Scan barcode
jsjammersmith's review against another edition
2.0
At 1009 reviews that all basically say the same thing, there isn't much I could really add. This book really wasn't great, or particularly enjoyable, or even good historically (both in terms of method and narrative).
But honestly, the most disappointing thing, is that this book should have been cool. It should have been an interesting and insightful argument that would have had really important implications for human expansion and exploration...but it just wasn't. Maybe a later, and better, book will be published if more evidence comes forward, but for now, yeah, this book just wasn't great or good or interesting.
But honestly, the most disappointing thing, is that this book should have been cool. It should have been an interesting and insightful argument that would have had really important implications for human expansion and exploration...but it just wasn't. Maybe a later, and better, book will be published if more evidence comes forward, but for now, yeah, this book just wasn't great or good or interesting.
larsdhhedbor's review against another edition
3.0
A fascinating series of speculations, although many of them require leaps of faith that strain the credulity of experts in the various fields the author touches on.
Where his narrative is on the most solid ground, though, is fascinating enough. The withdrawal of China into its own insular world is a phenomenon that finds a persuasive explanation here, and the events leading up to it are exciting enough for anyone who wants to understand the patterns of exploration prior to the European explosion across the globe in the latter half of the 15th century and later.
Where his narrative is on the most solid ground, though, is fascinating enough. The withdrawal of China into its own insular world is a phenomenon that finds a persuasive explanation here, and the events leading up to it are exciting enough for anyone who wants to understand the patterns of exploration prior to the European explosion across the globe in the latter half of the 15th century and later.
edumallo's review against another edition
2.0
La teoría del libro es que las flotas del tesoro chinas de 1421 podrían haber "descubierto" América, la Antártida, Australia y dado la vuelta al mundo...Una pena que los argumentos estén pillados con alfileres, porque el punto de partida es muy chulo.
paloma_sanchezh's review against another edition
2.0
No resultó el libro que esperaba, ya que el autor parece basarse en muchas conjeturas, en cuanto a su tesis de que los chinos fueron los primeros en descubrir el mundo. Sin duda, hoy nadie disputa que Colón y los europeos no fueron los primeros en descubrir América, y sin duda, no sería extraño que una civilización tan avanzada en la época -lo que correspondió a la Edad Media europea- hubiera hecho viajes de exploración. Lo que molesta en este libro es que el autor parece basarse en meras suposiciones y en pruebas que "deberán ser exploradas con más detenimiento". Por otra parte, y está es una opinión personal, si bien los europeos no descubrieron América, una cosa es el descubrimiento y otra muy distinta la colonización. Incluso con asentamientos chinos que datarán del siglo XV lo cierto es que, por lo menos América, es un continente nacido de la conquista europea y por tanto, no pudo ser colonizado por los chinos.
Interesante en algunos capítulos, en general la obra del autor inglés deja mucho que desear.
Interesante en algunos capítulos, en general la obra del autor inglés deja mucho que desear.
erinmjustice's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first audiobook review, but this isn't my first audiobook. I've started listening to audiobooks on my drive into work recently - it builds my energy for the day, and it keeps my energy up after work. I'm a lifelong learner, affectionately known as a bookworm or nerd. I'm also not a fan of commutes during rush hour traffic. I get anxious and hate driving, to the point of speeding just so I cut down the time I'm in the car and get to work faster. With audiobooks, I could care less if my drive is a little longer because I'm basically sitting in my own surround sound lecture hall (nerd).
Anyway, back to the book itself. Menzies is not a tried and true historian, but he packs a solid punch working with a variety of researchers in different fields. At times, I found his "trust me, I KNOW what I'm doing" lines a little annoying - but given that he first started his research based on old maps with striking geographic accuracy, it's a little understandable. I appreciated that Menzies acknowledged that he was basically overturning longstanding historical "facts" - his thesis being that Europeans made daring voyages, but the Chinese treasure fleets were the ones who actually made the discoveries. Menzies' fresh perspective offers a wealth of insight into coastlines, ocean weather patterns, currents, and ocean navigation. My major criticisms of the book are not of Menzies' methods, nor his thesis itself. As a writer, Menzies can fall flat at times and the pacing feels slow. I found myself a little bored (and as a result, anxious) listening to the audiobook while driving. I felt like there was no spark, no compelling force, illuminating these theories. What should have been exciting seemed dull.
The Bottom Line:
Menzies' research was enough to keep me engaged, but Menzies' writing was not enough to drive me to read his latest book, 1434.
Anyway, back to the book itself. Menzies is not a tried and true historian, but he packs a solid punch working with a variety of researchers in different fields. At times, I found his "trust me, I KNOW what I'm doing" lines a little annoying - but given that he first started his research based on old maps with striking geographic accuracy, it's a little understandable. I appreciated that Menzies acknowledged that he was basically overturning longstanding historical "facts" - his thesis being that Europeans made daring voyages, but the Chinese treasure fleets were the ones who actually made the discoveries. Menzies' fresh perspective offers a wealth of insight into coastlines, ocean weather patterns, currents, and ocean navigation. My major criticisms of the book are not of Menzies' methods, nor his thesis itself. As a writer, Menzies can fall flat at times and the pacing feels slow. I found myself a little bored (and as a result, anxious) listening to the audiobook while driving. I felt like there was no spark, no compelling force, illuminating these theories. What should have been exciting seemed dull.
The Bottom Line:
Menzies' research was enough to keep me engaged, but Menzies' writing was not enough to drive me to read his latest book, 1434.
hollyzone's review against another edition
2.0
I see this book in every History section of every bookshop and the idea of something challenging conventional History does seem rather appealing, so I figured I'd give it a go.
And...
Well, it is certainly is an interesting read. I admit, I tend to read history books moderately critically, but not without immediately running to find any arguments and counter-arguments about it. But with this, right from the off, I was itching to see what other historians said about it. It's written in an engaging style, albeit one which does get repetitive after a while (it's looooooooooong). But it strained against credibility at times, as each successive discovery blasted away any lingering doubt the author's theories.
As it turns out most historians think this is a whole load of bunk. The way it presents itself as an injection of new perspectives and knowledge into the staid convention is well done in the text, but the holes, the convenient omissions, are all noticeable for the discerning reader (as you should be with any history books). It's a shame because it's seductively written, at least for the first 350 or so pages before the repetition renders it less compelling.
So two stars for being entertaining but the mislabelling of it as History means I couldn't really give it much more. History is one genre of books which can't be read in isolation, sorry.
And...
Well, it is certainly is an interesting read. I admit, I tend to read history books moderately critically, but not without immediately running to find any arguments and counter-arguments about it. But with this, right from the off, I was itching to see what other historians said about it. It's written in an engaging style, albeit one which does get repetitive after a while (it's looooooooooong). But it strained against credibility at times, as each successive discovery blasted away any lingering doubt the author's theories.
As it turns out most historians think this is a whole load of bunk. The way it presents itself as an injection of new perspectives and knowledge into the staid convention is well done in the text, but the holes, the convenient omissions, are all noticeable for the discerning reader (as you should be with any history books). It's a shame because it's seductively written, at least for the first 350 or so pages before the repetition renders it less compelling.
So two stars for being entertaining but the mislabelling of it as History means I couldn't really give it much more. History is one genre of books which can't be read in isolation, sorry.
revslick's review against another edition
1.0
Contained within a lot of pages are juicy historical tidbits mixed in with a lot of conjecture (historical mind-reading).
jonas47073's review against another edition
1.0
For anyone attempting to learn history or just trying to find that perfect gift for the iconoclast in his or her life, this book will not suffice. The arguments are irrational: sometimes specious, sometimes spurious. He makes reference to myriad sources, but on closer inspection many are cherry-picked or of questionable value.
However, as a character study, this book may well be worth your time. It is a story of a submarine captain so enthralled with the sex customs of the Orient that he devotes his retirement to piecing together a web of stories. At some point this obsession consumes him and like a paranoid schizophrenic he starts seeing the Chinese everywhere and behind everything. He hopes that by writing he can exorcise his demons thereby regaining some inkling of rational thought. Alas, this is not the case as we pulled along through increasingly specious and fanciful notions of what constitutes historical evidence.
The book begins with a walk through the well-trodden history of imperial China with a special emphasis on prostitutes, foreskin beads, and eunuchs. I can only hope that this part of the book is accurate. While the early chapters are quite developed his knowledge of Chinese history as a whole can only be described as skin deep.
The initial chapters about the voyages to India and East Africa seem reasonable enough, but at some point we are subjected to claims that nearly every rock or architectural curiosity on the Eastern Seaboard is Chinese in origin. These claims lack any real evidence. Often a quick Internet search will give much more plausible explanations.
In the end he claims the Chinese are responsible for almost everything, but the Renaissance. Oh wait… that’s the sequel!
However, as a character study, this book may well be worth your time. It is a story of a submarine captain so enthralled with the sex customs of the Orient that he devotes his retirement to piecing together a web of stories. At some point this obsession consumes him and like a paranoid schizophrenic he starts seeing the Chinese everywhere and behind everything. He hopes that by writing he can exorcise his demons thereby regaining some inkling of rational thought. Alas, this is not the case as we pulled along through increasingly specious and fanciful notions of what constitutes historical evidence.
The book begins with a walk through the well-trodden history of imperial China with a special emphasis on prostitutes, foreskin beads, and eunuchs. I can only hope that this part of the book is accurate. While the early chapters are quite developed his knowledge of Chinese history as a whole can only be described as skin deep.
The initial chapters about the voyages to India and East Africa seem reasonable enough, but at some point we are subjected to claims that nearly every rock or architectural curiosity on the Eastern Seaboard is Chinese in origin. These claims lack any real evidence. Often a quick Internet search will give much more plausible explanations.
In the end he claims the Chinese are responsible for almost everything, but the Renaissance. Oh wait… that’s the sequel!
clarel's review against another edition
2.0
Menzies is a bit too sure that he's right for me to take him completely seriously, but this book is interesting and diverting nonetheless.