[joreilly]

If anyone is looking for a relatively digestible book on China, I can wholeheartedly recommend On China by Henry Kissinger [1]. While he does tend to meander at some points, it gives a solid introduction to China's recent history (arrival of the British, the civil war, up to around 2010) and interactions with the United States throughout. At least, to someone who initially had very little knowledge on the topic.

[1]: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9328314-on-china

[snomad]

Highly recommend this one https://www.amazon.com/Burying-Mao-Richard-Baum/dp/069103637...

Here's the author's obituary, it does a nice job summarizing his expertise on the subject https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-richard-baum-...

[joreilly]

Thanks for the recommendation! I feel as though On China sacrificed detail to allow for greater scope, and it left me wanting for more information on certain periods.

[baybal2]

> I can wholeheartedly recommend On China by Henry Kissinger [1].

I will wholeheartedly not recommend anybody to read Kissinger.

The man has completely imaginary idea of what China is, and even more so about its leadership.

I can only lament at the fact that now multiple generations of Western politicians, and diplomats were grown upon his coolaid.

[joreilly]

I'm assuming you're referring to how softly he tip-toes around events like the Tiananmen Square Protests or the massive famine during the Great Leap Forward? If so, I certainly agree with you and many of the Goodreads reviewers in that his approach could be considered overly diplomatic. If anything, I think knowing the weaknesses of the book in advance is advantageous for weighing what Kissinger says throughout. If not, I'm curious to know your thoughts. My knowledge on China is limited to discussions with family friends who have some experience through their work, and this book, so I would not be surprised to know that I am severely lacking.