Reviews: Book
TV anchor's path
One-time Wall Street merger & acquisition specialist and now news anchor, Zeng Zimo has a simple life philosophy.
"Whatever you do, do it passionately. But if the passion dies out, you should make a fresh move," Zeng said.
The anchorwoman of top-rating TV programs such as Social Visibility at Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV has published her autobiography Mo Ji (Traces of Ink).
This is a collection of behind-the-scenes stories that's a cut above many self-indulgent autobiographies inked by other Chinese celebrities.
Beside an account of the ordeals her family suffered during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), Zeng writes about the listing of sina.com on the New York Stock Exchange in 2000; her intimate encounters with industrial tycoons such as Li Xiaolin, daughter of former Chinese premier Li Peng; and controversial celebrities such as "rural entrepreneur" Sun Dawu.
Zeng has pledged to donate all book royalties to the rural China education initiative, the Hope Project.
Zhu Linyong
The Legend of Mawangdui
Don't be misled by the title, this well-written English text by China Intercontinental Press reveals archaeological secrets behind many interesting places, not just Mawangdui in Central China's Hunan Province.
Unlike common archaeology books that test readers' patience, this is arranged like a TV documentary, with experts and eyewitnesses describing the moments when the treasures were unveiled.
Many of these finds are comparable to the Egyptian pyramids and caused quite a stir when they were discovered. But since then, their importance and subsequent studies have not been widely publicized.
At Mawangdui, for example, experts are still arguing over the true identity of a royal lady who enjoyed such an extravagant burial that for 2,000 years, her skin remained pale yellow and elastic and even her joints were flexible when she was found in 1971.
With colorful pictures and easy-to-read historical background, this is well worth the 140 yuan ($18).
Liu Jun
(China Daily 03/01/2007 page20)
