Why read Mao's China and After?

Book cover of Mao's China and After: A History of the People's Republic

Book description

When MAO'S CHINA first appeared in 1977, it was hailed as the single most useful general volume on recent Chinese history, covering every important question of the time with clarity and amazing insight. Now, Meisner brings the third edition of his definitive work, with new information provided throughout the classic…

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Asian history

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Why read it?

1 author picked Mao's China and After as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Mobo C.F. Gao

Author

Generally speaking, there is a tendency both in China and the West to view the rise of China as the result of post-Mao reform. Mao is either perceived as a monster at worst or hopeless in economies at best. Deng Xiaoping takes the largest credit for China’s spectacular economic takeoff. Meisner is one of the first who presents a balanced view of China’s contemporary development, presenting convincing evidence to show that China’s industrialization and modernization started in the era of Mao.

From Mobo's list on understanding modern China.