China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power

By Juliet David

Book Overview

The definitive book on China's uneasy transformation into an economic and political superpower, and an insightful and thought-provoking analysis of daily life in China from the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and bestselling authors of Half a Sky. "Nick Kristof's and Sheryl WuDunn's work as correspondents in China was beyond compare, and now they have written a book every bit as astonishing. China Wakes is filled with anecdote, detail, and analysis of the highest order.... This book demands reading, and yet it is a pleasure as well as an education." --David Remnick, Editor of The New Yorker Featuring 16 pages of photos This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679763937
• ISBN13: 9780679763932
• Release Date: August 1995
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 523 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 1.2" x 5.2"

Customer Reviews

mirror images of China's struggle for democracy

This book is not only a perfect example of bravery and perfectionism in journalism; it is also a breathtaking and multi-faceted analysis of China's realities elaborated by two professional journalists. As a reader interested in the struggle for democracy and transparency in the world, I have had the chance to explore the extreme and intense examples of a country's painful struggle for its future.

What makes China tick? The answer starts here.

Modern China is an immensely complicated subject, but of the half dozen books I've read on it, this is by far the best at giving you a feeling and understanding of what China is today and why. While it does not capture all the international political, economic, and strategic issues related to China, it gives you some cultural insight into the country that would only come if you lived there yourself.For those new to China,...

As accurate as any educated American could write.

I read this book after WILD SWANS and RED AZALEA and a trip to China in June, 1999. It verified everything I read and saw. The facades are still being built for the 50th anniversary celebration. There is still the paranoia about the US. Most particularly, the authors are on target when they say the term "'China expert' is an oxymoron." Any student of China should reread the Hindu story of the blind men and the elephant...

Riveting, Painful, Harsh

The book was unique with the couple writing alternate chapters that give 2 views each, from a Caucasian and a third generation Chinese. This made a startling difference from other books. That perhaps was what made it such a riveting read, making it difficult to accuse the author of being biased. The contents painful for me to see the many wrong doings of people of my race, as well as the many innocent people who suffered...

Well writen, interesting insight to China's customs, etc.

This is an easy to read book on China that gives some of the insight needed to understand "where" the Chinese "come from" and how they are making steps into the future. I found that I want to read this book again, and again, certain that I will get even more understanding of the culture-past and the culture-future that is taking shape in that continent. These two exceptional authors write with insight and clear descriptions...