Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid

Additional Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid Information

The bestselling author of The Sex Lives of Cannibals returns with a sharply observed, hilarious account of his adventures in China—a complex, fascinating country with enough dangers and delicacies to keep him, and readers, endlessly entertained.

Maarten Troost has charmed legions of readers with his laugh-out-loud tales of wandering the remote islands of the South Pacific. When the travel bug hit again, he decided to go big-time, taking on the world’s most populous and intriguing nation. In Lost on Planet China, Troost escorts readers on a rollicking journey through the new beating heart of the modern world, from the megalopolises of Beijing and Shanghai to the Gobi Desert and the hinterlands of Tibet.

Lost on Planet China finds Troost dodging deadly drivers in Shanghai; eating Yak in Tibet; deciphering restaurant menus (offering local favorites such as Cattle Penis with Garlic); visiting with Chairman Mao (still dead, very orange); and hiking (with 80,000 other people) up Tai Shan, China’s most revered mountain. But in addition to his trademark gonzo adventures, the book also delivers a telling look at a vast and complex country on the brink of transformation that will soon shape the way we all work, live, and think. As Troost shows, while we may be familiar with Yao Ming or dim sum or the cheap, plastic products that line the shelves of every store, the real China remains a world—indeed, a planet--unto itself.

Maarten Troost brings China to life as you’ve never seen it before, and his insightful, rip-roaringly funny narrative proves that once again he is one of the most entertaining and insightful armchair travel companions around.

What Customers Say About Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid:

I have never read the same author's two books twice. If Mr. Un-heard of in my history of reading. I own an autographed copy of "Getting Stoned With The Savages." I read that twice also. See the two reviews above.World Traveler and Steve Koss has pretty much summed up my review of this lame effort of Maarten Troost's last book "Lost On Planet China". Sorry Maarten, better luck next time. I could not make it to the end of the epic. Once finished "Lost On Planet China" became lost in the "Library Book Sale" box.

The whole story could have been told in 300 words or less; What I Did On My Summer Vacation. Yes, the two previous books are that good. I own "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" and have read it twice, something I hardly ever do is read a book twice. Troost wrote "dirty air" "polluted river" "spitting people" in all 24 chapters. I gave several copies as gifts during the past holiday season. I was ever so thrilled when I saw the opening line of "Lost On Planet China." for it was with vain expectation that here was another double reader. There never was any real attempt to "Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation." It was more like, "I hope to survive this lame idea and get back to ceramic toilets." To quote the prophetic last line of the "Author's Note" on the opening pages; "So there will be no f--king sunsets in the pages that follow." He was dead on with that line.

The western view of Troost is so smug, so superior, so short-sighted, so lacking in compassion or heart. Why don't they do something." Like what. How can the "the people" DO something about it. Why do Chinese eat "weird" stuff. So.a smarmingly self-congratulatory, so-superior book. THEY DIDN"T HAVE MUCH ELSE TO EAT. I started reading it and after about 100 pages, I was so insulted I had to put it down. How do people in LA stand it.

BTW, the Swiss eat horse, the midwesterners eat cheese. "take the milk of a cow, compress it with lots of the oil into blocks, add bacteria, let it age until it stinks, then slice it and eat it." And as for pollution: Troost says "How can the Chinese stand it. They can barely get enough to eat and heat their bodies. I found it distasteful.

However, if I had not been to China and I read this book I probably would not go - EVER. We all have a different sense of humor and if you don't like this book you just don't "get" the author. I would highly recommend it as it represents the funny side of everything that I experienced in China myself. This book is not meant to be a destination guide or an intellectual account it is supposed to be a hillarious, fun, entertaining easy read and that is what is is. I would not have missed my travels in China and I would not have missed this book, it was so funny I thought I would do myself an injury, but you kinda had to "be there" if you know what I mean.

But I found that the people in China to be extremely hard working and decent human beings. However, after I read it through, I found it utterly biased and deceptive. Initially, I found this book funny. Their hard work is actually supporting the biggest Bonsai scheme of all times - US DOLLAR. I just came back from a China tour. Yes, there are many problems (in particular, pollution) there. They deserve some respects.There are far better ways to spend your time and hard-earned cash than on this Chinese-bashing piece of crap. How about some good Chinese food in Chinatown.

During a visit to Lanzhou we flew to Dunhuang and then drove back 500 miles through the Gobi Desert to Lanzhou. I especially LOVED chapters 15 to 20. Pushing out the uniqueness - polluting everything. These are the parts of China I cherish.

It was decades before Native American culture was valued, and even longer before the uniqueness of the individual tribes was recognized. Yunnan and Tibet are so wonderful and so unique, I could easily go again. Lanzhou ("the most polluted city in the world") is the location of a University where my husband's college had an exchange program. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the information true to my experiences. I highly recommend this book at anyone who is interested in China. It was a trip of a life time.The Han ("Chinese" Chinese) are rapidly destroying the interesting parts of their country.

It reminds me of the first U.S. immigrant citizen's response to the Native American.

If you have been there, it is an absolute MUST READ. This is the section on Lijiang in Yunnan province; Tibet; Lanzhou; and Dunhuang.

I wish the Hans would learn from our errors and begin valuing the minorities (tribes) in China. Every description brought back a flood of memories, lots of smiles and outright laughter.

I too "sand surfed" down the sand dunes in Dunhuang. Tibet is so special, so unique, and it is heart wrenching to see it destroyed by the Hans, and make no mistake, they are destroying it.

You will recapture your initial impression, and it will bring back memories.Jonieta