Category Archives: Reviews

A History of East Asia: From the Origins of Civilization to the Twenty-First Century, by Charles Holcombe A problem I’ve previously observed with introductory-level academic histories is their tendency to combine the worst of both worlds: they are too dry … Continue reading →

How Asia Works, by Joe Studwell. One part explanation of how Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and most recently, China have modernised since the end of WW2 — and one part caustic polemic about why Southeast Asia hasn’t matched up. The discussion of … Continue reading →

Did you know that the classic media business model (widely distributed, subsidised by advertising) only took off in 1833 with the launch of the New York Sun? The Sun sold at 1/6th the price of its rivals; juiced circulation with … Continue reading →

Global Interactions in the Early Modern Age, 1400-1800, by Charles H Parker. This is an introductory (270 pages) academic work, covering a number of topics: European and Asian empires, trade, population movements, ecological change, and cultural and religious shifts. Therein … Continue reading →

To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight, by James Tobin. A narrative history of the early pioneers of heavier-than-air flight, particularly the Wright Brothers and Samuel Langley. Not as memorable as it could have … Continue reading →

From the Ruins of Empire: The Intellectuals who Remade Asia, by Pankaj Mishra. One of those books I found fascinating as a glimpse into a different world, and worldview, despite my real disagreements with the author. Here is a useful … Continue reading →

Early Modern Europe: An Oxford History. I spent ages searching for a book of this sort – a clear, concise, holistic overview of the subject. The book is divided into three parts, each broadly dedicated to a specific century – … Continue reading →