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  • A Brief History of China

  • Dynasty, Revolution and Transformation: From the Middle Kingdom to the People's Republic
  • By: Jonathan Clements
  • Narrated by: Julian Elfer
  • Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (28 ratings)

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A Brief History of China

By: Jonathan Clements
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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Summary

A Brief History of China tells of the development of a rich and complex civilization where the use of paper, writing, money, and gunpowder were widespread in ancient times and where silk, ceramics, tea, metal implements, and other products were produced and exported around the globe. It examines the special conditions that allowed a single culture to unify an entire continent spanning 10 billion square kilometers under the rule of a single man - and the unbelievably rich artistic, literary and architectural heritage that Chinese culture has bequeathed to the world. Equally fascinating is the story of China's decline in the 19th and early 20th century - as Europeans and Americans took center stage - and its modern resurgence as an economic powerhouse in recent years.

In his retelling of a Chinese history stretching back 5,000 years, author and China-expert Jonathan Clements focuses on the human stories which led to the powerful transformations in Chinese society - from the unification of China under its first emperor, Qinshi Huangdi, to the Mongol invasion under Genghis Khan and the consolidation of Communist rule under Mao Zedong. Clements even brings listeners through to the present day, outlining China's economic renaissance under Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping.

©2019 Jonathan Clements (P)2019 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about A Brief History of China

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fresh and insightful take on Chinese history.

An insightful and refreshing take - bringing in new scholarship on women and climate, and an occasional wry sense of humour. Recommended. Esp. as an audio-book.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice book

Nice to read book, full of interesting stories from the past. I enjoyed reading it.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

Interesting and enjoyable whistlestop tour through Chinese history - perfect for a beginner like me. Well narrated.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good overview

Good overview with just enough detail but not too that you get lost, provides perspective on modern China

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Not what I was looking for at all

The book tells you surprisingly little about the big events in Chinese history and how or why they happened. There's extremely little analysis of events from a 'big picture' lens. The writer seems to gloss over events of massive significance in favour of wasting endless time telling you about minor side characters in history. At a certain point he glosses over events that I AM familiar with being of great complexity and importance. But he makes a single wry reductionist comment about it and goes back to spending 20 minutes detailing irrelevant minutia in prose style.
The author has a strangely disparaging tone throughout the entire book of the entire subject matter. Weird for someone writing a book about China. He's constantly judging people and events and wryly making snide comments about how it wouldn't be acceptable behaviour in modern Western culture. No s**t sherlock. For example, more chapters than not seem to clumsily force a feminist narrative, forcing a modern lens onto events and people millenia old. I understand that women are underrepresented in history and thats a shame. But if I don't know anything about Chinese history and I want to learn, it's not very useful to tell me at length about all the people were *not* in power and *not* making the big decisions just to please modern sensibilities.

To sum up my feelings: the author says at the start of the book 'Chinese history is very long so we have a lot to cover in very little time'. Then wastes the vast majority of the time telling you little of importance.
I didn't know a huge amount about Chinese history and after reading this book, I still don't.

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring book

Through the second chapter, can’t grasp the point
Narrative is not clear, more philosophy then history

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3 people found this helpful