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Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom
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China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know (What Everyone Needs To Know®) 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition

by Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
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The need to understand this global giant has never been more pressing: China is constantly in the news, yet conflicting impressions abound. Within one generation, China has transformed from an impoverished, repressive state into an economic and political powerhouse. In the fully revised and updated second edition of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know, China expert Jeffrey Wasserstrom provides cogent answers to the most urgent questions regarding the newest superpower, and offers a framework for understanding its meteoric rise.

Focusing his answers through the historical legacies--Western and Japanese imperialism, the Mao era, and the massacre near Tiananmen Square--that largely define China's present-day trajectory, Wasserstrom introduces readers to the Chinese Communist Party, the building boom in Shanghai, and the environmental fall-out of rapid Chinese industrialization. He also explains unique aspects of Chinese culture such as the one-child policy, and provides insight into how Chinese view Americans.

Wasserstrom reveals that China today shares many traits with other industrialized nations during their periods of development, in particular the United States during its rapid industrialization in the 19th century. He provides guidance on the ways we can expect China to act in the future vis-à-vis the United States, Russia, India, and its East Asian neighbors. The second edition has also been updated to take into account changes China has seen in just the past two years, from the global economic shifts to the recent removal of Chongqing Party Secretary Bo Xilai from power.

Concise and insightful, China in the 21st Century provides an excellent introduction to this significant global power.
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  1. Edition
    2nd
  2. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  3. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  4. Publication date
    May 31, 2013
  5. Part of series
    What Everyone Needs To Know?
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    1203 KB
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW About This Series

Who it's for:

Busy people with diverse interests, ranging from college students to professionals, who wish to inform themselves in a succinct yet authoritative manner about a particular topic.

What's inside:

An incisive approach to a complex and timely issue, laid out in a straight-forward, question-and-answer format.

Meet Our Authors

Top experts in their given fields, ranging from an Economist correspondent to a director at the Council on Foreign Relations, you can trust our authors’ expertise and guidance.

Popular Topics in the "What Everyone Needs to Know" Series

  • International Politics
  • Environmental Policies
  • World History
  • Sciences & Math
  • Religion & Spirituality

Review

Praise for the first edition:

"Wasserstrom has accomplished a remarkable feat: melding the insights from deep scholarly immersion in history with an up-to-the-minute grasp on contemporary developments in China and beyond. Written in a crisp prose,...questions big and small, alarmingly complex and deceptively simple--from who Confucius was to how the Communists defeated the Nationalists and whether China was bent on world domination--are answered with aplomb and precision.... I for one am grateful to have this little book in hand when I greet the next round of fresh-faced undergraduates coming to my classes wishing to know something about 'China.'"--Haiyan Lee, Stanford University

"Wasserstrom is a sure-footed guide through the thickets of China's history and the turbo-driven landscape of its current affairs. Indispensable reading."--Andrew Ross, author of Fast Boat to China: Lessons from Shanghai

"Readers who know a fair bit about China already will be left better informed, looking at what they already knew in another light. Readers new to the subject couldn't start in a better place."--Urbanatomy.com

"Wasserstrom, a preeminent scholar of Chinese history, here provides a useful resource for those who want a greater understanding of the how and why of China's emergence as a global power."--Library Journal

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CTMXCX4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 2nd edition (May 31, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 31, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1203 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 195 pages
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom

Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom

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Jeffrey Wasserstrom is the author of four books on China and the editor or co-editor of several more, including most recently Chinese Characters: Profiles of Fast-Changing Lives in a Fast-Changing Land, which contains chapters by both fellow academics and such acclaimed journalists as Peter Hessler, Leslie T. Chang, Evan Osnos, and Ian Johnson. Wasserstrom is a Professor of History at the University of California, Irvine and the Editor of the Journal of Asian Studies. He is also the Asia editor of the Los Angeles Review of Books, an Associate Fellow of the Asia Society, and a co-founder of the "China Beat" blog.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars China knowledge for today
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2021
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Excellent explanation of China in the modern world with additional suggestions to help the reader gain still more knowledge and insight.
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George Fulmore
4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good Overview of China
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2014
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I've read a bunch of books on China. I try to learn more from each one. But it is hard for me to evaluate a book on China as a first book a reader might want to read. At the same time, this book might be a good pick for that.

It is certainly comprehensive in its approach. Part I is on China's historical legacies. This section gives the reader background on Confucius and Confucianism, for example. It also covers the history of the dynasties, then goes into the modern history of China. This includes the Opium War, The Taiping Uprising and China's last emperor. Then, there is an overview of what happens from Sun Yat-sen, through Chang Kai-shek and Chairman Mao. At this point, you are half way through the book.

Along the way, you get some insights not found elsewhere. For example, the author equates Mao with our President Andrew Jackson. Jackson is still on our $20 bill; Mao is on all Chinese bills. Both of these guys went through murderous periods that cancel out much of what they did well. This helps explain a bit why Mao has not been condemned as much in China as he deserves.

The second part of the book starts with information on Deng Xiaoping, who is heralded as being the architect of modern China. He, of course, was in charge when the Tiananmen Square uprising took place. One million protestors were involved. The author points out that most of the victims of the massacre were not students, but working Chinese people.

The author points out that the successes of the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai World's Expo were what really catapulted China into being recognized by the rest of the world as a major economic power. He draws parallels here with the emergence of the U.S. hosting its first international events. And, we all can also see a parallel with the recent success in Brazil with the 2014 World Cup. The importance of being on the world stage, and then being successful, cannot be overlooked. Those events were great achievements for China.

The paperwork edition that I read was written before Xi Jinping took over as the head of the People's Republic of China, so it was not possible for the author to discuss the projected implications of his leadership; thus, we are left with some chapters on China-U.S. relationships that do not mention him.
Says the author about what is most misunderstood by Americans concerning China: it is the media. Media in China, of course, is state-controlled. But that has its limitations, especially in the world of digital connectivity. The author does not think that the Chinese press is all that controlled. He also poo-poos the idea that China wants to "take over the world." No, China has much more work to do in its effort to make itself a country of cities. It has a great deal more to make multiple things work: transportation, pollution-reduction, affordable housing, private banking, etc.

Corruption and credibility are high on the lists of issues for modern China. Interestingly, the author thinks that the Chinese people are less concerned with democracy than in being assured that their one-party governmental system can serve them well.

At the end of the book, the author says that he hopes the reader has a better understanding of China. He hopes that a comparable book will be written for the Chinese, so that they can have a better understanding of the U.S.
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Mustafa
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021
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book is a clean and new . fast shipping Thanks!
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Mustafa
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021
book is a clean and new . fast shipping Thanks!
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Jason D. Sands
3.0 out of 5 stars Overview
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2016
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I read this for a class and it's a good Cliff's Notes sort of summary of recent Chinese history. It's good if you want get up to speed quickly.
2 people found this helpful
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Too old to be a geek
5.0 out of 5 stars Good readable reference
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2014
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Recommended by a friend so I gave it a shot. Smooth and readable. This edition is up to date and covers some of the recent challenges in china.
One person found this helpful
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Patricia Y A Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars Good summary
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2016
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Good summary of all things China. Not terribly detailed, but enough information so you know the basics. I recommend it.
One person found this helpful
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Peter Thompson
2.0 out of 5 stars Not a probe into social issues in China....
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2015
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The tone of the book was one of conciliation, which I felt was a little condescending. Issues in China which are dealing with human rights were glossed over, and as is traditional in Chinese sponsored propaganda, there was a section that described the Opium war period, and how that still affects the actions of the people, and the government. I am sure this book was blessed by the PRC Media and Propaganda department. I was very disappointed.
4 people found this helpful
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Kent Pace
4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2017
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Very informative for those striving to understand In a more comprehensive overview of China ( the differences and similarities) between China, the U.S. and countries and political and social/economic systems of the past, present and future possible reactions.
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Top reviews from other countries

Uppal1949
5.0 out of 5 stars Organized and Informative
Reviewed in Canada on May 3, 2017
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I chose this because I kept seeing it as a suggestion. As an avid China follower I was skeptical about this book, but the format makes this book a great reference guide. Each page is a Q and A about the current topic. A surprisingly good read.
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Charlotte
5.0 out of 5 stars Five star book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2013
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
This book is not a narrative history of China in the 21C but rather a series of short articles on a number of topics arranged under the following headings: Historical legacies, Imperial China, Revolutions and Revolutionaries, From Mao to Now, US China Misunderstandings, The Future. It can be read from begining to end, or just items of interest to the reader, or as a dictionary/encylopaedia. This format works well for a complex subject. Recommended.
Rating 5 out of 5.
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12stringbassist
5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding China.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 17, 2013
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As a recent visitor to China, I was naturally very interested when this book popped up on Amazon.

It goes right back into the past and explains how some dynsties rose and fell, descibes the effects of old wars, as well as coming up-to-date, positing opinions on where China will go in the future, religion, the big-brother state (no Facebook or Youtube), age divides, the one-child policy (while exploding myths), among a huge range of topics. It recommends a lot of other reading.

I enjoyed this book. It's a light-reading version of the social and economic history of China, written in short topics that are easily understood and digested.

Recommended.
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TheShopaholic
4.0 out of 5 stars Finally a modern history of China
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2014
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I used to travel to China on a monthly basis for business and I personally saw the most dramatic changes happen between 1996 and 1999. Most books on Chinese history are of those years from thousands of years BC up to about 1949 and the only modern stuff is focused on business or Chinese economy. It was refreshing to find a book covering culture but very up to date. China is now the second largest economy in the world and this has had a dramatic impact on its younger generations. I guess we really don't see Chinese youth culture as being like the West, but more and more it is. This book was very enlightening and a very enjoyable read. China is nothing like it used to be and I would imagine there will be revisions to keep this up to date. A good balance of young and old, culture and economy etc. I very much enjoyed this.
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Nish Pfister
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2014
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This book has a very good mix of in depth information presented in concise bits. It makes it easy to read.
The author is very knowledgeable about China and presents a balanced view. It shows that he likes China, he is sympathetic, but he does not shy away from any awkward or controversial themes. I'm very impressed how well chosen all the parts are that make this book.
China has such a long history, what to mention, what to leave out .. I am much better informed and have gained understanding not just of China and its people, but also of the sensitive issues between China and its neighbours, China and the old colonial powers, and China and USA. China plays such an important role now, economically and politically, this book delivers the information to get up to date and help you understand, because it delivers the background information needed.
The structure of the book with posing questions for titles works well and makes it easy to look up some specific background information.
The one thing I don't like is the title page, although I can see what they wanted to do, presenting pictures of two extremes of modern China.
But as I said, I'm very impressed how the author managed to select so much information and compress it into this book.
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