Peter Hessler Bücher

Zum 10. Jahrestag des Arabischen Frühlings: „Originell und zutiefst menschlich – anders als alles, was ich über die ägyptische Revolution gelesen habe.“ Anand Gopal Noch immer blickt die Welt auf den Nahen Osten, um die Folgen des Arabischen Frühlings zu verstehen. Doch aus der Distanz bleibt vieles verborgen. Peter Hessler erzählt die ägyptische Revolution aus dem Alltag der Menschen heraus. Ein Abfallsammler, der aus Kairos Müll mehr herauslesen kann als jeder Archäologe. Ein Arabischlehrer mit Faible für Ägyptens sozialistische Vergangenheit. Und ein schwuler Mann, der in einem Muslimbruder einen unerwarteten Verbündeten findet. In einer brillanten literarischen Reportage bringt Peter Hessler Persönliches und Politisches, Gegenwart und Geschichte zusammen und entwirft so ein schillerndes Porträt einer Gesellschaft im Umbruch.

Im Sommer 2001 legt Peter Hessler, langjähriger Peking-Korrespondent des New Yorker, die chinesische Führerscheinprüfung ab und wird Teil der über 1000 Fahranfänger in der Hauptstadt. In den folgenden Jahren wird er Zeuge der enormen Veränderungen, die der Ausbau der Verkehrsinfrastruktur für das Land und seine Menschen mit sich bringt. Er folgt mit dem Auto dem Verlauf der Großen Mauer westwärts, oft auf primitiven Landstraßen und als einziger Ausländer weit und breit. Trotz der Abgeschiedenheit der Provinzen im Nordwesten eröffnen neue Straßen neue Perspektiven. Hessler pendelt regelmäßig zu einem abgelegenen Dorf bei Peking, das ihm zur zweiten Heimat wird. Hier erlebt er hautnah die Probleme und Möglichkeiten, die die beginnende touristische Erschließung mit sich bringt. Zudem schildert er am Beispiel einer Fabrik im Südosten Chinas, wie der Bau einer Autobahn eine ganze Region in kürzester Zeit verändert. Die Hoffnungen, Enttäuschungen und der gnadenlose Konkurrenzkampf, die mit dem chinesischen „Wirtschaftswunder“ einhergehen, werden sichtbar. Hessler bietet einen unmittelbaren, atmosphärisch dichten Einblick in das heutige China und erzählt mit Gespür für Gesten und Zwischentöne von seinen Begegnungen mit unterschiedlichsten Menschen, die alle auf ihre Weise „unterwegs“ sind.

Driven by a fascination with Egypt's history, Peter Hessler relocated to Cairo with his wife and twin daughters to immerse himself in the culture, learn Arabic, and explore the city's neighborhoods and archaeological sites. His move coincided with the Arab Spring, plunging the country into chaos. Amidst the revolution, he joined an archaeological dig at al-Madfuna, a site rich in royal tombs. As he and his wife worked to master Arabic, they developed a significant friendship with their language instructor, Rifaat, a cynical political observer. They also formed a unique bond with their garbage collector, Saaed, an illiterate yet insightful figure whose work provided a different kind of excavation into Cairo's life. Hessler encountered a family of Chinese entrepreneurs dominating the lingerie market, whose pragmatic perspective on the political turmoil offered a refreshing contrast to Western narratives. Through the experiences of these ordinary individuals during a time of upheaval, and the connections between modern Egypt and its ancient heritage, Hessler crafts a profound portrait of the nation. The result is a narrative rich in intelligence and empathy, illustrating a society grappling with the collapse of a weak state while revealing the enduring nature of its underlying culture.

In the heart of Sichuan's Fuling, a city long distanced from the political hustle of Beijing and Shanghai, change is on the horizon. As Fuling evolves, it becomes a site of tension, reform, and growth, while its residents grapple with the uncertain future. Peter Hessler arrived in 1996 as a Peace Corps volunteer, marking the first American presence in over fifty years. Teaching English and American literature at the local college, he explored how Western classics resonate with students shaped by the Communist Party's teachings. His students, in turn, educated him about the complexities of Fuling and the nuances of a radically different society. Hessler's immersion reveals a pivotal moment for the city, balancing its troubled Communist past—including land reform struggles and the Cultural Revolution's impact—with the impending changes brought by the Three Gorges Dam, which threatens to flood Fuling and displace over a million people. Through his travels across Sichuan, he vividly portrays the diverse individuals he encounters, from priests to peasants, sharing their perspectives. This narrative blends Hessler's personal experiences with rich descriptions of the landscape and history, creating an imaginative and poignant account of a city navigating its identity amid transformation.

An American journalist living in Beijing offers an intriguing odyssey through twenty-first-century China as seen through the eyes of a handful of ordinary people, including Polat, a member of an ethnic minority seeking freedom in the U.S.; Anne, a migrant factory worker; and Chen Mengjia, a scholar of oracle bone inscriptions. 60,000 first printing.

Full of unforgettable figures and an unrelenting spirit of adventure, Strange Stones is a far-ranging, thought-provoking collection of Peter Hessler’s best reportage—a dazzling display of the powerful storytelling, shrewd cultural insight, and warm sense of humor that are the trademarks of his work. Over the last decade, as a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of three books, Peter Hessler has lived in Asia and the United States, writing as both native and knowledgeable outsider in these two very different regions. This unusual perspective distinguishes Strange Stones, which showcases Hessler’s unmatched range as a storyteller. “Wild Flavor” invites readers along on a taste test between two rat restaurants in South China. One story profiles Yao Ming, basketball star and China’s most beloved export, another David Spindler, an obsessive and passionate historian of the Great Wall. In “Dr. Don,” Hessler writes movingly about a small-town pharmacist and his relationship with the people he serves. While Hessler’s subjects and locations vary, subtle but deeply important thematic links bind these pieces—the strength of local traditions, the surprising overlap between apparently opposing cultures, and the powerful lessons drawn from individuals who straddle different worlds.

This intimate eyewitness account explores the experiences of two generations of students in China's heartland, revealing how the country's education system reflects its tumultuous changes. Through personal narratives, the book delves into the challenges and transformations faced by students, offering a unique perspective on the broader societal shifts occurring in China.

This introductory management text distills core management topics into 13 user-friendly chapters. Content is augmented by experiential exercises (one per chapter) and "in-basket" exercises.