The Tyranny of History: The Roots of China's Crisis (Penguin History)

By W.J.F. Jenner

Book Overview

Based on a series of lectures given by Professor Jenner in New Zealand shortly after Tianenmen Square in 1989, this book examines the peculiarities of Chinese history, and of the unique burden that history places on present-day China, which the author sees in a state of serious crisis, possibly even of potential collapse. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0713990600
• ISBN13: 9780713990607
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 255 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

An Insightful But Dated Account of Societal Forces in China

I have twice read and cited Jenner's treatise for my doctoral studies on socio-cultural influences in Chinese education and have found his arguments compelling if not always convincing. This is a must-read for those wishing to gain the spectrum of sinological analysis but it should also be kept in proper context. This book was written in the immediate wake of the Tiananmen Massacre and is based on a series of lectures, as...

A lot of food for thought

Professor of Chinese and head of the China Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra, Dr. W.J.F. Jenner believes that China is in a crisis which it will find itself impossible to extricate itself from. First of all, China is in the grip of a tyranny of history, in which the Chinese culture can only look back towards traditional solutions to modern and unprecedented challenges. Secondly, Chinese history was written...

An Excellent Read

I could have done with a few more footnotes, but the lack thereof was not because of academic sloppiness. The author stated clearly at the beginning that this book was to be treated as merely his speculations on Chinese history. He hit the nail right on the head. Working here and talking to the people (either in Mandarin or English) you will see that people are very determined to live fixated in the 9th century or so. And...

Why China will never be what we'd like it to be

Jenner speaks as one who knows China, cares deeply about it, and has come to understand how it is handicapped by its culture. These handicaps affect it at all levels: family and local community as well as the highest levels of government. His verdict: don't expect a free, democratic, flexible society to develop there anytime soon. Western values (even the best of them) have had and will continue to have trouble being...

A sad but well informed report on China's reality

The virtue that this book has for me is that it had helped me a lot in better understanding the Chinese culture and traditions and, at the same time, the book offers a wide and valorative review of different aspects of Chinese life. The tirany of History is not just a title for a book. It seems to be too a permanent experience for millions of Chinese and other related peoples, who seem to be caught in a circular history...