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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “So far, interesting to note the absolutely brutal relationship between Mao and his dad and how it begins to work out in the man who will grow up to murder 32 million of his own countrymen.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“A very interesting study in evil and strategy.”
Stephan Andreas Jensen wrote this review 7 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“No wonder this is a controversial book and banned in China. It depicts Mao in an unflattering light, completely different from the propaganda, ruthless and cold blooded with no care for anyone but himself...psychopathic. It is amazing that he was able to get to where he got to with the fearmongering. The man has no "heart". All of this is how the book depicts Mao. The author is able to attribute much of her information, but some sources had to remain anonymous for obvious reasons.”
Lisa T wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very Factual, but I find it a bit too much facts about history.”
serena c wrote this review Thursday, November 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting read. ”
Kim-Mari P wrote this review Wednesday, October 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Amazing. History of China is the history of the world. Reveals the depths of assholishness a person with umlimited power can sink to - 50 million+ dead.”
Martashel K wrote this review Friday, September 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Heavy.”
Cynthia V wrote this review Tuesday, August 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“ A shocking and fascinating look at a man that most westerners know little or nothing about. Apparently we may have been wrong in labeling Adolf Hitler with the title of "Most Evil Man That Ever Lived".
Lynn A wrote this review Monday, June 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Although I have no problem believing that Mao was evil, this book is so overwhelmingly negative that I find myself wondering if the authors suffered some personal tragedy at his hands. Overwhelming amounts of research are presented throughout, and I do mean overwhelming. I think that some concise editing would have helped get the point across a little better and made a bigger impact on the general public. ”“Mao Tsu Tung's rise to power is utterly amazing based on this writer's biography. It's almost like he absently put himself into the powerful position by removing himself time and time again from the forefront and then killing off any competitors, or to verbally and physically abuse his followers into submission. The author's story represents a man who used and abused his countrymen to gain world domination as a leader. Yes, it is the writer's story ... but she and her family lived through these times, were a part of the regime, and although I found the book confusing, redundant at times, she was there, she did live it, and she and her family were a part of this history-making time.”
Donna N wrote this review Saturday, June 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Mao was a character difficult to take. He was too evil for me to be able to finish the book.”
angela s wrote this review Tuesday, June 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This guy was a grade-A asshole.
Michael Komarnitsky wrote this review Friday, April 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
If even half the things that Chang & Halloway write about are true, then Mao was definitely in line with Hitler/Stalin/Pol Pot as the most evil people of the 20th century.
The book is completely one-sided, but is also extensively sourced - I'll let sinologists debate the facts, but you don't need to be one to be drawn into the story.
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