The Hundred-Year Marathon

By: Michael Pillsbury

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

One of the US government's leading China experts reveals the hidden strategy fueling that country's rise - and how Americans have been seduced into helping China overtake us as the world's leading superpower.

For more than 40 years, the United States has played an indispensable role in helping the Chinese government build a booming economy, develop its scientific and military capabilities, and take its place on the world stage in the belief that China's rise will bring us cooperation, diplomacy, and free trade. But what if the "China dream" is to replace us, just as America replaced the British Empire, without firing a shot?

Based on interviews with Chinese defectors and newly declassified, previously undisclosed national security documents, The Hundred-Year Marathon reveals China's secret strategy to supplant the United States as the world's dominant power and to do so by 2049, the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. Michael Pillsbury, a fluent Mandarin speaker who has served in senior national security positions in the US government since the days of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, draws on his decades of contact with the "hawks" in China's military and intelligence agencies and translates their documents, speeches, and books to show how the teachings of traditional Chinese statecraft underpin their actions. He offers an inside look at how the Chinese really view America and its leaders - as barbarians who will be the architects of their own demise.

Pillsbury also explains how the US government has helped - sometimes unwittingly and sometimes deliberately - to make this "China dream" come true, and he calls for the United States to implement a new, more competitive strategy toward China as it really is and not as we might wish it to be. The Hundred-Year Marathon is a wake-up call as we face the greatest national security challenge of the 21st century.

©2015 Michael Pillsbury (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Hawkish!

Brings up plenty of good points to ponder but little to act on outside of policy makers. Also, the rhetoric is so anti-Chinese that it brings many of his accusations into question. Good audio book but im glad I didn't buy the paper copy.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Fascinating perspective.

This is the 3rd book in a row that I've read on China. For some it may be helpful to learn more of China's history and culture before jumping into Pillsbury's book. I recommend "The China Mirage" by James Bradley and then "On China" by Henry Kissinger -- both available from Audible.

Pillsbury apparently writes from deep experience and admits that some of his past opinions on China's cooperative behavior have now changed. His revelations and warnings are very compelling.

Definitely worth a read.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Terrifying and incredibly insightful

Backs up everything I know about China and Asian Confucian thinking. A must read and sobering look into past failures with China and China's future goals for it's place in the world. As for America, if it does not even know it is in a competition, it seems doomed to fail.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

Narrow storyline repeated ad nausium. Boring .because it was too repetitive. He said the same thing over and over just like this review.

5 of 9 people found this review helpful

A wake-up call

An important book that should be a wake-up call to Americans about our policy toward China.

Important book to understand China

Helps understand President Trumps approach to China and the reasons why his approach is in our best interests.

INSIGHTFUL!

The United States needs to wake up. Hopefully, China can rise peacefully to be a force for good and freedom in the world, along with an improved USA.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10 STARS

Grateful for this book..I am a fashion designer and I will focus on “MADE IN AMERICA” vs China Sooo many great life lessons in this book as well... I listen to this book on audible in 3 days... so informative

do not trust anyone

could have gotten the message across in far fewer words
however I do not think we are better

Must read for understanding China today

Fascinating, intriguing, sometimes frightening narrative of what Chinese leadership is planning for it’s future; intentionally hidden from western eyes leading to current misunderstandings of the strategy & policy of China today. Invaluable contribution for awareness and understanding of what is and what is not a threat our future.