Most people are under the impression that Mao is a coarse and illiterate leader, perhaps because of his round and big Hunan facial features. That…
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Tag: Asian History (Books)
The Many Voices of Lynn Pan
Lynn Pan, to me, is arguably the second most famous female Chinese writer in Chinese history and culture after Han Suyin. Her most popular work…
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Gandhi by Ved Mehta
Gandhi is a many-faceted man. His views change constantly. He explains that he grows from truth to truth. And yet, he was fastidious in checking…
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Early China and Warring States period
There are three excellent books. In chronology of publication, Early China: A Social and Cultural History by Li Feng (2013) covers the period from the…
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Passing Glimpses and Questions on China
Ooi Kee Beng calls his short essays or opinion pieces creative nonfiction. This book, Passing Glimpses of the Present (2026), is a collection of his…
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Religions in China—Part 4
Religious Change in Post-Mao China by Sun Yan Fei, 2026. Why is Protestantism the fastest-growing religion in China post-Mao? Why are popular Chinese religions (the…
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Religions in China—Part 3
Religious Change in Post-Mao China This book is a revelation to those who think religions were not allowed by Mao. Mao in the 1950s actually…
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Books on The Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency: Revolution and Counterinsurgency at the End of Empire By Karl Hack, 2022 is touted as the definitive history. While it is indeed…
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Religions in China—Part 2
Phenomenal growth in Protestantism, Post-Mao Since 1978, Protestantism has been the fastest-growing religion in China. Before 1949, its growth was not impressive by any standards.…
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Religions in China
The state of religions in China post-Mao is a rather opaque area. Two recent books shed some much-needed light. The Souls of China: The Return…
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