Negative Positive
Title: Wide ranging but ultimately unsatisfying
Review: I am a huge history fan and Chinese history is such a wonderful study with its long sweep and fascinating rise and fall of dynasties. While this book does cover a lot of groud and does so in a workmanlike manner ultimately it is unsatisfying. In the preface the author states that much of the material for the book was pulled from his lecture notes and it shows in the text. There is litte narrative flow and the writing style is somewhat stilted. What this book needs above all is a good editor. If you are looking for a Chinese history book in the tradition of Jonathan Spence you will be disappointed, if you are looking for a book that covers the facts and little more this is the book for you.
Is the review positive or negative? 