Wealth and Power

Why people recommend it

Wealth and Power: China's Long March to the Twenty-First Century by Orville Schell and John Delury is a sweeping historical narrative that traces China's modern political evolution through the lives and ideas of key thinkers and leaders from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. On The Ezra Klein Show, Fareed Zakaria recommended Orville Schell and John Delury's book as a great primer on China's past and present. During the episode titled Fareed Zakaria on Where Russia’s War in Ukraine Stands — and Much More, which aired on June 2, 2023, Zakaria discussed a book he had read about China that he felt really conveyed some of the nation's past and present very well. He praised both authors as great China scholars and expert watchers, emphasizing that the volume tells the compelling story of China from 1850 onward. The book highlights how generations of Chinese reformers, revolutionaries, and statesmen grappled with the twin imperatives of acquiring national wealth and projecting geopolitical power in response to Western and Japanese imperialism. Zakaria's recommendation pointed listeners toward a comprehensive resource for understanding the historical grievances, ambitions, and ideological motivations driving modern Chinese foreign policy and domestic governance on the global stage.

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