Philip BallThe Water Kingdom: Ball Philip

Many people try to explain China to westerners but, through the lens of water in China's mythology, history, technology, art, etc. Philip Ball does an astonishingly good job of explaining it all.I read this book with pleasure but after I finished it was stunned to observed how thoroughly it had covered the main streams of Chinese culture, how much learning I had gained from it. I am an interested and critical student of Chinese issues as I live in China (4 years so far) and this is the best and most enjoyable book on the subject, from prehistory to Xi Jinping.Certainly the best book to start understanding Zhongguo, China.

A generally fascinating lens on China's history: this novice certainly learned a lot! But beware: be prepared for the clear mountain streams of the initial chapters to turn into some confusing muddy whirlpools in the middle section before reaching some satisfying conclusions at the end. That meandering middle is probably worse, if, like me, you are not already familiar with China and Chinese history. Thus if you are looking for a general introduction to Chinese history this book may not be the best choice. But I do not regret the effort to push on through. Overall a very worthy read.

Informative.

Thoughtful and well written.

This is a fascinating book, telling the history of China in terms of how the rulers of the times dealt with issues to do with water - flooding of rivers, drought and especially the amazing early maritime history of China. I enjoyed it immensely, and the author's huge knowledge and easy literary style make it an easy read although it is full of complex insights into China's past. However, I found the chronology and the themes sometimes made for leaping from one period to another to illustrate points about a variety of themes, was slightly irritating.

Very insightful and well written

This absorbing book deserves a 5* review as it manages, in 326 concise pages, to present a compelling and accessible history of China. This is achieved by focussing almost exclusively on one topic: the impact of that country's vast waterways on every aspect of Chinese existence. I'm not sure it's a secret history, as claimed on the cover, more a targeted one.Each of the ten chapters cover different and interesting themes, such as the "Myths and Origins of Ancient China", the "Taming of Waters by Bureaucracy" and "How Water Infuses Chinese Painting and Literature", to take just three examples. The author wanders back and forth across the various dynasties, which I liked, although it becomes apparent from a comment on page 191 that he was intending to be more chronological. After that I was rather more aware of the non-sequitur changes of topic.Many of us will be aware of the controversial Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtse, which was largely constructed during the first decade of the 21st century. What I failed to appreciate at the time and now understand thanks to this book is that monumental hydraulic engineering projects, aiming to tame and exploit the Yangtze, Yellow and other major rivers, have been implemented by the Chinese for at least two thousand years.My one minor criticism is that, whilst the book contains some interesting black and white photographs, the maps included are far too small and lacking in detail. I don't like reading place names without knowing where they are and at one point had to get out an atlas.It would seem from the other titles listed that Philip Ball is a pretty prolific writer and something of a polymath - I look forward to reading more of his work.

good

Wittfogel suggested that China was an example of a hydraulic kingdom - where the management of water, the construction of irrigation and canals meant that despotism arose easily. Philip Ball shows how this concept might apply to China, seeing how the management of water was a matter of political survival and legitimacy. The management of water is a understated reality of China and deserves to be explored further.

very informative

A very well researched and written book. Subject can be a bit dry to some extent. However, is terrific history of China in a book that is not overwhelming is size, length. The angle of the 2 main rivers in China as so important in the history of the country is a really good one.

I continued to be amazed by examples of how water and it's management have played such a huge role in shaping China's history. The look at ancient China and how even Chinese characters are influenced by water was eye opening. Wonderfully researched and truly fascinating. Recommended for anyone looking to understand China's history through a new lense.

A popular book about how issues of water -- rivers, dams, canals, irrigation -- have shaped Chinese history, language and culture.