Bret Hinsch's 3 favorite reads in 2023

I can sum up the book by saying – This guy really knows how to write! 

Sea of Poppies is the first volume of a trilogy. At first, it seems that the author is telling unconnected stories about various people in early nineteenth-century India. But these characters gradually come together to create a compelling epic. The action shifts from India to China, Mauritius, and Singapore. Eventually, the reader finds out that this trilogy is an account of the First Opium War, as seen from the perspective of India. 

Although that war has been largely forgotten in the West, few wars have been more important. The Opium Wars forced China to open up to the outside world, setting into motion a cascade of events that continue to shape our world. 

Ghosh has an ear for language, and he makes each character’s dialogue seem authentic. Most importantly, he has immense empathy with each of these characters, and he encourages the reader to see events from their varied perspectives. This book is entertaining, thought-provoking, and immensely humane. 

This is quite simply the best Chinese cookbook ever written. It has even been translated into Chinese.

Putting this book together required an immense amount of research, as it covers eight major cuisines (Anhui, Shandong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Hunan) plus the foods of other regions of China as well as some ethnic minorities. Some of the recipes are for restaurant dishes beyond the reach of amateurs, but most are simple home style cooking.

The authors have tested and refined each of these recipes. I’ve cooked more than a dozen of these dishes and they all worked out well. The book is also fun to flip through, as it gives you a sense of the dazzling variety of Chinese cuisine and culture. In addition, the publisher Phaidon put in a lot of effort to create a handsome volume that will be treasured for years.

This is the only Chinese cookbook that anyone needs. If you master a few of these recipes, you will eat well for the rest of your life.

This book is a thick overview of ancient Mesopotamian history. Does that sound boring? Believe it or not, it’s absolutely fascinating and fun to read.

Instead of assaulting the reader with lists of kings, dynasties, and battles, the author takes a novel approach. She makes Mesopotamian history seem personal by focusing on the stories of numerous individuals. Some are kings, queens, and princesses, but most are more ordinary people: priestesses, merchants, farmers, bureaucrats, and soldiers.

The author is a talented storyteller who keeps the reader engaged by focusing on intimate details from people’s lives. By describing the era in such a personalized manner, she brings ancient Mesopotamia back to life and reminds us of how much we have in common with people who lived in remote antiquity.