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 Hesslerś unmatched range as a storyteller.

Drawn by a fascination with Egypt's rich history and culture, Peter Hessler moved with his wife and twin daughters to Cairo in 2011. He wanted to learn Arabic, explore Cairo's neighborhoods, and visit the legendary archeological digs of Upper Egypt. After his years of covering China for the New Yorker, friends warned him that Egypt would be a much quieter place. But not long before he arrived, the Egyptian Arab Spring had begun, and now the country...

"Narrative account of how the development and diffusion of cars and roads have changed China"--Provided by publisher.