Perceptive analysis of the People's Republic of China, from a left-wing (though not uncritical) standpoint. The author, who was one of the leading Sinologists in the world, traces the origin of the generation of Chinese communist intellectuals, whose ranks included Mao Zedong, to the May 4th movement at the beginning of the century. This movement, which had its source in the new Western ideas the conquerors brought with them, caused a section of China's youth to stridently question both the impe...

Comprehensive and well written, this book will help you understand the root's of Mao's political regime and the changes (/chaos) he spread and encouraged through the modernization of China. This is a textbook of sorts, but it is written well enough that you won't fall asleep. Read this if...* You're into Chinese history* confused/curious about Mao era China* You like learning how modern countries developed

"The first quarter of a century of the People's Republic was a time of immense social and material accomplishments, as well as a time of great inhumanities and crimes. It inaugurated the modern industrial transformation of the world's most populous country, which, over the previous century, had become one of the world's most backward and wretched lands. During the Mao era the Chinese Communists made a notable, if flawed and ultimately failed, attempt to reconcile the imperatives of modernization...

這是以「思想史」的方式來寫成的書籍。我只能說……跟我不對味兒，畢竟我最服膺的是有憑有據的「物質史」。會借回來讀，是由於看到本書的介紹有「一搥定音」的強烈褒美之辭，吸引我的目光。但實際一讀之後才發現，那是言過其實的。誠然，本書作者撈了許多關於毛澤東本人的生涯資料；但正如我一開始所說的，作者只搞「思想」，而思想比起有形的物質、政治的制度、民生的現況而言，是種虛無縹緲的存在，因此本書的書寫只令我感到拖泥帶水，只為了表達毛與其時代的思想。但侷限於作者對其它附屬領域（中國歷史與人民各種方面）的陌生，使得書中所帶到的話題，處處都顯出不足與腦補之處。---引書中一段冗長的話︰「從中國歷史發展的總進程來看，中國是一個傳統已僵化的國家，中國人保守地執著於傳統的儒家社會和文化價值觀，因此，人們往往形容中國人實際上對『西方的反應』無動於衷。但是，要切記的是，中國當代革命史是以反傳統的方式開始的。在強烈的反傳統意識的驅動下，擯棄了中國文化歷史遺產的太平天國以激進的基督教平均主義網領，為後來的革命運動以不同的方式所繼承，特別是為『五四』時期的反封建的知識份子，中國共產黨的創造人和早期領袖正來自這批知識份子。……...

Really wonderful survey of modern Chinese history from 1949-1999. I would recommend a beginner's comprehension of the history of the PRC before starting this book. Also, I would caution that this book is a survey, and does not go particularly deep into any particular event (though the Cultural Revolution rightly takes up a good deal of the book). What this book does spectacularly well is synthesizing complex events and contextualizing the actions of historical actors.If you have a dogmatic view

I feel like I now know more about the philosophies and people that created early China than I do with early America...Definitely written by someone with an appreciation and sympathy for communist ideas, the author also makes very clears the missteps, ironies and destruction caused by the contradiction that is modern China. When describing the Mao era, he would take great pains to describe the changes in the seeming minutia of agricultural outputs and grain taxes but as he approached present day

Good overall book for getting an understanding of recent Chinese history. There are parts I wanted to know more about, especially during the civil war, but I think that's a topic for another book. The book is already 500-something pages.Meisner definitely tends to the left of things and I think he strives for a balanced account of things. He tries not to fall into mainstream American narrative of China nor does he toe the official China party line. For example, with the Cultural Revolution, I th...

This was the book I was looking for when I picked up MacFarquhar and Schoenhals' Mao's Last Revolution some time ago. While that book was full of micro-level stuff like documents published on this or that date, or a CC meeting held on this or that date etc., Meisner's book was a proper general overview of Mao's China. I wish I had read this one first and Mao's Last Revolution only afterwards, maybe I could have appreciated the latter book a bit more.I'm happy that I read the 3rd edition, eve...

Meisner's book is plastered with reviews like "His work is a refreshingly clear exposition of the contradictions and continuities that define China today."and "...the definitive text on the history of the People's Republic of China...enriching and enthralling." But as I read passages like this one from Meisner's book:"It was the modern Chinese social situation that was potentially revolutionary, making revolutionary ideas (and iconoclastic impulses) historically dynamic forces. Again, in the cru...

Really helpful history of modern China. The author views China from a Marxist perspective, which has its limitations but is also makes him sensitive to the thought processes and decision-making of the Marxist leader that have shaped modern China. By far the best history of modern China I've encountered, which frankly is saying much. The reader will have to tolerate a fair amount of repetition. Meisner really wants to make sure you get the point, and the circles back through the same themes over

Probably the most informative account of Chinese Marxism I've ever read. It does a good job making the sectarian feuds within the CCP digestible and tackles the ideological crutches of Mao and the other factions that have shaped the PRC since its founding.

Sobre los proyectos de modernización económica en la China de Mao. Imperio Pág.187

The best single-volume history of the PRC. From a critical left perspective.

It gives a clear left-wing explanation of Mao's intention and consequences for Great Leap Forward and Cultural revolution. What's interesting is his analysis on the huge gap between his intention and results. Maoism is deeply rooted in Chinese culture which is fundamentally different from Russian Revolution. China and Russia shared similar backward economic backgrounds as a socialist country. However, Mao has seen the drawback of Soviet-style socialist developing method and refused to follow the...

Oh boy. I'm not going to summarize the contents of the book since enough other reviews here do that just fine. In fact, I have 40 pages left but have to return it to the library within 2 days, so in case I don't have a chance to finish I just really wanted to get down: this book ebbed between being totally fascinating and slightly boring (200 pages earlier I might have given it a 5/5). The history of revolutionary and post-revolutionary China was incredible. Honestly, the incomplete Marxist anal...

共和國五十年，相對於動不動就「中華上下五千年」來說，說長不長，但是從這期間歷史巨變和對於我們今天的廣泛深刻的影響來說，這五十年也是發生了極多極重要的事情，論述起來頗為不易。這本共和國通史史料紮實，線索清晰，不會lost in details, 左翼的立場，也就是說在論述過程中的語言會有意無意的和中共的官方語言暗合（當然也可以說是中共在學習國際國內的左翼的語言在為自己的合法性做論證），使我有時候又有種在讀中共官方文件或者教科書的穿越感，但是作者的語言又不是像中共官方文件那樣死的語言，類似的內容讀完之後相對那些官樣文章來說更加能理解了毛澤東鄧小平這些歷史上的大人物在那種歷史時刻的所思所想。雖然是左翼的立場，和中共官方語言有耦合，但是也不是沒有批判，作者對經典的馬克思主義、列寧主義和毛主義都有深刻的認識，對世界和中國的歷史環境也有充分的理解，這樣一種多方面的把握和平衡也很難得。尤其印象深刻的兩點是：1. 中國改革開放之後大規模引進歐美的思想，對於中國人的民族自信心的造成了嚴重衝擊，作者預計以後某個時間會有反撲，現在看作者預測的非常準確；2. 六四之後，中共對當時參與其中的工人的鎮壓比對學生的...

Read for history class on the People's Republic of China. There was some great information in this, but other parts felt like they dragged on.

A good account of Modern China from just before pre-Qing dynasty. Albeit a thick book, it is written in easy-to-read descriptive language unlike many scholastic books.

excellent historical overview of the revolution in china, made all the more excellent by the breadth of citations and footnotes.

A very good overall history of China up to the 1990s, with an interesting left wing critique.

讀的第一本國史的書

I was never an ardent fan of the study of Mao's China but gave this book a try hoping that it would shed some light on what I perceived was the often over-simplification of an extremely complex period of Chinese History. I was not disappointed. In painting Mao's China as principally a battleground for the struggle between Marxist-Leninist and Maoist conceptions of a socialist state, Meisner offers a critical look at many of the socio-economic and ideological policies of the Mao era and frames th...

A good book that gives a broad overview of what was happening with China and the Communist Party throughout the period from the revolutionary pre-1949 period through to Maos death, with a review of Maos legacy and what China went on to be.This book while critical of Mao and the party views him and them in a fair light that acknowledges the shortcomings both ideologically and practically of Maoism and its practice, the author also highlights the unprecedented growth of China under Mao, unparallel...

*Update* Bumped this to a 3.5. A very illuminating history of the People's Republic from Meisner, who is arguably sympathetic to the Marxist cause. However, I did have a couple of issues overall- Meisner is a bit of a chauvinist, and I think he overstates the influence of Western idealism on Mao. I also thought some of the claims Meisner makes required citations, but he failed to provide them. I think the section covering China in the post-Mao era was interesting, and seems to give an accurate o...

I have referred to Meisner’s book for no less than three classes on China in the 20th century (economics, culture, and film), and have found something rewarding and relevant in each case. Such comprehensive histories are flawed enterprises to begin with, as they will often adopt a certain perspective or leave out some crucial information, but Meisner’s Mao’s China and After is easily the most extensive and authoritative book on China in the last thirty years or so. Altogether, a highly recommend...

A great overview of modern Chinese history and the Chinese Communist Party. It sets itself apart from other similar textbook-type books by putting everything in the context of Marxist theory. Although I'm familiar with Chinese history, I don't have a background in Marxism. The author gives theoretical background to the Maoist campaigns. That is so helpful because it gives context, not just the history. I recommend it to students of modern Chinese history, especially if you don't have any backgro...

At least I got A- on Chinese revolution because of this book..

Meisner makes Marxist economics friendly and fun.

the Mao dynasty no longer has the mandate of heaven. the Deng dynasty does.

the 'after' part isnt very good