The author's ego is giant, he complains constantly about food and accommodation, and the worst part is that he is condescending towards his contemporary Chinese. It gives a glimpse into life in China post mao. I could smell the crappy food, and see all the wonderous sights. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2019, Quick delivery and quality good as described by seller. Paul Theroux, the author of the train travel classics The Great Railway Bazaar and The Old Patagonian Express, takes to the rails once again in this account of his epic journey through China. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 464 pages and is available in Paperback format. *Riding the Iron Rooster is a travel book by American author Paul Theroux about his journeys in China in the 1980s. Paul Theroux. I promise you will live this journey! invites you to join him on the journey of a lifetime, in the grand romanttic tradition, by train across Euope, through the vast underbelly of Asia and in the heart of Russia, and then up to China. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Want to understand China? Penguin Books Limited, Dec 15, 2011 - Travel - 512 pages. (The public buses winding up the mountain also double as the region´s school buses.) A vast book (440+ pages), and deeply insightful into the Chinese mind at the beginning of the new political openness: Theroux talks to Party hacks, students, and everyone else who will subject themselves to his endless questions. Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux, 9780618658978, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. That's when you realize that he is good at writing about when humans are bad, but he is fantastic at writing about when humans are good. Paul Theroux invites you to join him on the journey of a lifetime, in the grand romanttic tradition, by train across Euope, through the vast underbelly of Asia and... Free shipping over $10. Other Mass Market Paperback Sellers on Amazon: This shopping feature will continue to load items when the Enter key is pressed. He is a man on a long vacation through Mongolia, China and Tibet. Seller Bookfever.com, IOBA Published (1988.) For most of us the glass is either half empty or half full. Theroux's Riding the Iron Rooster brought back vivid memories of what I saw. A year in China in the mid 1980's. Start by marking “Riding the Iron Rooster” as Want to Read: Error rating book. In some ways Hong Kong was somewhat like Britain itself: a bunch of offshore islands with an immigrant problem, a language barrier and a rigid class system.”, Readers’ Top Histories and Biographies of the Last 5 Years. Enjoy Iron Rooster Anywhere! I was so excited to pick up this book because it is about a man's journey across Europe into China via rail. it could've been a brilliant book, but unfortunately I've found it extremely patronising... A few hours later, the insomnia kicked in, and I polished off the final nine pages. Here is China by rail, as seen and heard through the eyes and ears of one of the most intrepid and insightful travel writers of our time. This book is a train book about crossing China in the 80's. Paul Theroux. One of his aims is to disprove the Chinese maxim, "you can always fool a foreigner". Top subscription boxes – right to your door, Extended holiday return window till Jan 31, 2021, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The last chapter outweighed the rest of the book. CHF 10.00; CHF 10.00; Beschreibung des Verlags. Having read several of his train travel books (and his paddling book in the South Pacific) I have not been disappointed with his travel narratives. He is a man on a long vacation through Mongolia, China and Tibet. This is an account of over a year Theroux spent exploring China in the 1980s.He writes a very detailed account of every landscape,meal and conversation he had during that time [not quite but it sometimes feels that way!]. Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2006. While he seems unlikeable or crabby at times, he is also very real and very clear about what travelers oftentimes must endure for the sake of a journey, of. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. It's a book about the pain in the ass that travel can be and the annoying, obnoxious, petty and unpleasant people you meet along the way. Among the first inventions of the Chinese were such things as toilet paper (they were enamored with paper and in fact invented a paper armor consisting of pleats which were impervious to arrows), the spinning wheel, seismograph, steam engine (as early as 600 A.D.) and parachute hang gliders in 550-559 B.C. We moved to China this year, largely ignorant of China's history, both recent and ancient. When it seems that he cannot say anything but negative comments he twists the tale on it's head.