Master piece

As a Chinese person living in Europe, I belong to the generation who benifits a lot form the rising Chinese power. Through this course, I've gain more understanding of my own culture and insights for where we are nowadays and why we are here. This course is neutral and unbiased, different from most of the main stream western media ductus. I highly recommen this course

5 Leute fanden das hilfreich

Comprehensive, entertaining, educational

Even though I am a sinologist myself, this very well-read, insightful and, most of all, human series of lectures even managed to illustrate quite a few things to me that I had only been marginally aware of. I recommend this to anyone interested in Chinese history and culture or wanting to understand present-day China - newcomers and experienced sinologists or enthusiasts alike.

4 Leute fanden das hilfreich

just great 😄

enjoy ☺️
this is a great story.
long live the peoples of this world.
good

1 Person fand das hilfreich

There be dragons

Some medieval maps used the phrase "Here be dragons" to mark essentially unknown territory. This amazing audiobook lets you explore the recent history of one such place for many Westerners. Out of the roughly a dozen titles from the "Great Courses" series I have consumed so far, this has been one of the best, if not the best of them all.

The lecturer, Mr Richard Baum, is a long-time China watcher with decades of experience under his belt. This is felt in the clear structure he maintains both within each individual lecture and throughout the course as a whole. It is also felt in personal anecdotes he interjects on several occasions. He has a clear and pleasant voice and speaks an easily comprehensible American English.

The lectures begin with the decline of Imperial China's last dynasty (the Qing) in the late 19th century and extend until roughly the year 2009, with the last major event discussed being the Beijing Summer Olympics of 2008. This allows listeners to compare Mr Baum's closing remarks on the potential future paths of China with what we know of today (e.g. the introduction of a social scoring system and the situation in Hong Kong). Personally, I would love to hear his views on these recent developments. I wish he released an update.

The 20th century wasn't a pretty one in many places, and China was no exception. Mr Baum deservers particular praise for telling the whole story while picking the right amount of detail, particularly with regard to the horrors of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. These sections may be uncomfortable for adults and are probably not suitable for children. Yet they always remain factual, and it's always clear that these stories are told because the lecturer cares about people.

This is an audiobook for adults. If you care about what's going on in the world, then this one is for you.

1 Person fand das hilfreich

Mesmerizing!

Professor Baum manages to present a complex history in an easy to understand manner - he masterfully connects specific occurrences in Chinese history with broader trends on the world stage and demonstrates how they are inextricably linked. Professor Baum accomplishes this with great passion and with the listener in mind - the chapters are divided up in a logical periodic sequence, making it easier for the listener to grasp.

China is already an economic if not political superpower. This course is an important contribution toward understanding how this came to be.

1 Person fand das hilfreich

Great insights

The Book puts modern history and the resulting geopolitical path dependencies into perspective and helps to understand China and the motives behind Chinese policy

Fascinating lecture with an autobiographical modus

I really enjoyed listening to this extensive lecture and learned a lot. The history and arguments are well structured and easy to follow. The personal anecdotes not only make the lecture more vivid but also yield an insight into a professor's life and career. Because of this, the "story of China" felt a bit like an autobiography of a life's work by Richard Baum.

My only critique (and reason for one star less) is the lack of objectivism, or respectively, self-reflection. This lecture is notably told from the perspective of an American, filled with American narratives and values. Even though this is not reflected or disclaimed, to me this is forgivable given the subjective autobiographical modus of the lecture.

All in all: very recommendable!

Deep insights

Thank you for the informative lectures with deep insights including personal experience. Very helpful and enjoyable.

This is exceptional!!

Richard Baum is the best narrator for a topic that he is the foremost expert on.

I don’t think it is possible to provide a more concise, easily comprehensible, yet greatly entertaining history of China.

History has never been more interesting. Richard Baums love for China is felt throughout the whole Audiobook, yet he always stays critical!

Highly recommended!

Excellent work!

If you wonder about what is going on in China and why, hear this course. Detailed, personal, and informative, as neutral as possible, this work is a must for anyone interested in China!