In 1989, students in Beijing, China, rose against the tyranny of their own government. In the short span of two months, the spectacular movement evolved from petitioning to loyal opposition and then, in the face of military suppression, to seeking a change in the communist regime. This book is a narrative history of that magnificent time when they experienced joys of mass demonstrations, sorrow of a prolonged hunger strike, disillusionment with their own rank and file, and the deep anger over a massacre. It is a compelling human story that is being told for the first time.
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In 1989, students in Beijing, China, rose against the tyranny of their own government. In the short span of two months, the spectacular movement evolved from petitioning to loyal opposition and then, in the face of military suppression, to seeking a change in the communist regime. This book is a narrative history of that magnificent time when they experienced joys of mass demonstrations, sorrow of a prolonged hunger strike, disillusionment with their own rank and file, and the deep anger over a massacre. It is a compelling human story that is being told for the first time.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Jim
Format:Paperback
I'm very glad that I read this book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Tiananmen Square and today's China.
The author's choice of the word "standoff" gives a hint of the balanced tension running throughout the book. Students are in conflict with the government. Freedom is at odds with social order. Individuals wrestle with the will of the group. An ancient culture struggles with modernity.
The book is written in a narrative style that describes the events as they unfold. The author steers clear of editorial comment, which makes for a more accessible and honest accounting, and leaves open questions about the main characters' roles. Were the students or the government right or were they wrong? Was the outcome good or bad? The author does not advance answers to these questions, leaving the reader with a strong sense of conflict and struggle. For the American reader looking for a resolution, it is not here - this is a book about China.
If a young man standing in front of a tank is your only image of Tiananmen Square, or if you are looking for insight into today's China, read this book.
The author's choice of the word "standoff" gives a hint of the balanced tension running throughout the book. Students are in conflict with the government. Freedom is at odds with social order. Individuals wrestle with the will of the group. An ancient culture struggles with modernity.
The book is written in a narrative style that describes the events as they unfold. The author steers clear of editorial comment, which makes for a more accessible and honest accounting, and leaves open questions about the main characters' roles. Were the students or the government right or were they wrong? Was the outcome good or bad? The author does not advance answers to these questions, leaving the reader with a strong sense of conflict and struggle. For the American reader looking for a resolution, it is not here - this is a book about China.
If a young man standing in front of a tank is your only image of Tiananmen Square, or if you are looking for insight into today's China, read this book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By denverd0n
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If your knowledge of the massacre in Beijing 20 years ago is based entirely on a few news reports (as mine was) then you really ought to read this book. You will come to understand the mood and motives of the students, the events that led up to the standoff, and how the massacre was triggered. You will realize that the reporting by the U.S. news agencies was woefully inadequate and left you largely misunderstanding what had happened (though that probably wasn't entirely their fault).
The book takes the form of a chronicle, stepping through the events almost entirely in the order they happened. The style is very academic. So if you're looking for a rousing story, written almost like a novel, with deep character development and lots of emotion--something like the histories written by Joseph Ellis or David McCullough--you are going to be disappointed. This is mostly a straightforward retelling of events. And yet, I think because of his familiarity with the setting, the times, and life as a student in Beijing, Dr. Cheng brings a depth of understanding to these events that does draw you in, does make you care about the characters, and does keep you reading. This is most definitely NOT one of those dry, academic tomes that you have to force yourself to finish!
I found it especially fascinating to read about the struggles for power, the pursuit of status and control, and the petty and immature infighting that went on between the various student leaders and their respective factions. And yet, if you pay attention to what happens in the U.S. Congress (or any other political body, for that matter), you know that petty and immature infighting is an art form among politicians. The students in Beijing, in the spring of 1989, were amateurs at it when compared to the average elected representative!
Finally, I have to comment on the famous image of the student facing down a column of tanks. Often referred to as the "Hero of Tiananmen Square" I have long thought the real hero of that particular confrontation was the unseen and unknown driver of the lead tank. How easy it would have been for him to just keep going, to roll right over that student, and grind him into the pavement. His superiors certainly wouldn't have punished him for doing that, as they probably did for stopping his tank.
No one can take away from the incredible courage shown by the anonymous student. We should also not forget, however, the courage shown by that driver who made the choice to stop his tank, who almost certainly chose to disobey orders, and who instead chose to respect human life. Too bad that there aren't more people in this world willing to make choices like that more often.
Bottom line: READ THIS BOOK!
The book takes the form of a chronicle, stepping through the events almost entirely in the order they happened. The style is very academic. So if you're looking for a rousing story, written almost like a novel, with deep character development and lots of emotion--something like the histories written by Joseph Ellis or David McCullough--you are going to be disappointed. This is mostly a straightforward retelling of events. And yet, I think because of his familiarity with the setting, the times, and life as a student in Beijing, Dr. Cheng brings a depth of understanding to these events that does draw you in, does make you care about the characters, and does keep you reading. This is most definitely NOT one of those dry, academic tomes that you have to force yourself to finish!
I found it especially fascinating to read about the struggles for power, the pursuit of status and control, and the petty and immature infighting that went on between the various student leaders and their respective factions. And yet, if you pay attention to what happens in the U.S. Congress (or any other political body, for that matter), you know that petty and immature infighting is an art form among politicians. The students in Beijing, in the spring of 1989, were amateurs at it when compared to the average elected representative!
Finally, I have to comment on the famous image of the student facing down a column of tanks. Often referred to as the "Hero of Tiananmen Square" I have long thought the real hero of that particular confrontation was the unseen and unknown driver of the lead tank. How easy it would have been for him to just keep going, to roll right over that student, and grind him into the pavement. His superiors certainly wouldn't have punished him for doing that, as they probably did for stopping his tank.
No one can take away from the incredible courage shown by the anonymous student. We should also not forget, however, the courage shown by that driver who made the choice to stop his tank, who almost certainly chose to disobey orders, and who instead chose to respect human life. Too bad that there aren't more people in this world willing to make choices like that more often.
Bottom line: READ THIS BOOK!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By prandtl
Format:Paperback
As the author said in the preface, he hoped to "re-create the students' experience". I believe he had certainly done a wonderful job to this end. The courage, enthusiasm, excitement, fear, anxiety, confusion, disappointment, despair ... of the students at the face of ups and downs and innumerable unexpected turns in the long, agonizing weeks before the final tragedy were all faithfully recounted. What you will see is not a crowd of politically charged figures, but a group of young, lively students, inexperienced, with numerous weaknesses, but also at times brave and devoted, just like everyone of us once was. You can't help but share what they felt and hold your breath for them. And this is exactly where the power of this book is.
With all the dramas, the story was told in a restrained tone. The tragedy was put in the context of a series of democratic movements tracing back to the early time after China first recovered from the Great Cultural Revolution. The author took pains to annotate every important account with references and did not hesitate to point out the conflicting evidence. A list of other resources is included in the bibliography, making the book also a good start to learn more about the truth of the tragedy.
Highly recommended.
With all the dramas, the story was told in a restrained tone. The tragedy was put in the context of a series of democratic movements tracing back to the early time after China first recovered from the Great Cultural Revolution. The author took pains to annotate every important account with references and did not hesitate to point out the conflicting evidence. A list of other resources is included in the bibliography, making the book also a good start to learn more about the truth of the tragedy.
Highly recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An insightful account of the history
The year of 1989 was memorable, even decades apart, for people aspired to see changes in China. Cheng's recount of the details surrounding the decisions of the key players provide... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zixian Deng
4.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting book worth reading
I generally read fiction, but a friend suggested I try this book as a change. As a historical novel I was concerned that it would be dry. Read more
Published on May 2, 2009 by Learns Divine
5.0 out of 5 stars
One hell of a good book!
Yes it has been 20 years since we saw that brave Chinese man standing in front of a column of tanks. Read more
Published on April 19, 2009 by C. WANG
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very important topic handled expertly
If you've got a passing interest in "today's" China or a desire to look into the historical situation of the 1989 Tiananmen protests, this is a fair and honest retelling of the... Read more
Published on March 25, 2009 by Michael Shaffer
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