I buy a lot of books from Amazon. com, as I'm sure many of you do. Often they ask you sometime after the purchase to do a book review. The following is one I just did on Henry Kissinger's book "On China." Maybe it will whet your appetite!
REVIEW OF “ON CHINA” BY HENRY KISSINGER
I have read several of Henry Kissinger's books, beginning with "Diplomacy," and they have all been excellent, including "On China," which I just finished reading. In "On China" Kissinger first describes the country's known history, which stretches back thousands of years. You learn about the various dynasties––and hopefully can remember their order! He explains how China has always been and is still a unique country, not only because of its size, but also because of the way in which the Chinese "see themselves." Understanding the Chinese psyche was essential to Kissinger's success in obtaining US rapprochement with this country. China has never been eager to conquer other countries, Kissinger explains, but HAS been anxious about threats to its far-flung borders. How China has dealt with countries that have made incursions along its borders over the years is very interesting. For one thing, its huge size enables China to ABSORB such incursions and sometimes change those whom it absorbs.
This is a history book taking you from era through era, and then, beginning with President Nixon, from US administration through US administration up to the present day. You learn that in the years following Nixon's famous trip to China, it HASN'T been all smooth sailing for the United States. Every post-Nixon administration has had its China challenges, major or minor.
One often thinks of history books as being dry; “On China” is anything but dry. It is a fascinating and relatively easy read. Kissinger is not only a master of diplomacy, but of EXPLAINING diplomacy and the nuances of statecraft.
If you want to be better informed about this great Asian nation and how she fits into the modern world, “On China” is a must-read.
Harry should have nuked them in the 50s
ReplyDeleteMike
Hi Mike,
DeleteIt's interesting you bring that up. One of the things Kissinger learned in his many talks with Mao was that Mao never feared being nuked by the nuclear powers (the US or Soviet Union). Mao believed that China, unlike almost all other countries, with its billion people (now 1.5 billion, I understand) could absorb nuclear devastation and rise again. Of course Mao, like Hitler and Stalin, was a murderer of millions, so what did he care?. Mao and Zhou en Lai, his "chief of staff," had very different personalities. It is amazing they could work together, but there was no question about who was the boss.