Lin Yutang, My Country and My People
An acclaimed early 20th-century translator and writer, not to mention the inventor of a Chinese typewriter (!), Lin Yutang 林语堂 is known for his stylish English prose and his writing aimed at introducing Chinese culture to a foreign audience.
Written in 1935, My Country and My People is Lin's magisterial introduction to Chinese society and culture, and remains a classic today. Lin subsequently translated the book into Chinese as 《吾国与吾民》.