Shang Civilization

Although dry, scholarly, and 'chunky', SS is a very impressive piece of work regardless of how one approaches it. Indispensable for any student of ancient China. Its methodology is naked as is the moral-political stance of its author--and this is quite good,(although the later aspect is only given free reign in the last 3-4 paragraphs concerning the correlation between the grandure of civilizations and requisite exploitation of its subjects. The book displays archeological and anthropological roots, and as a result, it is a good example of how diverse disciplines and methods can converge and create a history from various souces. A good history, but a better example of how a history is created.For the serious student only! I must confess, that I was assigned this book as a freshman and didn't read it untill I was a grad-student. It is not the best book to assign to an average novice to Chinese civilization. But the book is just so damn impressive I understand the temptation of a professor to assign it.