In Peter Hessler's Country Driving, Hessler takes a journey through China along the Great Wall. He also spends a lot of time living in various areas of China that reveal the culture and lifestyle of the Chinese people. The book is set during the boom of the automotive industry and the rise of industrial manufacturing. The effect of both of these industries on the Chinese people is very interesting. The Chinese people go through a transition that Hessler observes throughout the book. This transition causes people to face challenges that affect their lifestyle. Many people move from rural to urban environments to find work. Additionally, as Hessler travels through China, he experiences many cultural interactions with the people around him that shed light on the mentality of the Chinese people. The transition the Chinese went through and Hessler's interactions reflect the effect of modernization in China. This effect is very interesting and Hessler communicates it very well during his trip to China. The experience of the people Hessler observes exemplifies the transition China has undergone over the past half century. When Hessler lives in Sancha, a rural village, he experiences firsthand the effects of the transition rural China has undergone. The lineage of a family in Sancha is an example of the effects of the Cultural Revolution and the Reformation years. During the Cultural Revolution, many of these documents were destroyed or hidden. Then, during the Reformation, they were consolidated. This meant that there was almost no way for people to know where they came from and who their ancestors were. Another aspect of the transition was the effect of the government... middle of the paper... Chinese cultures. Overall, I enjoyed Hessler's book and plan to read Oracle Bones and River Town in the near future. I think this book is very useful for the course syllabus. It allows the reader to experience what China is really like. The book addresses topics that cannot be taught in the classroom. Cultural identity is one of these issues. Hessler taught me a lot about Chinese culture and its intricacies that I wouldn't have learned if I hadn't read it. It also allows the reader to take Hessler's journey and put it into the historical context we learned about in class. He personalized the history of the Chinese people. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Chinese culture and history. Works CitedHessler, Peter. Countryside Driving: A Chinese Road Trip. New York: Harper Perennial, 2011. Print.