Reviews
"Meyer is an amiable narrator, and he introduces the reader to some of China's greatest paradoxes; notably a pride in history that coexists with a compulsion to destroy the past." - New York Times Book Review "A humorous, detailed chronicle of the kind of bewildering, bracing contact impressions between him and the Chinese that illustrate both the huge divide between the two countries as well as the shared humanity. . . . [Meyer] delineates his experiences with a great verve and a light hand." - Kirkus Reviews "Meyer has a sharp eye both for the details of two such contrasting cities, but also for the seismic changes China would undergo in a mere 20 years. There's neither outsize pride, nor false modesty, here, but instead a humility gained from an immersion that finds him continually off-balance, which creates its own sort of wisdom." - Booklist "Meyer continues to present his fascinating and worthwhile impressions of China. . . . Those planning an actual trip to China as well as armchair travelers will be enlightened and entertained by this exceptional book." - Library Journal "A captivating book that tells wonderful stories, both about the China Meyer witnesses and the China that has vanished." - Minneapolis Star Tribune " The Road to Sleeping Dragon is an invaluable resource for anybody determined to engage with today's China. Rather than telling readers what to think about China, Michael Meyer's lively memoir shows them how to think -- how to embrace new experiences, new perspectives, and the ever-changing new incarnations of this incredible country." - Peter Hessler, author of ORACLE BONES and RIVER TOWN "I've been an admirer of Michael Meyer since his first book, and this, his third, only makes me more so. It's hard for me to think of anyone who can dive into another culture with such infectious zest and curiosity, and who gets in so deep, so fast." - Adam Hochschild, author of KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST "China has never had an explicator and enthusiast like Michael Meyer. His story of how he got to know the country is exciting, sometimes hair-raising, and always fascinating. This is a terrific book and I recommend it highly." - Ian Frazier, author of TRAVELS IN SIBERIA "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." - Ian Johnson, Wall Street Journal on LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." - Slate on THE LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb . . . [He] is not only a connoisseur of patriotic monuments, but also a wonderful explorer of the relics of a past that is rubbed out, overlooked, or largely forgotten." - Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books on IN MANCHURIA, "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." - Wall Street Journal on LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." - Slate on THE LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb . . . [He] is not only a connoisseur of patriotic monuments, but also a wonderful explorer of the relics of a past that is rubbed out, overlooked, or largely forgotten." - New York Review of Books on IN MANCHURIA, "A humorous, detailed chronicle of the kind of bewildering, bracing contact impressions between him and the Chinese that illustrate both the huge divide between the two countries as well as the shared humanity. . . . [Meyer] delineates his experiences with a great verve and a light hand." - Kirkus Reviews "Meyer has a sharp eye both for the details of two such contrasting cities, but also for the seismic changes China would undergo in a mere 20 years. There's neither outsize pride, nor false modesty, here, but instead a humility gained from an immersion that finds him continually off-balance, which creates its own sort of wisdom." - Booklist "Meyer continues to present his fascinating and worthwhile impressions of China. . . . Those planning an actual trip to China as well as armchair travelers will be enlightened and entertained by this exceptional book." - Library Journal "A captivating book that tells wonderful stories, both about the China Meyer witnesses and the China that has vanished." - Minneapolis Star Tribune " The Road to Sleeping Dragon is an invaluable resource for anybody determined to engage with today's China. Rather than telling readers what to think about China, Michael Meyer's lively memoir shows them how to think -- how to embrace new experiences, new perspectives, and the ever-changing new incarnations of this incredible country." - Peter Hessler, author of ORACLE BONES and RIVER TOWN "I've been an admirer of Michael Meyer since his first book, and this, his third, only makes me more so. It's hard for me to think of anyone who can dive into another culture with such infectious zest and curiosity, and who gets in so deep, so fast." - Adam Hochschild, author of KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST "China has never had an explicator and enthusiast like Michael Meyer. His story of how he got to know the country is exciting, sometimes hair-raising, and always fascinating. This is a terrific book and I recommend it highly." - Ian Frazier, author of TRAVELS IN SIBERIA "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." - Ian Johnson, Wall Street Journal on LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." - Slate on THE LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb . . . [He] is not only a connoisseur of patriotic monuments, but also a wonderful explorer of the relics of a past that is rubbed out, overlooked, or largely forgotten." - Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books on IN MANCHURIA, "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." -- The Wall Street Journal on The Last Days of Old Beijing "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." -- Slate on The Last Days of Old Beijing "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb." -- The New York Review of Books on In Manchuria, "A humorous, detailed chronicle of the kind of bewildering, bracing contact impressions between him and the Chinese that illustrate both the huge divide between the two countries as well as the shared humanity. . . . [Meyer] delineates his experiences with a great verve and a light hand." - Kirkus Reviews "Meyer has a sharp eye both for the details of two such contrasting cities, but also for the seismic changes China would undergo in a mere 20 years. There's neither outsize pride, nor false modesty, here, but instead a humility gained from an immersion that finds him continually off-balance, which creates its own sort of wisdom." - Booklist "Meyer continues to present his fascinating and worthwhile impressions of China. . . . Those planning an actual trip to China as well as armchair travelers will be enlightened and entertained by this exceptional book." - Library Journal " The Road to Sleeping Dragon is an invaluable resource for anybody determined to engage with today's China. Rather than telling readers what to think about China, Michael Meyer's lively memoir shows them how to think -- how to embrace new experiences, new perspectives, and the ever-changing new incarnations of this incredible country." - Peter Hessler, author of ORACLE BONES and RIVER TOWN "I've been an admirer of Michael Meyer since his first book, and this, his third, only makes me more so. It's hard for me to think of anyone who can dive into another culture with such infectious zest and curiosity, and who gets in so deep, so fast." - Adam Hochschild, author of KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST "China has never had an explicator and enthusiast like Michael Meyer. His story of how he got to know the country is exciting, sometimes hair-raising, and always fascinating. This is a terrific book and I recommend it highly." - Ian Frazier, author of TRAVELS IN SIBERIA "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." - Ian Johnson, Wall Street Journal on LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." - Slate on THE LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb . . . [He] is not only a connoisseur of patriotic monuments, but also a wonderful explorer of the relics of a past that is rubbed out, overlooked, or largely forgotten." - Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books on IN MANCHURIA, " The Road to Sleeping Dragon is an invaluable resource for anybody determined to engage with today's China. Rather than telling readers what to think about China, Michael Meyer's lively memoir shows them how to think -- how to embrace new experiences, new perspectives, and the ever-changing new incarnations of this incredible country." - Peter Hessler, author of ORACLE BONES and RIVER TOWN "I've been an admirer of Michael Meyer since his first book, and this, his third, only makes me more so. It's hard for me to think of anyone who can dive into another culture with such infectious zest and curiosity, and who gets in so deep, so fast." - Adam Hochschild, author of KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST "China has never had an explicator and enthusiast like Michael Meyer. His story of how he got to know the country is exciting, sometimes hair-raising, and always fascinating. This is a terrific book and I recommend it highly." - Ian Frazier, author of TRAVELS IN SIBERIA "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." - Ian Johnson, Wall Street Journal on LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." - Slate on THE LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb . . . [He] is not only a connoisseur of patriotic monuments, but also a wonderful explorer of the relics of a past that is rubbed out, overlooked, or largely forgotten." - Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books on IN MANCHURIA, " The Road to Sleeping Dragon is an invaluable resource for anybody determined to engage with today's China. Rather than telling readers what to think about China, Michael Meyer's lively memoir shows them how to think -- how to embrace new experiences, new perspectives, and the ever-changing new incarnations of this incredible country." - Peter Hessler, author of ORACLE BONES and RIVER TOWN "I've been an admirer of Michael Meyer since his first book, and this, his third, only makes me more so. It's hard for me to think of anyone who can dive into another culture with such infectious zest and curiosity, and who gets in so deep, so fast." - Adam Hochschild, author of KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." - Wall Street Journal on LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." - Slate on THE LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb . . . [He] is not only a connoisseur of patriotic monuments, but also a wonderful explorer of the relics of a past that is rubbed out, overlooked, or largely forgotten." - New York Review of Books on IN MANCHURIA, "Meyer is an amiable narrator, and he introduces the reader to some of China's greatest paradoxes; notably a pride in history that coexists with a compulsion to destroy the past." - New York Times Book Review "A humorous, detailed chronicle of the kind of bewildering, bracing contact impressions between him and the Chinese that illustrate both the huge divide between the two countries as well as the shared humanity. . . . [Meyer] delineates his experiences with a great verve and a light hand." - Kirkus Reviews "Meyer has a sharp eye both for the details of two such contrasting cities, but also for the seismic changes China would undergo in a mere 20 years. There's neither outsize pride, nor false modesty, here, but instead a humility gained from an immersion that finds him continually off-balance, which creates its own sort of wisdom." - Booklist "Meyer continues to present his fascinating and worthwhile impressions of China. . . . Those planning an actual trip to China as well as armchair travelers will be enlightened and entertained by this exceptional book." - Library Journal "A captivating book that tells wonderful stories, both about the China Meyer witnesses and the China that has vanished." - Minneapolis Star Tribune " The Road to Sleeping Dragon is an invaluable resource for anybody determined to engage with today's China. Rather than telling readers what to think about China, Michael Meyer's lively memoir shows them how to think -- how to embrace new experiences, new perspectives, and the ever-changing new incarnations of this incredible country." - Peter Hessler, author of ORACLE BONES and RIVER TOWN "I've been an admirer of Michael Meyer since his first book, and this, his third, only makes me more so. It's hard for me to think of anyone who can dive into another culture with such infectious zest and curiosity, and who gets in so deep, so fast." - Adam Hochschild, author of KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST "China has never had an explicator and enthusiast like Michael Meyer. His story of how he got to know the country is exciting, sometimes hair-raising, and always fascinating. This is a terrific book and I recommend it highly." - Ian Frazier, author of TRAVELS IN SIBERIA "A compelling work of narrative nonfiction about the city itself." - Ian Johnson, Wall Street Journal on LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "A haunting portrait of the interaction between change and changelessness in China." - Slate on THE LAST DAYS OF OLD BEIJING "Meyer writes from the appealing perspective of an American outsider who can tell a Chinese story from the inside, as it were, by plunging into the private lives of people he came to know intimately . . . As an historian, and especially as a guide to Chinese museums, memorials, and monuments, Meyer is superb . . . [He] is not only a connoisseur of patriotic monuments, but also a wonderful explorer of the relics of a past that is rubbed out, overlooked, or largely forgotten." - Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books on IN MANCHURIA
Synopsis
From the highly praised author of The Last Days of Old Beijing , a brilliant portrait of China today and a memoir of coming of age in a country in transition. In 1995, at the age of twenty-three, Michael Meyer joined the Peace Corps and, after rejecting offers to go to seven other countries, was sent to a tiny town in Sichuan. Knowing nothing about China, or even how to use chopsticks, Meyer wrote Chinese words up and down his arms so he could hold conversations, and, per a Communist dean's orders, jumped into teaching his students about the Enlightenment, the stock market, and Beatles lyrics. Soon he realized his Chinese counterparts were just as bewildered by China's changes as he was. Thus began an impassioned immersion into Chinese life. With humor and insight, Meyer puts readers in his novice shoes, winding across the length and breadth of his adopted country --from a terrifying bus attack on arrival, to remote Xinjiang and Tibet, into Beijing's backstreets and his future wife's Manchurian family, and headlong into efforts to protect China's vanishing heritage at places like Sleeping Dragon, the world's largest panda preserve. In the last book of his China trilogy, Meyer tells a story both deeply personal and universal, as he gains greater - if never complete - assurance, capturing what it feels like to learn a language, culture and history from the ground up. Both funny and relatable, The Road to Sleeping Dragon is essential reading for anyone interested in China's history, and how daily life plays out there today., From the highly praised author of The Last Days of Old Beijing , a brilliant portrait of China today and a memoir of coming of age in a country in transition. In 1995, at the age of twenty-three, Michael Meyer joined the Peace Corps and, after rejecting offers to go to seven other countries, was sent to a tiny town in Sichuan. Knowing nothing about China, or even how to use chopsticks, Meyer wrote Chinese words up and down his arms so he could hold conversations, and, per a Communist dean's orders, jumped into teaching his students about the Enlightenment, the stock market, and Beatles lyrics. Soon he realized his Chinese counterparts were just as bewildered by China's changes as he was. Thus began an impassioned immersion into Chinese life. With humor and insight, Meyer puts readers in his novice shoes, winding across the length and breadth of his adopted country --from a terrifying bus attack on arrival, to remote Xinjiang and Tibet, into Beijing's backstreets and his future wife's Manchurian family, and headlong into efforts to protect China's vanishing heritage at places like "Sleeping Dragon," the world's largest panda preserve. In the last book of his China trilogy, Meyer tells a story both deeply personal and universal, as he gains greater - if never complete - assurance, capturing what it feels like to learn a language, culture and history from the ground up. Both funny and relatable, The Road to Sleeping Dragon is essential reading for anyone interested in China's history, and how daily life plays out there today., From the highly praised author of The Last Days of Old Beijing , a brilliant portrait of China today and a memoir of coming of age in a country in transition.
