China's Leaders

From Mao to Now

By: David Shambaugh

Narrated by: Nancy Wu

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China over seventy years ago, five paramount leaders have shaped the fates and fortunes of the nation and the ruling Chinese Communist Party: Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping. Under their leaderships, China has undergone an extraordinary transformation from an undeveloped and insular country to a comprehensive world power.

In this definitive study, renowned Sinologist David Shambaugh offers a refreshing account of China's dramatic post-revolutionary history through the prism of those who ruled it. Exploring the persona, formative socialization, psychology, and professional experiences of each leader, Shambaugh shows how their differing leadership styles and tactics of rule shaped China domestically and internationally: Mao was a populist tyrant, Deng a pragmatic Leninist, Jiang a bureaucratic politician, Hu a technocratic apparatchik, and Xi a modern emperor. Covering the full scope of these leaders' personalities and power, this is an illuminating guide to China's modern history and understanding how China has become the superpower of today.

©2021 David Shambaugh (P)2022 Tantor

That’s the book every student at China-related major should read

This book is just fantastic! Well-structured, clear and thought provoking. A masterpiece. I enjoyed it to the extent that I bought both an audiobook and a paper version.

History of China

History of China and it’s leaders is a must read to understand this country and it’s goals. Communism is incredibly scary!

China Exposed!

The top-down authoritarian government will implode! Everyone deceives each other to obtain wealth and power!

Very Informative

Was very informative. Dives more into the personality of each leader as well as their upbringing which is neat.

More than Leaders, great survey of Post-Mao China

Does a great job, keeping it interesting, describing Modern China,. it is actually more than about the leaders, gives the reader a better understanding of how the Chinese government works.