Among the Braves

Hope, Struggle, and Exile in the Battle for Hong Kong and the Future of Global Democracy

De: Shibani Mahtani, Timothy McLaughlin

Narrado por: Jason Vu

Through the eyes of two frontline journalists comes a gripping narrative history of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement centered around a cast of core activists, culminating in the 2019 mass protests and Beijing's brutal crackdown.

Hong Kong was an experiment in governance. Handed back to China in 1997 after 156 years of British rule, it was meant to be a carve-out between hostile systems: a bridge between communism and capitalism, authoritarianism and liberal democracy. “One country, two systems” kept its media free, its courts independent and its protests boisterous, designed also to convince Taiwan of a peaceful solution to Beijing’s desire for reunification.

Yet this formulation excluded Hong Kong’s own people, their future negotiated by political titans in faraway capitals. In 2019, an ill-conceived law spear-headed by a sycophantic leader pushed millions to take to the streets in one of the most enduring protest movements the world has ever seen. Xi Jinping responded with a draconian national security law that sought not only to end the demonstrations but quash the “problem” of Hong Kongers’ identity and desire for freedom.

Reverend Chu, who believed Hong Kong had to carry the spirit of students at Tiananmen Square, saw his silver-haired comrades who birthed the city’s modern pro-democracy movement handcuffed and taken from their homes. Tommy, an art student radicalized into throwing Molotov cocktails, watched “braves” like him brutalized by police before his own arrest prompted him to flee. Finn epitomized the decentralized nature of the movement and its internet-fueled victories, but online anonymity couldn’t stop his life from unravelling. Gwyneth could predict her eventual fate when she chose to give up her career as a journalist to stand for election as an opposition candidate, and did it anyway.

In Among the Braves, Shibani Mahtani and Timothy McLaughlin tell the story of Hong Kong’s past, and what the sacrifices of its people mean for global democracy’s shaky foundation.

©2023 Shibani Mahtani and Timothy McLaughlin (P)2023 Hachette Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

"All of the fault lines shaping our world converged in the inspiring rise and tragic demise of Hong Kong’s protest movement—democracy and authoritarianism, capitalism and technology, nationalism and the individual yearning for liberty and community. In Among the Braves, Shibani Mahtani and Timothy McLaughlin tell a gripping, propulsive story that puts us inside the harrowing experience of people on the front lines of history, while also showing us the broader context of an increasingly assertive China determined to stamp out dissent. This is the very best kind of journalism—smart, painstaking, empathetic, and beautifully rendered.”—Ben Rhodes, author of After The Fall and The World As It Is

"Seamlessly weaving history with the personal stories of brave Hong Kongers fighting to preserve the spirit of their city, Mahtani and McLaughlin deliver a poignant must-read, as they dissect exactly how democracy and freedom are lost.”—Kim Ghattas, author of Black Wave and The Secretary

"Among the Braves is a piercing revelation….Mahtani and McLaughlin paint a vivid portrait of Hong Kong’s vibrant streets, once pulsating with hope and promise, now shrouded by the shadows of oppression. They bring us into the lives of remarkable individuals, unsung heroes—whose defiance against insurmountable odds transformed them into symbols of resistance and resilience….This is a must-read for anyone who cherishes liberty.”—Maria Ressa, co-founder, Rappler and co-recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize

Fantastic book detailing a tragedy in progress

This story is an amazing journey of the brave men and women fighting for their freedom against China's dominant fight against the survival of democracy. The writers give their first hand riveting portrayal of the lives of the braves and their fight for freedom from the front lines of Hong Kong. The narrator does a great job of leaving you speechless at the unfolding events and wanting to hear more.

A critical reminder of how things in Hong Kong changed

A sweeping documentation of how the social political environment changed quickly and violently in Hong Kong. It’s an important reminder how fragile all political systems are.

Interesting and educational

Such an interesting and educational narrative of the historic changes to Hong Kong and the people involved. The issues are complex, especially to those of us in the US. Yet those involved in trying to keep the independence of Hong Kong are true justice warriors. The transition from British crown colony to China is heartbreaking for so many. Fascinating book-highly recommend.