The author of Vermeer's Hat shares "a dizzying and exhilarating journey" through 800 years of Chinese history and national identity (New Statesman).China is one of the oldest states in the world. It achieved its approximate borders with the Ascendancy of the Yuan dynasty in the thirteenth century and has maintained them ever since—through the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Republic, the Occupation, and Communism. Yet China has never been alone in the world. I...

Just over a thousand years ago, the Song dynasty emerged as the most advanced civilization on earth. Within two centuries, China was home to nearly half of all humankind. In this concise history, we learn why the inventiveness of this era has been favorably compared with the European Renaissance, which in many ways the Song transformation surpassed.With the chaotic dissolution of the Tang dynasty, the old aristocratic families vanished. A new class of scholar-officials—products of ...

As increasing attention is drawn to globalization, questions arise about the fate of "the nation," a political and social unit that for centuries has seemed the common-sense way to organize the world. In Nation Work, Timothy Brook and André Schmid draw together eight essays that use historical examples from Asian countries--China, India, Korea, and Japan--to enrich our understandings of the origin and growth of nations.Asia provides fertile ground for this inquiry, the volume argue...

Contemporary discussions of international relations in Asia tend to be tethered in the present, unmoored from the historical contexts that give them meaning. Sacred Mandates, edited by Timothy Brook, Michael van Walt van Praag, and Miek Boltjes, redresses this oversight by examining the complex history of inter-polity relations in Inner and East Asia from the thirteenth century to the twentieth, in order to help us understand and develop policies to address challenges in the regio...

She was the quietest Tyler of Tyler Township—and for good reason.They might not have much, but rabble-rousing Tylers loved—and took care of—each other. Pip was a Tyler, through and through. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her family.After a terrible experience as a teenager, Pip retreated to the safety of her family’s ranch. When her sister married the sheriff of Masterson County, Pip’s intentional isolation from the world ended.S...

In Divine Purpose," we delve into the profound topic of God's purpose for believers. Join us as we explore the divine plan and uncover the incredible journey that awaits those who follow God's calling.Throughout this thought-provoking presentation, we will discuss key aspects of God's purpose, including the importance of faith, and cultivating a deeper relationship with Him. Delving into biblical teachings, we aim to shed light on the ultimate meaning behind our ex...

The world-renowned scholar and author of Vermeer’s Hat does for China what Mary Beard did for Rome in SPQR: Timothy Brook analyzes the last eight centuries of China’s relationship with the world in this magnificent history that brings together accounts from civil servants, horse traders, spiritual leaders, explorers, pirates, emperors, migrant workers, invaders, visionaries, and traitors—creating a multifaceted portrait of this highly misunderstood nation.

Brook (history, U. of Toronto) surveys the history of the concept of the AMP (a concept formulated by Karl Marx in the 1850s) in China in relation to debates elsewhere, and examines the particular issues raised in recent Chinese discussions. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

This practical guide is written for beginners who want a home that feels safer, calmer, and easier to manage without depending on a professional for every small task. It breaks a familiar problem into clear actions, explains what to check before starting, and keeps the focus on progress that can be seen and repeated. You do not need a workshop full of expensive equipment or years of experience. You need a sensible order of operations, realistic expectations, and a willingness to learn one ...

The Ming dynasty was the last great Chinese dynasty before the Manchu conquest in 1644. During that time, China, not Europe, was the center of the world: the European voyages of exploration were searching not just for new lands but also for new trade routes to the Far East. In this book, Timothy Brook eloquently narrates the changing landscape of life over the three centuries of the Ming (1368-1644), when China was transformed from a closely administered agrarian realm into a place of comm...

Why do we do what we do in worship? Why do we sing, read Scripture, and preach sermons? Formational Worship contends that these questions and others like them are the very ones pastors, musicians, and other ministry leaders should be asking. For these leaders, meaningful worship can also be intentional worship, engaging both the heart and the mind so that people can be shaped into disciples of Christ. This book invites you to begin this “journey of why” by examining different elements of w...

Bloomsbury presents Vermeer's Hat by Timothy Brook, read by Nathan OsgoodIn this critical darling Vermeer's captivating and enigmatic paintings become windows that reveal how daily life and thought-from Delft to Beijing--were transformed in the 17th century, when the world first became global.A Vermeer painting shows a military officer in a Dutch sitting room, talking to a laughing girl. In another canvas, fruit spills from a blue-and-white porcela...