436
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #45,770 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★★★☆
Highly enjoyable, but doubtful research
As long as one takes Chang's research with a grain of salt, then this is an immensely enjoyable, readable, and accessible book. The research seems good, but Chang's conclusions are almost laughable; she cites one or two sources (sometimes Communist sources, always of doubtful trustworthiness) and comes to conclusions that should send off red flags according to just their language: "This must mean..." "There is no other interpretation but..." And it can't be coincidence that all of her research unwaveringly supports her main tenet, that Mao is a monster. But the errors are so glaring that no one can seriously read this and not realize that it is a sensational, and not an entirely historically accurate, biography.
I don't doubt the ultimate conclusion (Mao was among the most evil characters of the 20th century), but I'm afraid Chang's sensationalism will only lead to a backlash of people defending Mao. All the same, I really enjoyed this book.
