Book · 2023 · Biography & Autobiography
Sparks
China's Underground Historians and Their Battle for the Future
Why people recommend it
Sparks by Ian Johnson is a compelling examination of grassroots historical preservation and political dissent in modern China. On The Ezra Klein Show episode titled The Wars in Ukraine and Gaza Have Changed. America’s Policy Hasn’t, published on March 1, 2024, Richard Haass recommended the book to the audience. Haass noted that the author, Ian Johnson, is a former colleague of his at the Council on Foreign Relations and described him as one of the leading historians of China in the United States. Furthermore, Haass highlighted the book's subtitle, which points to China's underground historians and their ongoing battle for the future of the nation's historical narrative. By recommending the work, Haass drew attention to the courageous efforts of independent writers, activists, and intellectuals striving to preserve true history in the face of strict state censorship and authoritarian control. The suggestion provided listeners with an insightful look into the subterranean political struggles shaping contemporary China, emphasizing the vital importance of historical truth and the resilience of those who risk their safety to document it.
Who recommended it
- Richard Haass Recommended
Richard Haass — 1 mention
“second book also by a former colleague of mine at the Council on Foreign Relations in this case Ian Johnson who's one of this country's leading historians of China wrote a book called Sparks and the subtitle is China's underground historians and their battle for the future”