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whatsatajahism's review
4.0
Concisely tells you about the Mao years (and a bit before that with the sino-japanese war) in a very accessible way.
Great for revision as it can be read in a couple sittings if you have the patience for it.
Great for revision as it can be read in a couple sittings if you have the patience for it.
steveab's review
5.0
[a: Rebecca Karl|231271|Rebecca E. Karl|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] has written a masterful and thoroughly readable account of the life of Mao Zedong and of the modern China Mao helped shape. Just under 200 pages, [b: Mao Zedong and China in the Twentieth-Century World: A Concise History|8567495|Mao Zedong and China in the Twentieth-Century World A Concise History|Rebecca E. Karl|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328807527s/8567495.jpg|13436091] is neither a deep biography, a philosophical assessment of Marxism, nor a new history of modern China. And yet, the book interweaves biography, overview of political debate and texts, and historical context in a engrossing and thought-provoking way.
I found myself reflecting on both long ago academic study I did as well as dim memories of the political relection here in the United States of the mid-sixties Cultural Revolution and events which followed. I zipped through most of the book almost like consuming a TV mini-series history, with Karl's vivid and pithy descriptions just flowing along. I then saved the last part a week or two to let the impact of her reconstruction of events and effects sink in.
The last book I read that engaged strongly about the Cultural Revolution was, of all things, Liu Cixin's also engrossing three-volume science fiction epic, starting with [b: The Three Body Problem|20518872|The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1)|Liu Cixin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415428227s/20518872.jpg|25696480]. Cixin's use of the Cultural Revolution as foundation anchor point also has stayed with me, though in more of a depressing, cloudy, just out-of-self-reflective-reach sort of way.
Karl's book is just the opposite. It invites open-eyed reflection, consideration of the epic rise of modern China as global capitalist rival to the US against the decades of turmoil that produced it. As she says in the preface, "the book takes Mao Zedong and his era--in Chinese and global terms--quite seriously. It takes socialism in China and the world as integral to the history of the twentieth century."
Whatever one makes of that history, it is hard not to agree with Karl's observation, "Recalling Mao's challenge is to recall a time when many things seemed possible; it is to remember possiblity against the pressure to concede to the world as it now appears." Thinking of many things today, from Black Lives Matter to young people stirred against gun violence, it seems timely to recall that era in Chinese history.
The 200 pages will just fly by. As those historical moments continue to fade--next year will mark 50 years since the Cultural Revolution--pause and take a look.
I found myself reflecting on both long ago academic study I did as well as dim memories of the political relection here in the United States of the mid-sixties Cultural Revolution and events which followed. I zipped through most of the book almost like consuming a TV mini-series history, with Karl's vivid and pithy descriptions just flowing along. I then saved the last part a week or two to let the impact of her reconstruction of events and effects sink in.
The last book I read that engaged strongly about the Cultural Revolution was, of all things, Liu Cixin's also engrossing three-volume science fiction epic, starting with [b: The Three Body Problem|20518872|The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1)|Liu Cixin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415428227s/20518872.jpg|25696480]. Cixin's use of the Cultural Revolution as foundation anchor point also has stayed with me, though in more of a depressing, cloudy, just out-of-self-reflective-reach sort of way.
Karl's book is just the opposite. It invites open-eyed reflection, consideration of the epic rise of modern China as global capitalist rival to the US against the decades of turmoil that produced it. As she says in the preface, "the book takes Mao Zedong and his era--in Chinese and global terms--quite seriously. It takes socialism in China and the world as integral to the history of the twentieth century."
Whatever one makes of that history, it is hard not to agree with Karl's observation, "Recalling Mao's challenge is to recall a time when many things seemed possible; it is to remember possiblity against the pressure to concede to the world as it now appears." Thinking of many things today, from Black Lives Matter to young people stirred against gun violence, it seems timely to recall that era in Chinese history.
The 200 pages will just fly by. As those historical moments continue to fade--next year will mark 50 years since the Cultural Revolution--pause and take a look.
danielsell's review
4.0
I originally picked up Rebecca Karl’s book Mao Zedong and China in the Twentieth-Century World: A Concise History knowing only the basics about Mao and Chinese history. Having visited China before, I eagerly opened this book expecting a well thought out introduction to twentieth century Chinese history. I was not disappointed.
Karl’s book presents a general chronology of the history of the People’s Republic of China through an emphasis on Mao’s actions and philosophy. In this way, this book could be considered semi-biographical. Karl aptly courses out this history, bringing the reader on the journey from Mao’s petty-bourgeois origins, to his numerous struggles against both the GMD and foreign imperialists, to his rise to power and victory of the civil war, to his implementation of both successful and horrendously disastrous socialist policies, to his demise and rise again, and finally to his death and the complete desecration of what Mao worked for by the CCP. Through this narrative, Karl does an excellent job at showcasing the multifaceted personality and political strategies of Mao: he synchronously deeply cared about the success of communism in China and the plights of the proletariat and peasants, yet he became increasingly power hungry and paranoid to the point that he jeopardized his own projects. Karl also showcases that eventually, with Mao’s death, the CCP completely switched course and suppressed socialist activities, effectively banning the people from participating in politics while heavily promoting capitalist initiatives under the false banner of being revolutionary - a trend that continues today.
Overall, Rebecca Karl succeeds with this book in creating a highly interesting and succinct introduction to twentieth century Chinese history. Her writing is very clear, even when she tackled some of the nuances of Mao Zedong Thought. Nevertheless, this being an introduction, the nature of the work is primarily surface level. I do wish that Karl provided more sources in her work so that the curious reader could explore this topic in more depth, though I imagine translation difficulties (or them not existing) truly hindered this. Regardless, this was a very enjoyable and educational read and I definitely recommend it.
Karl’s book presents a general chronology of the history of the People’s Republic of China through an emphasis on Mao’s actions and philosophy. In this way, this book could be considered semi-biographical. Karl aptly courses out this history, bringing the reader on the journey from Mao’s petty-bourgeois origins, to his numerous struggles against both the GMD and foreign imperialists, to his rise to power and victory of the civil war, to his implementation of both successful and horrendously disastrous socialist policies, to his demise and rise again, and finally to his death and the complete desecration of what Mao worked for by the CCP. Through this narrative, Karl does an excellent job at showcasing the multifaceted personality and political strategies of Mao: he synchronously deeply cared about the success of communism in China and the plights of the proletariat and peasants, yet he became increasingly power hungry and paranoid to the point that he jeopardized his own projects. Karl also showcases that eventually, with Mao’s death, the CCP completely switched course and suppressed socialist activities, effectively banning the people from participating in politics while heavily promoting capitalist initiatives under the false banner of being revolutionary - a trend that continues today.
Overall, Rebecca Karl succeeds with this book in creating a highly interesting and succinct introduction to twentieth century Chinese history. Her writing is very clear, even when she tackled some of the nuances of Mao Zedong Thought. Nevertheless, this being an introduction, the nature of the work is primarily surface level. I do wish that Karl provided more sources in her work so that the curious reader could explore this topic in more depth, though I imagine translation difficulties (or them not existing) truly hindered this. Regardless, this was a very enjoyable and educational read and I definitely recommend it.
chen's review against another edition
4.0
It is a clear, easy to read and takes on a global view of the unfolding that took place prior and in the course of Mao's life.
ash71896's review against another edition
Library loan expired, would like to finish at some point
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