Description
Book SynopsisUnder Mao, the traditional Chinese ideal of 'harmony between heaven and humans' was abrogated in favor of Mao's insistence that 'people will conquer nature'. Mao and the Chinese Communist Party's 'war' to bend the physical world to human will often had disastrous consequences both for human beings and the natural environment.
Trade Review'Shapiro's well-written book … tells a shocking story that needs to be told.' Crispin Tickell, Nature
'Shapiro is a gifted storyteller, and the book is a fascinating read … a must-read for anyone interested in understanding not only all that the Chinese people have endured in their recent past but also how those turbulent times shape the current environment and future possibilities.' Elizabeth Economy, www.washingtonpost.com
'Both for readers interested in China's past and for those concerned about its future, the story Shapiro tells is a valuable account of Mao's regime - one of the last century's most tragic episodes.' Natural History
'… this illuminating book makes an important contribution to assessing the enormous damage done between the Communist takeover in 1949 and Mao's death in 1976. Shapiro is excellent at putting Mao's thought in its historical and cultural context.' China Review
Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Population, dams and political repression; 2. Deforestation, famine, and utopian urgency; 3. Grainfields in lakes and dogmatic uniformity; 4. War preparations and forcible relocations; 5. The legacy.
