"A History of China," authored by Wolfram Eberhard, provides a comprehensive overview of China's rich and complex historical evolution. Some stories are brutal and weird, while others creep up on you and draw you in slowly. Eberhard's study looks into the country's historical origins, following its cultural, political, and socioeconomic development by several dynasty periods and watershed moments. The work of literature sheds light on China's contributions to art, philosophy, science, and governance, and also its interactions with adjacent regions and the rest of the world. Eberhard deftly examines the birth and collapse of dynasties, the development of major characters, with the interaction of tradition and innovation. He analyzes the tremendous impact of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism on Chinese society, and also the conflict and change, including as invasions, revolutions, and modernization initiatives.