My year of reading Chinese history

A software developer shares how they fell into reading Chinese history throughout 2025, listing seven books they read. The post explores key themes discovered along the way: the cyclical nature of Chinese dynastic history versus Western linear progress narratives, the recurring tension between steppe nomads and farming civilizations, the role of imperial bureaucracy and examination systems in governance, the perennial problem of succession failure in empires, and how modern China's manufacturing dominance (Shenzhen, EVs, solar) is actually a return to historical norms rather than something new. The author draws parallels to contemporary politics and argues that learning non-Western history offers fresh perspectives on current problems.