The Water Kingdom cover art

The Water Kingdom

A Secret History of China

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Water Kingdom

By: Philip Ball
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

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 The Water Kingdom, renowned writer Philip Ball opens that window to offer an epic and powerful new way of thinking about Chinese civilization.

Water, Ball shows, is a key that unlocks much of Chinese culture. In The Water Kingdom, 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.

©2016 Philip Ball (P)2017 Tantor Asia China Earth Sciences Environment History History & Philosophy Science World Imperial Japan Ancient History Royalty

Critic reviews

"This is a one-stop examination of water's primacy in Chinese history, and a well-written one at that." ( Publishers Weekly)
All stars
Most relevant
A pretty interesting take on Chinese History let down by some very poor pronunciations. The idea behind the book is pretty unique, though I did wonder whether the relationship that China shares with water is really all that different from other civilizations. I liked the broad sweep of the book but feel like it might be frustrating without a better idea of the general story of Chinese history. However some of the pronunciation of Chinese names is just pretty awful, sometimes to the point of being unintelligible.

Better off with the paper copy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
On the importance of water ways in the history of China, both practically and symbolically.

Excellent overview of China's history

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.