21st Century China

Peter Hessler writes heartbreakingly beautiful accounts of the flesh and blood people behind the astonishing boom of China. In his first book, the bestselling "River Town", he brought to life his years of teaching in Fuling, China, deep in Sichuan province.

Now, having spent most of the last decade at the planet's hottest address, he's expanded his canvas to China's farthest reaches, deep into its history and, again, deep into Chinese lives. The lies and compromises, and dreams and breakneck change that engulf China today. Life by life.

This hour On Point: writer Peter Hessler and his new book "Oracle Bones", on the deep currents behind booming China.

Guests:

Peter Hessler, Beijing correspondent for The New Yorker, author of "Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present