{"product_id":"strange-stones-dispatches-from-east-and-west-9780062206237","title":"Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West","description":"\u003cp\u003eFull of unforgettable figures and an unrelenting spirit of adventure, \u003cem\u003eStrange Stones\u003c\/em\u003e is a far-ranging, thought-provoking collection of Peter Hessler's best reportage--a dazzling display of the powerful storytelling, shrewd cultural insight, and warm sense of humor that are the trademarks of his work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver the last decade, as a staff writer for \u003cem\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/em\u003e and the author of three books, Peter Hessler has lived in Asia and the United States, writing as both native and knowledgeable outsider in these two very different regions. This unusual perspective distinguishes \u003cem\u003eStrange Stones\u003c\/em\u003e, which showcases Hessler's unmatched range as a storyteller. \"Wild Flavor\" invites readers along on a taste test between two rat restaurants in South China. One story profiles Yao Ming, basketball star and China's most beloved export, another David Spindler, an obsessive and passionate historian of the Great Wall. In \"Dr. Don,\" Hessler writes movingly about a small-town pharmacist and his relationship with the people he serves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile Hessler's subjects and locations vary, subtle but deeply important thematic links bind these pieces--the strength of local traditions, the surprising overlap between apparently opposing cultures, and the powerful lessons drawn from individuals who straddle different worlds.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHessler, Peter:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003ePeter Hessler is a staff writer at \u003cem\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/em\u003e, where he served as the Beijing correspondent from 2000 to 2007, and is also a contributing writer for \u003cem\u003eNational Geographic\u003c\/em\u003e. He is the author of\u003cem\u003e River Town\u003c\/em\u003e, which won the Kiriyama Prize; \u003cem\u003eOracle Bones\u003c\/em\u003e, which was a finalist for the National Book Award; and, most recently, \u003cem\u003eCountry Driving\u003c\/em\u003e. He won the 2008 National Magazine Award for excellence in reporting, and he was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2011. He lives in Cairo.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50523406663954,"sku":"9780062206237","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_10b20834-5395-4bc1-801e-be01c081bf28.jpg?v=1731146899","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/strange-stones-dispatches-from-east-and-west-9780062206237","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}