Book Talk with Professor Andrew Seth Meyer: To Rule All Under Heaven

China Institute of America invites you to an evening conversation with historian Professor Andrew Seth Meyer on his new book To Rule All Under Heaven: A History of Classical China from Confucius to the First Emperor. Through war, diplomacy, debate, commerce, philosophy, literature, science, and art, Meyer brings to life one of the most transformative periods in Chinese civilization: the Warring States era, when the old Zhou order was collapsing and new ideas, institutions, and political systems were taking shape.

The conversation will be moderated by Susan Yuqing Feng, Director of Programs at China Institute of America, and followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.

Schedule
5:30–6:00 pm | Audience check-in 
6:00–6:45 pm | Conversation with Professor Andrew Seth Meyer, moderated by Susan Yuqing Feng 
6:45–7:00 pm | Audience Q&A 
7:00–7:30 pm | Book sale and signing

About the Book

To Rule All Under Heaven is a history of classical China from Confucius to the First Emperor. In 481 B.C.E., ancient China was on the cusp of one of the most profound revolutions any society has ever undergone, one that would set the course of world history for the following two millennia and a half. The ruling order that had been set up by the Zhou (ca. 1044-256 B.C.E.) kings almost six centuries before was disintegrating. Though the Zhou realm was populous, wealthy, and blessed with a sophisticated and already ancient culture, all of the basic institutions that structured social and spiritual life were in radical decay. For those living at the time, the situation resembled the kind of doomsday scenario spun out in summer blockbusters here today, only it was all too real. The world was literally falling apart.

The following two-hundred and sixty years saw the largest civilization on earth reinvent and recreate itself. Through war, diplomacy, debate, commerce, philosophy, literature, science, and artistic expression, the Chinese of the Warring States gave birth to a radically new social order. To Rule All Under Heaven is the first history in English to bring this dynamic period to life for general readers.

Speaker and Moderator

Andrew Seth Meyer
Professor of History, Brooklyn College, City University of New York

Andrew Meyer earned his BA from Brown University in 1989 and his PhD in East Asian Languages and Civilization from Harvard in 1999. He lived, worked and studied in different parts of China for four years and in Japan for one year. His academic work focuses on the intellectual history of early China, particularly that of the Warring States Period (481-221 BCE) and early empire. He is a Professor of History at Brooklyn College, the City University of New York, where he has taught courses on the ancient, medieval, and modern history of both China and Japan for more than twenty-five years.

Susan Yuqing Feng
Moderator – Director of Programs, China Institute of America

Susan Yuqing Feng joined China Institute of America as Director of Programs in October of 2023. Before joining CI, Susan was the Editor in Chief of Bitpush News, a leading blockchain media based in New York and a columnist for the Financial Times Chinese Edition.

Throughout her journalism career, Susan conducted interviews with a multitude of world economic and political leaders, including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Alan Greenspan, Paul Volcker, President Clinton, Zbigniew Brzeziński, Michael Bloomberg, Thomas Friedman, and many more. Susan has also directed the documentary series “World Movers,” which was released in March 2018. It illustrated the emerging new world order 70 years after WWII, shedding light on what has changed the U.S. and the world and the forces affecting everyone. It focused on the relationships between technology and globalization, the impact on immigration, and the future of U.S.-China relations.

Susan graduated from Columbia University and got her MA in International Affairs.