Asia

What books should we read to understand China—its culture, its history? British-Chinese journalist, author and activist Xinran picks five to get started with, including the book believed by many to be the greatest Chinese novel ever written. (You can also read this interview in Chinese by clicking here.)

你想了解中国吗？你可能要先阅读这五本书

Former Beijing bureau chief of the Financial Times shares his insights on the Chinese Communist Party - from the absolute horror at the destruction of Maoist times, to Yao Ming, to political power structures and more

Countries do have to come to terms with their own history, and it's unhealthy that China has not yet come to terms with the Cultural Revolution, argues the West's leading scholar of the period, Roderick MacFarquhar. He chooses the best five books on the Cultural Revolution.

Where does one start if one wants to know about Buddhism? Professor and practitioner Elizabeth Harris recommends some of the best books to get you going on the path to Enlightenment.

Syed Ashfaqul Haque is Chief News Editor at The Daily Star, the largest circulating English language daily newspaper in Bangladesh. He recommends the best five books on the country

Pakistani writer Daniyal Mueenuddin explains that if you live somewhere as stable as England it’s very difficult to understand how quickly things are changing in Pakistan

Labour peer and professor emeritus at the London School of Economics, Meghnad Desai, marvels at the Indian people’s incredible tenacity for democracy and self-advancement since independence in 1947. He picks the best books on India.

Historian discusses five books on one of the world’s most enigmatic and dangerous places. "The atmosphere inside the Khyber is certainly very tense. You don’t see people strutting around having a nice time"

Activist Harry Wu spent 19 years in Mao's labour camps and devoted years to uncovering what goes on in China's 'laogai' or 'reform-through-labour' camps. He picks five books showing China's darker side.