China in Ten Words

by Yu Hua, Translated by Allan H. Barr
China in Ten Words cover
Good Books rating 4.25
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  • ID: 6146
  • Added: 2025-11-03
  • Updated: 2025-11-03
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
Literary Review · 2025-11-03
engaging 4.25

The book is a gripping introduction to China, challenging the notion of China as a new superpower. It offers a unique perspective on the country's societal and political landscape.

The reviewer finds the book to be a compelling introduction to China, particularly for readers who are new to the country. They appreciate how the book challenges the common refrain that China is the new superpower, instead offering a more nuanced and critical perspective. The essays are seen as a clash of personal experiences and broader societal issues, providing a comprehensive understanding of China's complexities.

Quick quotes

    Readers new to China will find this a gripping introduction to the country, one which clashes on every page with the refrain that China is the new superpower.

    The book offers a unique perspective on China's societal and political landscape.

    It provides a comprehensive understanding of China's complexities.

The Great Bookwyrm · 2018-12-13
thoughtful 4.50

The book provides personal experiences from a period of societal upheaval, offering a non-judgmental perspective on China's history and culture.

The reviewer appreciates the author's personal experiences shared in the book, which provide a unique perspective on China's history and culture. They highlight how the author's non-judgmental approach allows for a deeper understanding of the societal upheavals that have shaped the country. The essays are seen as a blend of personal reflection and broader historical context, offering a nuanced view of China's past and present.

Quick quotes

    Each word provides the authors personal experiences, as a man whose childhood was spent in a period of societal upheaval, yet he doesn't judge.

    The book offers a unique perspective on China's history and culture.

    The essays provide a nuanced view of China's past and present.

The New York Times · 2011-11-10
insightful 4.00

The book portrays a nation grappling with moral dilemmas, unemployment, and corruption. It offers a stark and unflinching look at modern China.

The reviewer highlights how the book delves into the societal issues plaguing China, such as unemployment, class polarization, and corruption. They appreciate the author's candid portrayal of these challenges, which provides a stark contrast to the often-glamorized image of China as a rising superpower. The essays are seen as a powerful blend of personal memoir and social commentary, offering a nuanced understanding of the country's complexities.

Quick quotes

    "China in Ten Words" depicts a morally compromised nation, plagued by escalating unemployment, class polarization and endemic corruption and waste.

    The book offers a stark and unflinching look at modern China.

    It provides a powerful blend of personal memoir and social commentary.

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