going for 20$ before tax - and having read half of it. im glad i waited it out.

Life Below the stairs.. i love this book.. it puts you in the houses of the past so you get a real feel for how things were. Its great for someone that loves Victorian times, history and that all around goodness.

I have about 100 pages left to the Industrial Revolution - Honestly, its boring as all hell with a few interesting essays in it. But I have to admit that I am glad we had better history texts in our classes.
History should be fun and exciting and this book just isn't it. But its not bad enough that I can't just fight through it.. its a fast ish read..

I will likely finish Becoming Enlightened and the Industrial Revolution tomorrow.
Life under the stairs come Saturday and be on to one of the others and continue on with the Victorian underworld.

Monday is also a holiday so I plan to cuddle up with tea on the couch all day and read. I am going to make up for the days i didn't get the reading in that i wanted to for awhile last week.