I learned a great deal about the Chinese political system. For instance, the US has a three tiered system whereas China has a five tiered system. The burden that the Chinese peasantry must bear to support this bloated bureaucracy is excessive as are the local cadres methods of squeezing the peasants for money. I knew this book would be good since it is banned in China. I was not disappointed. It takes a truthful, fair look at one area of modern China that needs A LOT of improvement. ( )

Will the Boat Sink the Water?
The Life of China’s Peasants
Chen Guidi and Wu Chuntao. Translated by Zhu Hong
ISBN-13 978-1-58648-358-6
2006, Public Affairs division of Perseus Books Group
225 pages, hardback

Based on three-years of investigative journalism starting in Anhui province, this book portrays the true story of life for China’s poorest 900 million. The authors state that China’s ‘great leap forward’ may fail if the nation cannot raise the standard of living for these 900 million who still live under feudal conditions. Petty dictators dominate villages and counties, and make life hazardous for peasants who live in abject poverty. These officials destroy villagers’ health and living standards, and prevent justice for the poor.

Millions of copies of this gripping story were sold in China before the book was published around the world.

An important book everyone who cares about China should read.

(I’m not mentioning that since the book was banned, the authors have suffered persecution, harassment by the courts, and other disasters, like their home destroyed by a mob.) ( )

The untold story of China's destitute rural pesant majority, which remains the unacknowledged elephant-in-the-living-room in too many discussions of the Chinese economy. ( )