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Country Driving
- A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 16 hrs and 35 mins
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Publisher's summary
From the best-selling author of Oracle Bones and River Town comes the final book in his award-winning trilogy, on the human side of the economic revolution in China.
In the summer of 2001, Peter Hessler, the longtime Beijing correspondent for The New Yorker, acquired his Chinese driver's license. For the next seven years, he traveled the country, tracking how the automobile and improved roads were transforming China. Hessler writes movingly of the average people - farmers, migrant workers, entrepreneurs - who have reshaped the nation during one of the most critical periods in its modern history.
Country Driving begins with Hessler's 7,000-mile trip across northern China, following the Great Wall, from the East China Sea to the Tibetan plateau. He investigates a historically important rural region being abandoned, as young people migrate to jobs in the southeast.
Next, Hessler spends six years in Sancha, a small farming village in the mountains north of Beijing, which changes dramatically after the local road is paved and the capital's auto boom brings new tourism.
Finally, he turns his attention to urban China, researching development over a period of more than two years in Lishui, a small southeastern city where officials hope that a new government-built expressway will transform a farm region into a major industrial center.
Peter Hessler, whom The Wall Street Journal calls "one of the Western world's most thoughtful writers on modern China", deftly illuminates the vast, shifting landscape of a traditionally rural nation that, having once built walls against foreigners, is now building roads and factory towns that look to the outside world.
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Tom Zoellner loves trains with a ferocious passion. In his new audiobook he chronicles the innovation and sociological impact of the railway technology that changed the world, and could very well change it again. From the frigid Trans-Siberian Railroad to the antiquated Indian Railways to the futuristic maglev trains, Zoellner offers a stirring story of man's relationship with trains. Zoellner examines both the mechanics of the rails and their engines and how they helped societies evolve. Not only do trains transport people and goods in an efficient manner, but they also reduce pollution and dependency upon oil.
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The world history of trains up to the present
- By matthew on 03-06-14
By: Tom Zoellner
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Sovietistan
- Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan
- By: Erika Fatland
- Narrated by: Jill Rolls
- Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan became free of the Soviet Union in 1991. But though they are new to modern statehood, this is a region rich in ancient history, culture, and landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world. Traveling alone, Erika Fatland is a true adventurer in every sense. In Sovietistan, she takes the listener on a compassionate and insightful journey to explore how their Soviet heritage has influenced these countries, with governments experimenting with both democracy and dictatorships.
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Outstanding book
- By George MP on 04-24-22
By: Erika Fatland
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The Monk of Mokha
- By: Dave Eggers
- Narrated by: Dion Graham
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Mokhtar Alkhanshali grew up in San Francisco, one of seven siblings raised by Yemeni immigrants in a tiny apartment. At age 24, unable to pay for college, he works as a doorman. Until: a statue of an Arab raising a cup of coffee awakens something in him. He sets out to learn the rich history of coffee in Yemen and the complex art of tasting and identifying varietals. He travels to Yemen, collects samples of beans, eager to bring improved cultivation methods to the farmers. And he is on the verge of success when civil war engulfs Yemen in 2015 and he is trapped in Sana'a.
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MOVING THE NEEDLE
- By Dog Fish on 02-20-18
By: Dave Eggers
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Dancing Bears
- By: Witold Szabłowski, Antonia Lloyd-Jones - translator, Claire Bloom - director
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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For hundreds of years, Bulgarian Gypsies trained bears to dance, welcoming them into their families and taking them on the road to perform. In the early 2000s, with the fall of Communism, they were forced to release the bears into a wildlife refuge. But even today, whenever the bears see a human, they still get up on their hind legs to dance. In the tradition of Ryszard Kapuściński, award-winning Polish journalist, Witold Szabłowski uncovers remarkable stories of people throughout Eastern Europe and in Cuba who, like Bulgaria’s dancing bears, are now free but who seem nostalgic for the time when they were not.
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Intelligent, entertaining, & insightful
- By Kait on 07-23-19
By: Witold Szabłowski, and others
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Nothing to Envy
- Ordinary Lives in North Korea
- By: Barbara Demick
- Narrated by: Karen White
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Barbara Demick's Nothing to Envy follows the lives of six North Koreans over fifteen years - a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung and the unchallenged rise to power of his son, Kim Jong-il, and the devastation of a far-ranging famine that killed one-fifth of the population. Taking us into a landscape never before seen, Demick brings to life what it means to be an average Korean citizen, living under the most repressive totalitarian regime today.
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The man who wants to be GOD
- By Gohar on 05-08-10
By: Barbara Demick
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Travels in Siberia
- By: Ian Frazier
- Narrated by: Ian Frazier
- Length: 20 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Ian Frazier trains his eye for unforgettable detail on Siberia, that vast expanse of Asiatic Russia. He explores many aspects of this storied, often grim region. He writes about the geography, the resources, the native peoples, the history, the 40-below midwinter afternoons, the bugs. The book brims with Mongols, half-crazed Orthodox archpriests, fur seekers, ambassadors of the czar bound for Peking, tea caravans, German scientists, American prospectors, intrepid English nurses, and prisoners and exiles of every kind....
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I Loved This Book
- By Sara on 01-05-14
By: Ian Frazier
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Stones into Schools
- Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan
- By: Greg Mortenson
- Narrated by: Atossa Leoni
- Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and the unique ways he has built relationships with Islamic clerics, militia commanders, and tribal leaders. He shares for the first time his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy.
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Better than Three Cups of Tea
- By Cate F. on 12-15-09
By: Greg Mortenson
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The International Bank of Bob
- Connecting Our World One $25 Kiva Loan at a Time
- By: Bob Harris
- Narrated by: Bob Harris
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Hired by ForbesTraveler.com to review some of the most luxurious accommodations on Earth, and then inspired by a chance encounter in Dubai with the impoverished workers whose backbreaking jobs create such opulence, Bob Harris had an epiphany: He would turn his own good fortune into an effort to make lives like theirs better.
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Wonderfully entertaining and accessible book
- By Tim on 01-15-14
By: Bob Harris
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Dreaming of Jupiter
- By: Ted Simon
- Narrated by: Rupert Degas
- Length: 16 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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When Ted Simon rode 64,000 miles round the world on his 500c Triumph Tiger, he inspired thousands of motorcyclists to begin their own adventures, including Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, who chronicled their travels in Long Way Round. Nearly 30 years later, Ted Simon took to the road again to retrace the epic journey he made in his 40s. He meets up with old friends and acquaintances, revisits old landmarks and locations, and rediscovers himself, as well as the world, along the way.
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Amazing book, Amazing Man
- By Roxanna on 08-16-18
By: Ted Simon
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The Naked Don't Fear the Water
- An Underground Journey with Afghan Refugees
- By: Matthieu Aikins
- Narrated by: Nick Nikon
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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In this extraordinary book, an acclaimed young war reporter chronicles a dangerous journey on the smuggler’s road to Europe, accompanying his friend, an Afghan refugee, in search of a better future.
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Great story, horrible narration
- By AB on 02-25-22
By: Matthieu Aikins
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Age of Ambition
- Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China
- By: Evan Osnos
- Narrated by: Evan Osnos, George Backman
- Length: 16 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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As the Beijing correspondent for The New Yorker, Evan Osnos was on the ground in China for years, witness to profound political, economic, and cultural upheaval. In Age of Ambition, he describes the greatest collision taking place in that country: the clash between the rise of the individual and the Communist Party’s struggle to retain control.
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Come back when you have a warrant!
- By Neuron on 11-06-15
By: Evan Osnos
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What listeners say about Country Driving
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- E.
- 08-03-11
The life as a foreigner in China
Peter Hessler paints quite a vivid picture of what life in China was like in the last decade in the midst of China's economic boom. He write about his experiences driving west following the Great Wall, as well as his life in a rural village outside of Beijing and his visits to factories in Zhejiang province. The writing is fluent and clear. The book will especially appeal to people who have visited China and may have had similar encounters.
The one thing that could have been improved is the narrator, Peter Berkrot's complete butchering of all the Chinese words in the book. The publishers should have hired someone who at least had studied pinyin and can pronounce Chinese words with some fluency. I was lucky to have bought the actual book, so I could look up the cities and words, because I had no idea what he was saying.
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- Anne
- 05-18-19
Great nonfiction. Annoying narration.
Could they not get someone who can pronounce Chinese properly. And he gives the English translation of direct quotes in odd American accents making the quoted person sound idiotic.
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- Bruno
- 12-26-13
Interesting!
What did you love best about Country Driving?
I love the naration, and the short stories found within. This was a wonderful book.
What about Peter Berkrot’s performance did you like?
Clear speaking skills, easy to understand, and changed his voice to go along with the characters. Loved the naration.
Any additional comments?
I have listened to 3 of Peter Hesslers books so far, and this one is enjoyable as well. Peter makes you learn of how the people of China are, and understand a different culture much better.
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- Anonymous User
- 08-17-22
The strange imitation of voices in chapter 6
Why does the narrator imitate the voices of these Zhejiang businessmen in such a feminine way? It sounds intentional and makes me uncomfortable.
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Overall
- Timothy
- 06-22-10
In defense of the narrator
Just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed this audio book, along with Oracle Bones, also by Peter Hessler and narrated by Peter Berkrot. True, the narrator's pronunciation of Chinese words is not native-like, but overall I would rate the narration very high, and would hate to think that someone might pass up this book just because of that! The Chinese words are quite comprehensible, and Mr. Berkrot's engaging style of narration helped to make the 18-ish hour audio book a real pleasure!
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14 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Mikk Tamme
- 01-06-11
Great way to get to know life in China
I don't speak Chinese and my travel in China is very superficial as I can not get into the homes and minds of Chinese people. Walking around Beijing it was great to listen to Peter Hessler's book and to hear more about the life and values of the people portrayed.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Taitai
- 04-29-19
Was not Hessler’s voice
This is a brilliant, difficult, and delightful story. I have read it and decided to listen to it. The huge disappointment was the narration. It did not fit Hessler’s voice. If you are a Chinese speaker, you will cringe at the narration. I’m not sure how Hessler approved of this reading. After a while it becomes very irritating. If you are going to do an Audible book, get someone who can pronounce the language. We’ve lived in China for 26 years with the last 22 in Beijing. For that reason, this book was like comfort food—So familiar and so enjoyable to ride on Hessler’s coattail’s of his incredible experiences and research. All of his books are excellent reads and his research becomes engrossing story worth your time.
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1 person found this helpful
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- PCF
- 06-24-19
Great book!
I loved this book. From start to finish the stories were fascinating and told with great expression. I was hooked from the beginning and this was my favorite book until I was finished. This will go down as one of my favorite China books.
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- Gene Bowker
- 08-02-14
discover China through the eyes of an insider
What made the experience of listening to Country Driving the most enjoyable?
The tidbits of daily life in a completely different culture. Learning more about what has happened to the author since his first book
What other book might you compare Country Driving to and why?
Any of Hessler's other books on his China experience
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I found it gave me a new appreciation for what life in China must be like.
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- cassiuswortmann
- 08-25-16
Enlightening, keen-eyed and humourous
The wall - captured the sense of loss that people are feeling in such remote regions as Inner Mongolia.
The village - I was most engrossed in this part and almost on the edge of my seat as the drama unfolded surrounding health problems of Wei Ziqi's son.
The factory - a little dry with facts and figures, but the report on the professional arts producing village was enlightening.
Peter Hessler has an amazingly keen eye for detail and commendable skills of building rapport with his subjects. Several occasions he became more than simply an observer - aided by his high-level of Chinese. He has a gifted, lucid style of writing, that is both highly accessible and humourous.
As with several other audiobooks on China, the narrator's pronunciation of Chinese was awful, and left me in confusion at several points. Audible should remedy this problem to do this genre justice.
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