| Mao - the real story
(2012)
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| Front Cover |
Book Details |
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| Genre |
Non-Fiction; Biography |
| Subject |
Mao, Zedong, 1893-1976; Heads of State - China - Biography; China - Politics And Government - 1949-1976 |
| Publication Date |
2012 |
| Format |
Hardcover (9.8
mm)
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| Publisher |
Simon & Schuster |
| Language |
eng English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
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| Description |
| This major new biography of Mao uses extensive Russian documents previously unavailable to biographers to reveal surprising details about Mao's rise to power and his leadership in China. |
| Personal Details |
| Store |
2nd & Charles |
| Purchase Price |
$7.95 |
| Acquire Date |
12/10/2020 |
| Condition |
Very Good/Very Good |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
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| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
DS778.M3 .P287613 2012 |
| Dewey |
951.05092 |
| ISBN |
9781451654479 |
| Edition |
[1st ed.] |
| Cover Price |
$35.00 |
| No. of Pages |
755 |
| First Edition |
Yes |
| Rare |
No |
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| Notes/Review |
I'm pretty weak when it comes to Asian history, and I accept that reading biography perhaps isn't the best way to learn history. Nonetheless, here I am, attempting to learn a bit of history by reading a biography.
Before reading this book, I had heard of the Long March, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the Gang of Four. I had no real understanding of any of them. Now, having read the story of Mao's life, I know a little bit of each of those but still lack a true understanding. Of course, if I'm genuinely interested in any of these, I should seek out books about each of those subjects.
I have studied quite a bit about the Cold War, Soviet history, and the Korean War. I found that this book fills in many of the gaps in my understanding. I found it particularly interesting to compare and contrast Mao with Stalin.
In addition to the (I feel) required index, notes, and bibliography, this book includes a "dramatis personae", if you will: a nine-page list of individuals who appear in the narrative. Personally, I struggle with Chinese names more than I do with Russian, so I found this quite helpful.
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Mao was very much a Stalinist, but not like Stalin. He didn't have his rivals killed (although one or two were killed by the Red Guards). He was responsible for events that resulted in the deaths of millions of Chinese.
The CCP and the Soviet Union weren't in lockstep as most American Cold Warriors thought. The CCP's main source of funds was the CPSU and the Soviets dictated what the CCP should do, but often Mao took the money, agreed to perform, but did his own thing anyway. |
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