On Thursday, August 26, we hosted a webinar titled “Learning About China: Sipping from a Fire Hose.” In my presentation, I highlighted key books and other resources that have been helpful to me over the years in deepening my understanding of and love for China.
Here is the list of resources mentioned, along with two important caveats. First, this list reflects my experience and interests. Someone with different experiences and interests would likely generate a different list.
Second, there are many great books and resources that are not on this list. Time and space were (and are) limited which meant I had to keep the list short. My guess is that there are books that are your favorites, or perhaps even books that you wrote, which don’t appear. I’m sure you’ll understand. Remember, this webinar was about sipping, not gulping!
The video of the event is now available on our YouTube channel.
And here’s my list:
History
Books
- To Change China: Western Advisors in China, by Jonathan Spence
- Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, by June Cheng
- God’s Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan, by Jonathan Spence
Podcast
China History Podcast
Video series
China in Revolution (PBS)
Culture and Tradition
Books
- Snowflower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See
- Encountering the Chinese: A Modern Country; An Ancient Culture, by Hu Wenzhong
Video Series
A Bite of China (CCTV)
Films
Farewell
Language
Books
- Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language, by Deborah Fallows
- A Billion Voices: China’s Search for a Common Language, by David Moser
Lessons and Listening
- Passive listening: Chinese TV dramas
- Online lessons: chinesepod.com
- Chinese Buddy: Songs for Kids (YouTube)
Contemporary Society
Books
- Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China, by Evan Osnos
- Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory, by Peter Hessler
- Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China, by Frank Lingfett
Podcast
Sinica Podcast (Sup China)
Films
Contemporary Chinese films on streaming services
Religion
Books
- The Souls of China: The Return to Religion After Mao, by Ian Johnson
- Surviving the State; Remaking the Church: A Sociological Portrait of Christians in Mainland China, by Li Ma
- China’s Urban Christians: A Light That Cannot be Hidden, by Brent Fulton
- Shanghai Faithful: Betrayal and Forgiveness in a Chinese Christian Family, by Jennifer Lin
- A Star in the East: The Rise of Christianity in China, by Rodney Stark
- Salt and Light (series), edited by Carol Lee Hamrin with Stacey Bieler
- The Bells are Not Silent: Stories of Church Bells in China, by Joann Pittman
Happy sipping!
