Myanmar is still not a well-known country; after decades of isolation, only recently it is becoming more accessible for journalists. In the time when the bloody pacification of street protests in Yangon once again is on the headlines all over the world, it is important to better understand this region of Asia. And you won't find a better guide than the author of this book.

Daniel Combs has all of the greatest virtues of a foreign correspondent: an eye for details (a policeman dropping to his knees in front of a young Buddhist monk in the middle of a busy Yangon street; rolling explosions of Kanchin civil war that don't bother VIP golfers from both sides of the conflict), humility, leading him to give the voice of local people instead of passing subjective views, and insatiable curiosity. His writing is clear and engaging. He reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Peter Hessler.

A great example of non-fiction, highly recommended to anyone interested in international issues.

Thanks to the publisher, Melville House Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

In a world which is rapidly changing due to industrialization and technological advancements, Myanmar is no exception. Daniel Combs writes with addictive descriptions and summarizes nuanced and complicated situations clearly for a Western audience. Until the Earth Shatters: Truth, Lies, and the Looting of Myanmar is a must read for nonfiction published in 2021.

If you were to ask Americans about the sociopolitical issues taking root in Myanmar, only a few would be able to tell you. In American news outlets, its common for the only issues in the East to get coverage is China. While Until the Earth Shatters also discusses how China has affected the quality of life for Myanmar citizens, Until the Earth Shatters is undoubtedly about the Myanmar people. Combs interviews citizens from cities and rural areas alike, and follows them so readers can develop a deeper understanding of how they live their lives. Each person Combs focuses on adds a new and sharper angle to the book, which at times reads like one large news feature itself (rather than a dense historical text). Seeing how residents respond (and largely support) the Rohingya genocide as a means to protect their own Buddhist identity was especially eye-opening. It was interesting to take American stereotypes of Buddhism ( a peaceful monk focused on individual enlightenment) and juxtapose them with the reality that Buddhism is just another religion which can be used to push political messages and beliefs. Previous to reading Until the Earth Shatters, I had never considered where jade exports largely come from. To have a view into the illegal jade industry in Myanmar allowed me to think more deeply about a nation that was previously rich and fertile, turned into a country which even its own citizens must exploit in order to survive. In this piece, we learn that it is both the Myanmar government's constant development and war struggles as well as China's agricultural practices at the border which are to blame for a pristine country to spoil. While there are half-hearted attempts to revitalize areas in spiritual ways angled towards global tourism and news media output, at the end of the book the reader is left with the feeling half-truths will be unable to solve the crises affecting Myanmar's people.

At the end of the book, Daniel Combs acknowledges that as an outsider, there is nuance missing from his nonfiction book that could be added had its writer been Burmese. He discusses the difficulties he had interviewing people who weren't men and people from certain geographic locations. For its faults, Combs also provides a vast amount of further reading opportunities and a bibliography which supports Combs own observations. For a first step into understanding the current sociopolitical, economic, and religious events impacting Myanmar currently, Until the Earth Shatters is brilliantly executed and highly recommended.