China: A 5,000-Year Odyssey is written by a Chineseperson who grew-up in China and both taught about, and conducted research on,Chinese civilization for over half a century in India and the US. The book credits the two greatrivers, the Yangtze and Huanghe, for marking the contours of Chinaon our globe, creating a Common Geographical Entity. Eventually, residents ofthe two river valleys developed a Common Civilization Entity within thesecontours. China emerged approximately 4,000 years ago, when a Common PoliticalEntity was formed within this Common Civilization Entity. Over a period of1,500 years into the 14th century, China became a unique Common Entity ofDestiny and a highly-developed civilization state. Sadly, 100,000 Chinesemilitary and civilians jumped, along with the Song emperor, into the sea, thuscutting short a merrymaking pacifist civilization. Mongol Yuan and Manchu Qingconquered China and infused the nation state element with the persevering nativecivilization ethos. Beginning in the 19th century, China succumbed to thechallenge from the sea: However, now China has resurrected like a phoenix fromthe ashes to continue on its 5,000 year odyssey along the civilization highway.While so many books on China have provided inaccurate depictions, pulling thewool over the eyes of readers, at long last we have a refreshing, holistic,true picture of China, which will endear it to all of us.