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catherin9's review against another edition
4.0
This book is both dense and long, but a rewarding read. It's a well-researched and exhaustive journalistic view of environmentalism in China, traveling across the major provinces of China. Watts highlights the contradictions between quality of life and sustainability, conservation and capitalism, and short term vs long term growth while maintaining respect and empathy for the country and its people. This book opened my eyes to the extreme conditions in various parts of China like fishing using explosives / electric fishing in Hubei, the Plasma Economy in Henan, cloud hunting and rain making in Gansu, and melting glaciers in Xinjiang for water, to name a few.
While the content and state of the environment seem bleak, Watts tries to inject hope by highlighting ongoing efforts to improve the situation. He emphasizes how China could shift our current trajectory and focuses on what we can learn from China - since China has reached its environment limits sooner than most, it is an example of what could be to come and what we might do to avoid environmental disaster. "In the 19th century, Britain taught the world how to produce. In the twentieth, the US taught us how to consume. If China is to lead the world in the 21st century, it must teach us how to sustain."
Note: the first chapter on Shangri-la was slow and I almost gave up, but I'm glad I didn't as the subsequent chapters are great.
While the content and state of the environment seem bleak, Watts tries to inject hope by highlighting ongoing efforts to improve the situation. He emphasizes how China could shift our current trajectory and focuses on what we can learn from China - since China has reached its environment limits sooner than most, it is an example of what could be to come and what we might do to avoid environmental disaster. "In the 19th century, Britain taught the world how to produce. In the twentieth, the US taught us how to consume. If China is to lead the world in the 21st century, it must teach us how to sustain."
Note: the first chapter on Shangri-la was slow and I almost gave up, but I'm glad I didn't as the subsequent chapters are great.
mkat303's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good book so far. Disturbing reading about the environment, of course. I've had to skip over some of the animal stuff because I get far too angry.
Update: a bit overwhelming, definitely informative. I skimmed near the end.
Update: a bit overwhelming, definitely informative. I skimmed near the end.
iamlowenz's review against another edition
3.0
Makes you think twice about going to Beijing or Shanghai.
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