The Cultural Revolution Cookbook [Paperback]

Sasha Gong (Author), Scott D. Seligman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2011

In 1969, millions of Chinese teenagers were forced from their homes in the city in order to live and work in the countryside as part of China's Cultural Revolution. The work was backbreaking and rations were tight, but Sasha Gong has fond memories of learning to make simple, delicious country cooking. A collection of delectable, healthy, and easy-to-make Chinese recipes from the villages interspersed with a personal narrative and bits of historical context, this cookbook contains authentic Chinese dishes ranging from honey-braised duck to stir-fried rice made from ingredients found at local grocery stores. Chinese history buffs and foodies alike will enjoy discovering the integral connection between Chinese culture and food.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The recipes are easy to execute . . . but beyond this, the authors' addition of contemporary history and cultural insights makes for a unique, entertaining and informative resource. A brilliant idea, beautifully implemented." —Henry Levine, former U.S. Consul General in Shanghai

"The book's use of propaganda posters from the period links the recipes and the politics in a wonderfully entertaining way." —Judith Shapiro, author, Mao's War Against Nature

"The book is by turns touching, funny and bemusing; the food triumphs over all." —Christian Murck, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China

"A scrumptious treat in every way. Peppered with delectable and little-known historical anecdotes, luscious food photography, and colorful, eye-pleasing Chinese socialist realist art, the book is a delight simply to flip through." —Ted Plafker, author, Doing Business in China

"Gong and Seligman serve up both good food and history in an easily digestible format." —John Frisbie, President of the U.S.-China Business Council

"This is a beautifully written book that you will savor both for its thoughtful reflections on history and its great recipes." —John L. Holden, former President of The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations

"The Cultural Revolution Cookbook mixes amusing anecdotes, engaging stories and sumptuous recipes to bring to life revolutionary China's culinary history. The authors' unique expertise in Chinese history, society and culture make this cookbook entertaining, informative and indispensable for any kitchen." —Chris Billing, former Bureau Chief for NBC News Beijing

"Seligman and Gong manage to bring forth from the bitter legacy of the Cultural Revolution a delightful book of recipes that serves up not just breakfast, lunch and dinner but also much food for thought." —Curtis S. Chin, former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank

About the Author

Sasha Gong is an accomplished Chinese cook and the author of Born American: A Chinese Woman's Dream of Liberty. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Scott D. Seligman is a historian, the author of Chinese Business Etiquette, and the coauthor of Now You're Talking Mandarin Chinese. He lives in Washington, DC.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Earnshaw Books (December 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9881998468
• ISBN-13: 978-9881998460
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Asian > Chinese

More About the Author

Scott D. Seligman is a writer, a historian, a genealogist, a retired corporate executive and a career "China hand." He has an undergraduate degree in history from Princeton University with a concentration in American civilization and a master's degree from Harvard University. Fluent in Mandarin and conversant in Cantonese, he lived in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China for eight years and reads and writes Chinese. He has worked as a legislative assistant to a member of the U.S. Congress, lobbied the Chinese government on behalf of American business, managed a multinational public relations agency in China, served as spokesperson and communications director for a Fortune 50 company and taught English in Taiwan and Chinese in Washington, DC. He is the author of Chinese Business Etiquette (Hachette, 1999), Dealing With the Chinese (Warner Books, 1989) and Three Tough Chinamen (Earnshaw Books, coming in 2012) and co-author of The Cultural Revolution Cookbook (Earnshaw Books, 2011), Chinese at a Glance (Barron's Educational Series, 1985 and 2001) and Now You're Talking Mandarin Chinese (Barron's, 2006). He has also published articles in the Asian Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the China Business Review and the Jewish Daily Forward and has created several websites on historical and genealogical topics. He lives in Washington, DC.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this cookbook, December 29, 2011

By 

A woman "DC mom" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cultural Revolution Cookbook (Paperback)

I absolutely love this cookbook. Not only are the recipes great, but they are not hard to make. The ingredients aren't ones that will send you running to any specialty stores, but the food is authentic. And the book itself is beautiful-there are pictures of EVERY recipe in the book, and the non-food artwork that accompanies it is amazing. The text and theme of the book are also fascinating....it really shows how the Cultural 'Revolution' affected its people through food, and the history of the authors just adds to the story.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great recipes & an education to boot! Great present for cooks., December 27, 2011

By 

Cogito (Lebanon, OHIO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cultural Revolution Cookbook (Paperback)

A present to my wife for Christmas, but - don't tell her, comrades - it was really for ME! ;) The author includes little articles in the side bar of each recipe page that give you a sense of the human story behind the Cultural Revolution in China during the late 60's to early 70's. It may sound a bit weird, but food tells a direct, more accessible history of that difficult time in China's history than just dates etc. I could easily see this incorporated into a school curriculum - maybe one of you out there could blaze that revolutionary trail? Anyway, the recipes are simple, healthy and have been a big hit with our family. This makes a great gift for the cook in your family, particularly one who you couldn't get into a Chinese restaurant if your life depended on it because they had some goofy irrational disdain for the food...uh, don't tell my wife I said THAT either, ok?!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cultural Revolution Cookbook, January 22, 2012

By 

Yobeen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cultural Revolution Cookbook (Paperback)

This is a beautiful cookbook. The illlustrations, pictures and anecdotes make for a unique presentation of the recipes. They use ingredients easily found which relieves the stress of searching for them or trying to find a suitable substitute. The dishes I have had have been very tasty and easy to prepare. I am looking forward to many more delicious meals from this book. I have given it as a gift to several people and they also have commented on how beautiful a book it is and how easy the recipes area and how easily the ingredients can be obtained. It is a great addition to my cookbook library.