Suggestions for world/history books?

Meshing a couple not necessarily combined categories.

I'm traveling to China, so I'm looking for some good Chinese lit, perhaps easy to read histories, and I'd love any good cultural resources you've come across.

I also want to find some books on US and Japanese history. My high school experience left me stumped on World War I, and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Right now, I'm reading textbooks from my college library, but I'm looking for something maybe a bit more affordable to add to my reading library, and something to read on that 18 hour flight!

Regarding World War I, over in Le Salon... we are discussing The World Undone which pretty much covers the war. An important part of World War I is its aftermath, the punitive measures against Germany; that is not covered.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/110085

Robert

For China, I'd recommend anything by Mo Yan -- he's funny and slightly subversive, but gives you a real feeling of life in China.

Re China, I've had Chinese Shadows recommended to me but I've not read it yet.

I enjoyed reading Paris 1919, a strong analysis of the fallout from WW1 peace negotiations.

For Japan/US relations, the post-WW2 story begins with Embracing Defeat, which did a good job of covering post-WW2 society in Japan and the USA's role in it. Most interesting part was the drafting of the new constitution. Wasn't entirely satisfied with the sparse coverage of Japan's industrial miracle.

One of my favorite books last year was, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang.
Non-fiction, but very easy to read and hard to put down. Huge though for reading on the plane.

Mr. Durick and Cecrow, those sound perfect for WWI! Larxol, Cecrow, and KAzvedo, I'll be sure to check those Chinese books and authors out. Most of the modern Chinese lit I've read has focused on Chinese/Westerner romances with buddhist or political overtones.

And Cecrow, US/Japan relations wasn't what I meant at all, but it sounds so fascinating, I'm going to have to read it anyway! And yes, my original post did make it sound that way, so it's my own fault.

Any suggestions for Chinese, or Japanese history? I'm reading The Tale of Genji and Journey to the West right now, and I'm curious about these periods, but would like an overview just as well.

I've made a similar inquiry before about Japanese history, and the following two were the most recommended: A History of Japan 1334-1615 by George Sansom, and Japan Before Perry: A Short History by Conrad Totman.

Others that caugth my interest were Japanese Inn: A Reconstruction of the Past and Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire.

The Rising Sun by John Toland is the Japanese equivalent of Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, very good. You might also like Samurai William, the true story behind James Clavell's Shogun.

For the "ignorant outsider westerner travelogue point of view" I'd check out Lost on Planet China.

7: I've ordered several of your recommendations now, thanks for the great advice! I'm beginning to think six weeks isn't enough time to read all of these.

8: I'd seen that one before, but wasn't sure about it. You'd recommend it? Your caveat makes me wonder if you liked it or not.

The Search for Modern China by Jonathan D. Spence is an excellent account of China's modern history from the 17th century up to the events in Tiananmen in 1989.

>9 AmyLynn:

No, I enjoyed it immensely. It is a bit snarky.

I second A World Undone, Meyer really lays things out very neatly, and it's a good way to get a grasp on WWI.

Also, two of the most readable historians of recent times have turned their attentions to the subject; Robert K. Massie and Barbara Tuchman. I strongly recommend trying them. Dreadnought, The Guns of August, The Zimmerman Telegram, Castles of Steel; would be a roughly chronological reading.

10: I logged on just to find a book like that!

11: Snarky is good, I'll be sure to check it out!

12: Your term readable historians has me intrigued. I'm going to have to find Dreadnought now.