The Everlasting Empire: The Political Culture of Ancient China and its Imperial Legacy by Yuri Pines The Magistrates Tael: Rationalizing Fiscal Reform in 18th Century Ch’ing China by Madeleine Zelin Based on these 2 books, write a formal essay including the following points: Bibliographic Information: Begin with the titles, authors, publishers, and publication years of the books.

• Introduction: Provide a brief outline of the main subject or thesis of each book, along with some context about the authors, such as their backgrounds, previous works, or status in the academic community.

• Summary: Offer a summary of the main arguments, ideas, or theories presented in the books.

• Critical Analysis: Critically evaluate the authors’ arguments and evidence. Do they support the theses of the books? Are they compelling? Identify any methodological issues or biases, and discuss the overall robustness of the authors’ approaches.

• Contextual Analysis: Examine how these works fit into the broader academic discourse. Do they challenge or endorse prevailing views in the field? What are their contributions to the existing body of knowledge?

• Clarity and Style: Comment on the organization, readability, and information presentation in the books. Were they easy to follow? Were the authors’ writing styles effective in conveying their ideas?

• Conclusion: Wrap up your evaluation of the books. Were the authors successful in achieving their goals? Who might find these books useful, and why? • Personal Reflection: You may choose to include a section reflecting on how the books have helped shape your understanding of the subject.