this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2025
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Does anyone have good book recommendations on China's recent history? I wanna learn about the creation of the PRC, the cultural revolution, the '89 democracy movement. I have started reading the Wikipedia articles but it's just so dense and dry and I'm having trouble following it, I'm having trouble understanding the social state the described events happen in.
Was just wondering if there's good books that explain everything better.
Okay, hold onto your hats:
Fenby’s 'History of Modern China' is epic and magisterial but far too long for this (goes back to the mid-1800s), while McGregor’s 'The Party' is good for post-‘89 but doesn’t really touch the topics you’re interested in.
Richard Kraus' books 'Very Short Introduction' series is apparently excellent.
Two I’ve not read but come recommended:
The Cultural Revolution: A People’s History, 1962–1976 – Frank Dikötter
Tombstone: The Great Chinese Famine, 1958-1962 — Yang Jisheng (not strictly what your internet stranger asked about, but the roots of the Cultural Revolution are surely to be found in Mao’s Great Leap Forward.)
Finally there is also a doco 'China's Cultural Revolution: The Full Story' - on YT/NewPipe etc. - quite good!
I hope you find some answers to your queries!
Please extend my big thanks to your bro :)
Amazing :) thanks so much!
Sit tight; I will ask my bro-in-law. He will, no doubt, have an answer. If not, he'll at least have a reason why it doesn't exist 😆 Recommendation incoming.
Dot to come back and look at recommendations.
Have responded to OP above :)
Not a history book in the traditional sense, but Yu Hua's China in ten words is great.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12884314-china-in-ten-words
Sounds like a great suggestion, thanks!