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China Books Podcast

China Books Review
China
Cultural Revolution
Socialism
Beijing
Taiwan
Chen Hansheng
Tiananmen Protests
Uyghurs
Censorship
Stephen Mckinnon
Tiananmen Square
Asia Society
Women's Rights
Tiananmen Square Protests
Chinese Literature
Guomindang
1900s
Human Rights
Surveillance
Wallis Simpson

The China Books Podcast is a monthly interview series on all things China and bookish, from ChinaBooksReview.com. Hosted by Alec Ash or Alexander Boyd, we talk to authors about their recent works on or from China and the Sinophone world, from politics and history to fiction and culture. Subscribe to stay in the loop, and drop us a rating if you enjoyed it! China Books Review is a project of Asia S... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes34Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Over the last quarter century, the countryside of southwest China has been transformed. The author of two memoirs reflects on what is lost, and what is gained.

The China Books Podcast is a companion of China Books Review, a project of Asia Society’s... more

The Hong Kong-born novelist and journalist talks us through his new novel "City on Fire," a whodunnit thriller set against the 2019 protests.

The China Books Podcast is a companion of China Books Review, a project of Asia Society’s Center on U.S.-Ch... more

The Legalists and Confucians still run the show in today’s China, argues a scholar of classical Chinese thought — but the Mohists and Daoists still have a voice in the debate.

The China Books Podcast is a companion of China Books Review, a project o... more

Misogyny and patriarchy are a later misreading of The Analects, argues the author of a new translation of the Confucian classic.

The China Books Podcast is a companion of China Books Review, a project of Asia Society’s Center on U.S.-China Relations... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Simon Elegant
Journalist and author; former Washington Post China Bureau Chief; author of City on Fire
The Wire China / Washington Post / Time Magazine
Episode: Murder in Hong Kong with Simon Elegant
Daniel A. Bell
Chair Professor of Political Theory at the University of Hong Kong
University of Hong Kong
Episode: Ancient Chinese Politics with Daniel Bell
Erin Cline
Georgetown classicist
Georgetown University
Episode: Confucius and Women, with Erin Cline
Jesse Appell
American comedian, author, tea entrepreneur
Author of This Was Funnier in China
Episode: Chinese Comedy with Jesse Appell
Rian Thum
Author of Islamic China, scholar
Author, Islamic China
Episode: Islamic China with Rian Thum
Xueting C. Ni
Editor and translator, Sinophagia, Sinopticon; author and curator
The Wire China / Sinophagia
Episode: Chinese Horror with Xueting C. Ni
Bruce Rusk
Cultural historian of early modern China
University of British Columbia
Episode: Ep. 27: Sex, Scams and Sorcery with Bruce Rusk and Christopher Rea
Christopher Rea
Literary and cultural historian of modern China
University of British Columbia
Episode: Ep. 27: Sex, Scams and Sorcery with Bruce Rusk and Christopher Rea
Chris Horton
Author of Ghost Nation, The Story of Taiwan and Its Struggle for Survival
The Wire / Ghost Nation (book)
Episode: Ep. 26: Chris Horton on Taiwan’s History and Present

Hosts

Alec Ash
Host of The China Books Podcast
Alexander Boyd
Co-host, associate editor at China Books Review

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 39 ratings
  • Horrible Left wing bias - despite their denials

    The review of Senator Tom Cotton’s book was one of the most condescending, smug and unprofessional book reviews I have ever encountered. Stating that the CCP is engaged in a strategy of economic warfare and coercion in order to ensure their future economic dominance is called a kookie, right wing conspiracy theory. Really?? I have heard more balanced discussions on NPR. These two hosts have lowered the level of journalism to a new low. Shame on the Asia Society.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Stephan Zweig
    United States10 months ago
  • Fab guests and insightful conversations

    Wonderful new podcast about all things China

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Owentastic
    United States2 years ago
  • Fantastic!

    So well written and produced. Mary is also a wonderful interviewer and so informed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Out loud fan
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Fantastic pod

    Informative and insightful!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    i.alec
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Production quality and thoughtful discussion of complex topics are often praised.
Thoughtful conversations with deep scholarship and accessible explanations.
Guest selection and interviews are generally insightful and well-prepared.
A few listeners feel some bias in coverage or tone.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#147
Finland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Murder in Hong Kong with Simon Elegant
Q: Why did you choose a thriller as the genre to tell this story about Hong Kong rather than a nonfiction account?
I wanted to reveal deeper truths about how communities are fractured and how power operates behind the scenes, something that fiction can illuminate more powerfully than reportage. The thriller format allows me to explore family rifts, internal police conflict, and the moral ambiguities of loyalty, while still grounding the narrative in real events and widespread public sentiment from the protests.
Murder in Hong Kong with Simon Elegant
Q: So Simon, can you set the novel up for us? Who is Killian Tong and what is the murder he's investigating?
Killian Tong is a Hong Kong police officer who embodies the city's conflicted loyalties: a man who loves the institution yet witnesses its deterioration amidst protests and political pressure. He investigates a grisly landfill murder that appears staged to obscure the victim's identity, pushing him to challenge senior officers and confront corruption that climbs high into the police and government structures.
Ancient Chinese Politics with Daniel Bell
Q: How do these ancient ideas relate to modern China's political practices like anti-corruption or family law?
Bell argues that while the state often invokes traditional ideas, the actual practice shows a gap between ideal meritocracy and reality, with ongoing tensions between ritual education and strict punishment in governance.
Ancient Chinese Politics with Daniel Bell
Q: What period and schools of thought are being drawn on in the dialogues?
The dialogues pull from pre-unification China, focusing on Confucianism, Legalism, Moism, Taoism, and later Confucian-leaning schools, with specific figures like Confucius, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Mencius, and Zhuangzi.
Confucius and Women, with Erin Cline
Q: What about Nanze and the line about women and beauty in Analects 3.8?
I argue that the original text does not specifically reference gender; the line is better understood in a broader relational context. My translation removes gendered assumptions and reads the line as about adornment on a silk background in a moral cultivation context, not merely female beauty.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About China Books Podcast

What is China Books Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview series exploring China-related topics through books and authors. Episodes span political philosophy, history, literature, culture, and current affairs, often featuring scholars, translators, and writers who illuminate complex Sinophone themes. The show tends to center rigorous analysis, nuanced translation perspectives, and behind-the-scenes looks at publishing, censorship, and cross-cultural exchange. A standout aspect is the blend of academic insight with accessible storytelling, making deep topics approachable for listeners who want both context and practical takeaways for readers, researchers, and professionals engaging with China studies. Notably, guests frequently bring firsthand experience and scholarly framewo... more

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Which podcasts are similar to China Books Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with China Books Podcast:

1. Sinica Podcast
2. Pekingology
3. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. Today, Explained

How many episodes of China Books Podcast are there?

China Books Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 34 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on China Books Podcast?

Recent guests on China Books Podcast include:

1. Simon Elegant
2. Daniel A. Bell
3. Erin Cline
4. Jesse Appell
5. Rian Thum
6. Xueting C. Ni
7. Bruce Rusk
8. Christopher Rea

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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