• Azzu@lemm.eeEnglish
    132·
    4 days ago

    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.

    • porcelainpitcher@lemmy.todayEnglish
      3·
      19 hours ago

      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!

    • porcelainpitcher@lemmy.todayEnglish
      5·
      3 days ago

      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.