Land Without Ghosts: Chinese Impressions of America from the Mid-Nineteenth Century to the Present [Paperback]

R. David Arkush (Editor), Leo O. Lee (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0520084241 | ISBN-13: 978-0520084247

Americans have long been fascinated with European views of the United States. The many Chinese commentaries on America, however, have remained largely unavailable to the English reader. Land without Ghosts presents for the first time selections on America from Chinese writings over the last 150 years. Included are extracts from the travel diaries of nineteenth-century diplomats, a first-hand account of blacks in 1930s Alabama and of the young white Communists working to organize them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Arkush and Lee . . . have organized the collection thematically and chronologically which helps to highlight changing views of the United States and to link such changes to developments in China." -- Lucy Salyer, Journal of American History

"This welcome and much-needed volume not only offers the first time American readers a chance to view themselves from a Chinese perspective, but also makes an interesting contrast between the two diverse cultures." -- Shih-Shan Henry Tsai, Pacific Historical Review

From the Inside Flap

"At last we have a wonderful book which makes us privy to these Chinese images of the West and lets us see how they were formed and how they changed over the last century and a half."--Orville Schell, author of Discos and Democracy

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (September 20, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520084241
• ISBN-13: 978-0520084247
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #595,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the tables are turned, April 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Land Without Ghosts: Chinese Impressions of America from the Mid-Nineteenth Century to the Present (Paperback)

This is a collection of essays about Chinese impressions of America over the last 150 years. We know what Americans thought of the Chinese when they first arrived -- this is a rare opportunity to learn what the Chinese thought of Americans. Topics include helpful suggestions concerning American ettiquite, essays on American women, black Americans, and the various problems in America (too much traffic, excessive consumption, etc.). This book will allow the American reader to examine his/her own society from a different perspective.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting read, September 7, 2010

By 

Sarah Bruce (AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Land Without Ghosts: Chinese Impressions of America from the Mid-Nineteenth Century to the Present (Paperback)

All of the excepts are very easy to read and none are very long. It is really interesting to see American culture from the view of foreign residents/visitors. None of the accounts are REALLY from the present I think the most recent one is like the 80's?