{"product_id":"the-water-kingdom-a-secret-history-of-china-9780226754604","title":"The Water Kingdom: A Secret History of China","description":"From the Yangtze to the Yellow River, China is traversed by great waterways, which have defined its politics and ways of life for centuries. Water has been so integral to China's culture, economy, and growth and development that it provides a window on the whole sweep of Chinese history. In \u003ci\u003eThe Water Kingdom, \u003c\/i\u003e renowned writer Philip Ball opens that window to offer an epic and powerful new way of thinking about Chinese civilization. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Water, Ball shows, is a key that unlocks much of Chinese culture. In \u003ci\u003eThe Water Kingdom\u003c\/i\u003e, he takes us on a grand journey through China's past and present, showing how the complexity and energy of the country and its history repeatedly come back to the challenges, opportunities, and inspiration provided by the waterways. Drawing on stories from travelers and explorers, poets and painters, bureaucrats and activists, all of whom have been influenced by an environment shaped and permeated by water, Ball explores how the ubiquitous relationship of the Chinese people to water has made it an enduring metaphor for philosophical thought and artistic expression. From the Han emperors to Mao, the ability to manage the waters ― to provide irrigation and defend against floods ― was a barometer of political legitimacy, often resulting in engineering works on a gigantic scale. It is a struggle that continues today, as the strain of economic growth on water resources may be the greatest threat to China's future. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe Water Kingdom\u003c\/i\u003e offers an unusual and fascinating history, uncovering just how much of China's art, politics, and outlook have been defined by the links between humanity and nature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhilip Ball\u003c\/b\u003e worked for over twenty years as an editor for \u003ci\u003eNature\u003c\/i\u003e, writes regularly in the scientific and popular media, and has authored many books on the interactions of the sciences, the arts, and the wider culture. His most recent books include \u003ci\u003ePatterns in Nature: Why the Natural World Looks the Way It Does\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eInvisible\u003c\/i\u003e: \u003ci\u003eThe Dangerous Allure of the Unseen, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eServing the Reich: The Struggle for the Soul of Physics under Hitler\u003c\/i\u003e, all published by the University of Chicago Press. He lives in London. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"University of Chicago Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50439366967570,"sku":"9780226754604","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_ab4e2df8-0502-4411-bf71-7a4283d430c8.jpg?v=1729654887","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-water-kingdom-a-secret-history-of-china-9780226754604","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}