Wealth and Power (2013) is an interesting, informative and sympathetic outline of the evolution of China over the last 175 years. It sketches the political lives of a number of Chinese leaders, politicians and influential political theorists. It required several massive and merciless upheavals and bold experimentation for China to overcome many centuries of ingrained feudal culture and lift China out of poverty and a dogged xenophobia to generate the wealth and power required to resist the foreign imperialism which had diminished its treasury and self-respect beginning with the Opium Wars in the middle of the 19th century.

Some of the most respected writers throughout this period argued that it is in the best interests of the people of China, once it had become wealthy and powerful, as it is today, to become democratic. Several of these brave voices died in prison, including Liu Xiaobo, who won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2010 but died in a Chinese prison in 2017.

This book is easy to read. The reader may sympathize with the millions of suffering Chinese over this interesting* period and the 1.4 billion of today, except for the near-Orwellian** faux-Communist entrenched wealthy cabal currently hoarding power to the detriment of the country and thus of 18% of mankind.

* An old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times.

** www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/china-surveillance-state-uighurs.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region ( )

Vignettes of a selection of 19 and 20C men (and one woman) who have transformed China in its search for global respect (and wealth and power, of course...which it seems to be how China thinks it will gain global respect). All the usual suspects are here -- Mao, Jiang Zemin, Chiang Kaishek, Sun Yatsen but with some surprise personalities and interesting details. ( )

I'm surprised this book isn't better known, as it's a fantastic introduction to the development of China, both politically and philosophically, in the past 200 years. Strongly recommended for anyone who wants to better understand the roots of the modern Chinese miracle. ( )

Telling the history of China through the lives and ideas of several people key to its history. Fascinating and helpful

Must be first rate, definitive study/overview of China's coming back onto the world stage and the challenges that lie in that for the people of China as well as all the people of the world. The consensus model versus the authoritatian model. Just listened to an outstanding, open hearted prestetation of Schell to the Commonwealth Club, March 21, 2014. ( )