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Three Tigers, One Mountain

A Journey Through the Bitter History and Current Conflicts of China, Korea, and Japan

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About this listen

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that states, "Two tigers cannot share the same mountain." However, in East Asia, there are three tigers on that mountain: China, Japan, and Korea, and they have a long history of turmoil and tension with each other.

In his latest entertaining and thought-provoking narrative travelogue, Michael Booth sets out to discover how deep, really, the enmity is between these three "tiger" nations and what prevents them from making peace. Currently, China's economic power continues to grow, Japan is becoming more militaristic, and Korea struggles to reconcile its Westernized South with the dictatorial Communist North.

Booth, long fascinated with the region, travels by car, ferry, train, and foot, experiencing the people and culture of these nations up close. No matter where he goes, the burden of history and the memory of past atrocities continue to overshadow present relationships. Ultimately, Booth seeks a way forward for these closely intertwined, neighboring nations.

An enlightening, entertaining and sometimes sobering journey through China, Japan, and Korea, Three Tigers, One Mountain is an intimate and in-depth look at some of the world's most powerful and important countries.

©2020 Michael Booth (P)2020 Tantor Asia Political Science Politics & Government Travel Writing & Commentary World China Imperial Japan Russia Thought-Provoking War Military Japan History Culture Current Politics China Culture
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Increasing interest in this world region stimulated my curiosity to learn more about the bitterness and complex relationship between these three tigers. I greatly enjoyed this study, especially due to the extensive research conducted by the author, both academically and anthropologically.
The dry, self-depracating humour woven into this travelogue balanced the recounting of many difficult and sensitive topics.

Extensive research and consultation of a cross-section of society

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I struggled to understand how someone so knowledgeable about the topic could get almost every Korean word or name so badly wrong but then I saw that it was not read by the author. Taking a step back, the author has a brilliantly engaging style and the narrator's British accent ensures that every point is portrayed with conviction. Well worth listening to.

Hugely informative

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I agree with the other reviewers saying the author's Japan apologism is rather blatant, and there were times I felt offended on behalf of the Korean people especially when the author describes even their waiters, cars and architecture unfavourably in comparison with Japan. He emphasises atrocities committed by the Japanese, and yet you always hear the "but" hovering, and generally it shows up, too. There are no buts for the war crimes of China or Korea.

That being said, it is informative and in parts insightful, rather entertaining, and I emphatically agree with the author that it would benefit the region (and the rest of the world) if history was written and taught as it happened, to the best of our collective knowledge, instead of being subject to politics or a sore national pride. (That one goes to my history teacher in junior high who tried to make the Finnish Continuation War sound noble.)

Informative political travel diary, not unbiased

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A highly informative, balanced, shocking, funny and poignant book.
i really enjoyed it and learned loads, highly recommended.

Brilliant.

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Great historical travelogue showing a good depth of knowledge lightened with whimsical observation and some deliciously dry comedy.

Factual and funny

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