Oracle Bones

A Journey Through Time in China

By: Peter Hessler

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

A century ago, outsiders saw China as a place where nothing ever changes. Today, the country has become one of the most dynamic regions on earth. In Oracle Bones, Peter Hessler explores the human side of China's transformation, viewing modern-day China and its growing links to the Western world through the lives of a handful of ordinary people. In a narrative that gracefully moves between the ancient and the present, the East and the West, Hessler captures the soul of a country that is undergoing a momentous change before our eyes.

©2007 Peter Hessler (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A brilliant observer with a novelist’s ear for character and dialogue, Hessler is both fascinating and funny.” ( Entertainment Weekly)

“A remarkable travelogue documenting aspects of a country still little understood.” ( Kirkus)

“Engaging.... Acutely observed, moving, frequently funny and a perspicacious X-ray of China’s zeitgeist.” ( South China Morning Post)

Great look at China

I loved this book. The scope of it surprised me with its look at history, culture and day-to-day life. You certainly can't understand everything about China by reading a couple of books, but this book and Hessler's River Town have made China a little more accessible for me. The narrator, I believe, did a great job. He sounds like a native english speaker reading for other native english speakers.

Great Book, except for the narration.

If you are interested in Chinese/China, this book is really good. The only problem is the narrator thoroughly an completely butchers the Chinese words in this otherwise terrific audio book.
To be fair to the narrator, his voice is interesting and expressive. It's just the Chinese language parts that do him in. Maybe if I did not speak Chinese I would not care so much.
However, as a Chinese Language and Lit graduate who lived in Asia for a few years, I was taken away with this book. The author is great. I will look for other books from Peter Hessler.

Amazing Book, subpar narration

Hessler writes a wide ranging and incisive account of China at the turn of the 21st century. He is able to present much of the dystopian craziness of China while still humanizing individuals that he encounters. The narrator, however brings the book down. His reading of Hessler's narration and thoughts is fine, and his mispronunciation of Chinese (i.e. Mao Zhidong) is forgivable, but his "Chinese" voice is truly awful and distracting from the narrative.

Meet the best of China thru Hessler

Excellent story and excellent narration. A great peek into 2 groups of Chinese......erudite scholars who survived the cultural revolution and young adults we feel we know. I loved the high ethics of most his subjects whether young or old....
.and now have a much better understanding of who the Uighurs are. Most of all author shines through as amazing and immensely warm and gifted. While focusing only on his subjects he is revealed as extraordinarily empathetic and "egoless".

Good narrator makes a good story better

I read the book before. But listening to the audible, understand lots of details much better. The observation from the writer so accurate, the understanding of the Chinese people and culture profound and objective, no common pre judgement, no stereotype. Super experience!