Out of Mao's Shadow

Philip P Pan's groundbreaking book takes us inside the dramatic battle for China's soul and into the lives of individuals struggling to come to terms with their nation's past - the turmoil and trauma of Mao's rule - and to take control of its future. Capitalism has brought prosperity and global respect to China, but the Communist government continues to resist the demands of its people for political freedom. Pan, who reported in China for the Post for seven years and speaks fluent Chinese, eluded the police and succeeded in going where few Western journalists have dared. From the rusting factories in the industrial northeast to a tabloid newsroom in the booming south, from a small-town courtroom to the plush offices of the nation's wealthiest tycoons, he tells the gripping stories of ordinary men and women fighting for political change. This is a book of individual testimonies that seeks to answer one of the most pressing questions of our age: will China become a democracy, a dictatorship, or something in between - and how will this outcome for China affect not only the lives of its population, but the rest of the world?