Mao

The Unknown Story

By: Jung Chang, Jon Halliday

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 29 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

“Ever since the spectacular success of Chang’s Wild Swans we have waited impatiently for her to complete with her husband this monumental study of China’s most notorious modern leader. The expectation has been that she would rewrite modern Chinese history. The wait has been worthwhile and the expectation justified. This is a bombshell of a book.” (Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, in The Times, London)

Based on a decade of research and on interviews with many of Mao’s close circle in China who have never talked before - and with virtually everyone outside China who had significant dealings with him - this is the most authoritative life of Mao ever written. It is full of startling revelations, exploding the myth of the Long March, and showing a completely unknown Mao: he was not driven by idealism or ideology; his intimate and intricate relationship with Stalin went back to the 1920s, ultimately bringing him to power; he welcomed Japanese occupation of much of China; and he schemed, poisoned and blackmailed to get his way.

After Mao conquered China in 1949, his secret goal was to dominate the world. In chasing this dream he caused the deaths of 38 million people in the greatest famine in history. In all, well over 70 million Chinese perished under Mao’s rule - in peacetime.

Combining meticulous research with the story-telling style of Wild Swans, this biography offers a harrowing portrait of Mao’s ruthless accumulation of power through the exercise of terror: his first victims were the peasants, then the intellectuals and, finally, the inner circle of his own advisors. The listeners enters the shadowy chambers of Mao’s court and eavesdrops on the drama in its hidden recesses. Mao’s character and the enormity of his behavior toward his wives, mistresses and children are unveiled for the first time.

This is an entirely fresh look at Mao in both content and approach. It will astonish historians and the general listener alike.

©2005 Jung Chang and Jon Halliday (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Sweeping." (Publishers Weekly)

"Chang and Halliday cast new and revealing light on nearly every episode in Mao's tumultuous life…a stupendous work and one hopes that it will be brought before the Chinese people, who still claim to venerate the man and who have yet to come to terms with their own history...." (Michael Yahuda, The Guardian)

"Boasts a monumental marshaling of detail and historiographically overturning revelations." (Booklist)

Excellent historical biography.

Wild Seans was great and this was equally fascinating. I was just a child and teen during the later years of Mao’s life and had no idea the depth of his depravity and terror towards his country.

Well written, well read & VERY interesting

Enjoyable even for someone like me who knew NOTHING about Mao or China prior to diving into this book. The book is lengthy and I have to admit that I did zone out in a couple places but this in no way detracted from my enjoyment or understanding of the story. There's a lot to take in here, but rather than being daunted by the length and detail of the book, I would highly recommend giving it a listen and taking in what you can.

Wao!

It's cliche, but I could listen to Robertson Dean read the phone book in one sitting. I love everything about his speech and mannerism. He's simply the best narrator there is.

I ripped through this 26hr book in under a month, which may be a new record. It's that good.

The slow rise from fey, middle class academic to brutal sociopath warrants the time it takes for make the journey. In that way, the structure of the book serves the story. Dictatorships don't happen overnight. They take thought, planning.and careful manipulation of those around you. What's stunning, though, is how this thoroughly unlikable man managed to starve and murder tens of millions of his own people and remain in power. Often, especially in the last half of the book, I found myself screaming at my iPod for the citizens to start an actual revolution against Mao.

If there's a moral to the book, it's that education is the key. Keep the people ignorant and illiterate and dictatorship is easy. Mao continued to read voraciously as he destroyed the books and culture of those he was supposed to protect. Knowledge is power. Ignorance is powerlessness. Get the book and get some knowledge.

Amazing book

This book was absolutely fantastic. It is meticulously researched and skillfully executed. I highly recommend it.

very interesting

What a story, I would like to better understand the average Chinese people who gave power to these monsters. Super interesting but emotionally draining voyaging through the vast human suffering.

A must read for today's politics.

it is impossible to understand the current state in China without understanding the influence of Mao. This is a must read.

The BEST book on what TRULY happened

Every person needs to read this!! The TRUTH of what Mao Zedung did to the population of a WHOLE country!! A MUST READ!!
He makes Hitler, Stalin, the Huns, Romans look mild, and humane!

Thorough but not unbiased

This book tells you just about all you’d want to know about Mao and his rise and rule. The author doesn’t constantly slam Mao, but it certainly slips out. I don’t fault the author too much as I don’t think it an easy task to talk about such a selfish and evil man and not out fourth a personal opinion.

A wide sweeping tale of history’s most megolomaniacal and greatest murderer

The book seemed well resesrch and very thorough. Really opened my eyes to the state of China throughout much of the 20th century. I do wish there was a chapter that elaborated on what happened after he passed, but I suppose it made sense for the book to end when he did.

Amazing Book

Extremely well-written account of a horrible person whose view of China was merely as an inexhaustible population of expendable people to be used and disposed of at will to achieve his selfish desire for absolute power. I suspect few in the West know the true history, let alone the poor people of China.