Customer Reviews

Mandate Of Heaven: In China, A New Generation Of Entrepreneurs, Dissidents, Bohemians And Technocra

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Schell has chosen an unusual way to describe the modern China's economy and what has shaped it over the years. He spends almost half the book describing the events and the modern day significance of Tiananmen Square (a very accurate picture). He then moves on to describe Deng Xiapong's role in the Beijing Massacre and as the maker of the modern Chinese economy. Schell has chosen a unique way to look at the events and very successfully weaved the Tiananmen Square's events with the China today. He choses interesting examples to illustrate just how deeply some aspects of the western world grips China. He talks of the ironical Mao-mania where one could find almost anything with pictures of Mao selling in China. His account of the key people in China then and now gave me a clear picture of what really went on in the lives of the people. This is one of those books where I could picture the events in my mind, and came out feeling extremely satisfied with the read. A must read for anyone who wants to understand the Chinese Politics and Chinese Economy, and how they are invaluabe in understanding each other.

Schell's understanding of modern China is tremendous. This text is indispensible to anyone seeking insight into where China is headed in the coming decades. It is, however, written in a journalistic style. Therefore, those seeking an academic, scholarly examination of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the socio-political impact that followed will not find it here. Schell is extensive in his examination of events, one might even say exhaustive. He masterfully paints an image of the modern movements in China and it is for this reason that Mandate of Heaven is a valuable work.

As a passionate student of History at Indiana University, I had hoped to find, as indicated above, an academic work studying modern China. Schell's perspective is essential to such an understanding, but Mandate of Heaven does not take a scholarly approach. The book was nonetheless an entertaining read.

Schell is a sensitive observer of events. Schell is putting his undergraduate training in Chinese to good use. I am the process of comparing works by Bernstein, Butterfield, Fraser, and Schell, and I have been impressed with Schell's works so far. Mandate is fairly meaty, full of first-hand observations and post-op reflections. Overall, a very good job

Every so often you read a book that really makes you think. A book that you really learn something from. Mandate of Heaven is such a book. If you really want to learn about modern post-Mao China, read this book. It's easy to read, enjoyable, and yet you learn so much. This is truely the best book out there on China.