What's great about these What Life Was Like books is that they always show a slice of life in a historical time period with lots of pictures for context. This installment about Imperial China was certainly interesting and informative, but it didn't really showcase what life was like so much as give a history lesson about Song Dynasty politics.

Usually, in these books, readers learn about people at different rungs of the social ladder. However, in Imperial China, users mostly read about the poets and politicians who either supported or criticized the Song Dynasty rulers. Note: a lot of people go into exile in this book.

That said, Imperial China does do a great job of laying out the principles and philosophies that the intellectuals of the Song Dynasty valued. You learn about the layout and character of different cities and regions of China. This can give a sense that you're learning what "daily life" was like, but the reader is only given a vague sense of that, unless you're reading about an exiled poet/politician.

This is still worth reading if you're interested in Imperial China. It's a good intro, if nothing else. Just be aware that there isn't much to learn about clothing or food or transportation here. ( )