Excellent Book & Media

As part of our preparation for our visit to China, we are expected to read and share with the group that is going on the trip a couple of books and/or articles that we have read about China. I have been searching across the internet for good books and articles and really any kind of information about modern China that could help me understand where I am going, and what to expect (as much as I can possibly do while I am here on the other side of the world for the moment).

I have just started reading ORACLE BONES: A Journey Through Time in China by Peter Hessler. Hessler lived in China for some time teaching English and working for The Wall Street Journal. He is now the Beijing correspondent for The New Yorker and contributes to National Geographic. It is a wonderful read so far (I've completed the first two chapters and have started chapter 3).

I have also run across several great resources from NPR and PBS' NEWSHOUR program. From both of these I have already compiled several links for my students to use next year in our study of China. They can be found at my China Media Guide Portaportal site