Book cover of The Troublemaker

Book description

The astonishing story of the billionaire businessman Jimmy Lai who became one of Hong Kong's leading activists for democracy and is today China's most famous political prisoner.

Jimmy Lai escaped mainland China when he was twelve years old, at the height of a famine that killed tens of millions. In…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Troublemaker as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I grew up in Flint, Michigan, and think I’ve lived a pretty good and courageous life. But I’m so humbled and inspired after reading this biography of Jimmy Lai.

His life—internal refugee during the famine of the Great Leap Forward, then fashion entrepreneur turned media mogul who pushed to make China more democratic, and now political prisoner held in solitary confinement since 2020— is a testament to courage. 

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On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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