Oracle Bones

By: Peter Hessler

There are definitely fads when it comes to books on China, and this book was definitely one of the recent fads.  It was labeled as a must read for anyone interested in China.  I don’t always agree with popular opinion, but from what I’ve read of this book so far, it is worthy of its accolades.  Oracle Bones is a biographical examination of the many modern changes in China.  Instead of discussing these changes on the sweeping macro level, Hessler reveals the ripple effect of these changes over the past decade on the lives of the people he interacted with in China.  Conseqeuntly, the trends you hear discussed in newspapers and on CNN are given a personal face.  In fact, due to the complexity of China, I believe this is perhaps the most accurate way to portray the current climate.  Broad generalizations just don’t work in this land.  Hessler allows you to walk the streets of China with him, and to sit in cafes with him as he explores journey of “average” men and women in China.  It’s a compelling account that rings true to those of us who have lived and experienced life in China.