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Books
Bomb, Book and Compass book reviewPosted by Lydia Wallace, July 18, 2008 1:09 PM
This week's Access Asia newsletter included the following book review of Simon Winchester's Bomb, Book and Compass. You can sign up for their weekly newsletter at their website. Simon Winchester's book is available on Amazon.com
We just ploughed through Simon Winchester's new Bomb, Book and Compass - Joseph Needham and the Great Secrets of China - boy, do we want our money back! |
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Comments on Bomb, Book and Compass book review
Mr. Winchester couldn't write his way out of a paper bag. Neverthless, his oeuvre of poorly researched pop history has somehow managed to feature on every best-seller list beginning with "that Surgeon monstrosity." Though his works might appeal to some, I would rather drink bleach than read another of his turgid perversions of history.
Finally, any China hand who has no prior knowledge of Needham's work should be subjected to some suitable punishment, preferably one borrowed from Sharia law.
Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel, offers some good insights and answers to the question of why China failed to progress further. Not a complete answer, but at least some interesting thoughts and non-cultural arguments to at least partially explain this fundamental question.