What do you think?
Rate this book
The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin’s life and leadership sweep through almost eighty tumultuous years of Chinese Japanese occupation, Civil War, Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution, Tiananmen Square, and, more recently, dramatic economic growth, tensions with Taiwan, and opportunities and confrontations with America. Jiang’s story is an epic of war, deprivation, revolution, political turmoil, social convulsion, economic reform, national transformation, and international resurgence. To Robert Lawrence Kuhn, a longtime China observer, understanding the legacy of Jiang Zemin is essential for understanding the challenges of contemporary China. By examining Jiang’s life, we observe the clash between China’s traditional culture and chaotic history, and we appreciate how its changes impact the entire world.
In The Man Who Changed China , Kuhn, who was cited by the Asian Wall Street Journal for the “unprecedented access” he was given in the course of writing this book, has produced what the Journal called “probably the closest thing to an authorized biography that’s possible in Communist China.” Here a reader will find a complex and nuanced portrait of China’s senior leader, whose policies continue to exert great influence over the course of his country. Kuhn offers insight into how the Japanese occupation during Jiang’s teenage years imprinted his psyche for life, how he became a Communist, and how, decades later, he struggled to transform the Party in the face of withering criticism.
In a sense, Kuhn argues, Jiang’s early skeptics got it He was a transitional figure—but not in the way they had meant. With unshakable if paternalistic vision, a lifelong love of Chinese civilization, and backroom political skills that no one had anticipated, Jiang Zemin became an unexpected agent of change, effecting the transition from a traumatized society to a confident, prosperous country rapidly ascending in the new world order. Kuhn shows how Jiang led China through an amazing metamorphosis—from a fretful country destabilized by the turmoil and crackdown in Tiananmen Square into a vibrant nation that became a primary engine of global economic growth. Above all Jiang is a Chinese patriot—and it is important to appreciate what that really means. In offering this unusually intimate and comprehensive personal and political biography, Kuhn demonstrates that Jiang Zemin’s life personifies the history of contemporary China, giving invaluable insight into what China is today and will become in the future.
In The Man Who Changed China , Kuhn, who was cited by the Asian Wall Street Journal for the “unprecedented access” he was given in the course of writing this book, has produced what the Journal called “probably the closest thing to an authorized biography that’s possible in Communist China.” Here a reader will find a complex and nuanced portrait of China’s senior leader, whose policies continue to exert great influence over the course of his country. Kuhn offers insight into how the Japanese occupation during Jiang’s teenage years imprinted his psyche for life, how he became a Communist, and how, decades later, he struggled to transform the Party in the face of withering criticism.
In a sense, Kuhn argues, Jiang’s early skeptics got it He was a transitional figure—but not in the way they had meant. With unshakable if paternalistic vision, a lifelong love of Chinese civilization, and backroom political skills that no one had anticipated, Jiang Zemin became an unexpected agent of change, effecting the transition from a traumatized society to a confident, prosperous country rapidly ascending in the new world order. Kuhn shows how Jiang led China through an amazing metamorphosis—from a fretful country destabilized by the turmoil and crackdown in Tiananmen Square into a vibrant nation that became a primary engine of global economic growth. Above all Jiang is a Chinese patriot—and it is important to appreciate what that really means. In offering this unusually intimate and comprehensive personal and political biography, Kuhn demonstrates that Jiang Zemin’s life personifies the history of contemporary China, giving invaluable insight into what China is today and will become in the future.
720 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2005
About the author
Robert Lawrence Kuhn
66 books20 followersRobert Lawrence Kuhn is a public intellectual, international corporate strategist and investment banker. He has been called “one of the Western world’s most prolific interpreters of Beijing’s policies.” He holds a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), SM in Management (MIT), and PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA). Dr. Kuhn has published over 30 books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 24, 2020
The new generation gradually forget the history. They despise their government on almost every topic without reason. But it's undeniable that they are able to choose their life path and admire all values now. China is by no means the best country to live yet but neither the worst after all. Jiang managed to convert China from the darkest to something brighter.
April 12, 2018
学习知识，谈笑风生。
December 15, 2022
“苟利国家生死以 岂因祸福避趋之”
江主席的政治生涯诠释了什么叫“治大国如烹小鲜”。在中国处于一个转型的关键时期，他在国家的政治，经济，外交，军事，文化方方面面都贯彻了中国的“中庸文化”，平衡了方方面面的利益：在政治上有中央集权和地方利益的平衡，有新老政治人物权利的平衡，有“进步”和“保守”的平衡。在经济上有“市场”和“计划”的平衡，“国企”和“私企”的平衡，“入世”和“不入世”的平衡，在外交上主要是中美关系“近之则不逊，远之则怨”的平衡，中台关系的平衡。军事方面有“反腐败”和“军队忠诚”的平衡。文化有文艺的“政治性”和“自由性”的平衡。
长者以他高超的政治艺术和人格魅力在中国内政外交都在转型的关键时期，使出“乾坤大挪移”，成功让中国完成了一个很大的国家转型。遗憾的是，很多时候政治的艺术性过于依赖政治家本人的魅力，建设的“心照不宣”的规定因缺少透明和监督而很难抵御继任者肆意的冲击。及至“小学皇帝”登基，倒行逆施，改宪法，锁国家，“多数决”成了“一言堂”，不可谓不悲。
江主席的政治生涯诠释了什么叫“治大国如烹小鲜”。在中国处于一个转型的关键时期，他在国家的政治，经济，外交，军事，文化方方面面都贯彻了中国的“中庸文化”，平衡了方方面面的利益：在政治上有中央集权和地方利益的平衡，有新老政治人物权利的平衡，有“进步”和“保守”的平衡。在经济上有“市场”和“计划”的平衡，“国企”和“私企”的平衡，“入世”和“不入世”的平衡，在外交上主要是中美关系“近之则不逊，远之则怨”的平衡，中台关系的平衡。军事方面有“反腐败”和“军队忠诚”的平衡。文化有文艺的“政治性”和“自由性”的平衡。
长者以他高超的政治艺术和人格魅力在中国内政外交都在转型的关键时期，使出“乾坤大挪移”，成功让中国完成了一个很大的国家转型。遗憾的是，很多时候政治的艺术性过于依赖政治家本人的魅力，建设的“心照不宣”的规定因缺少透明和监督而很难抵御继任者肆意的冲击。及至“小学皇帝”登基，倒行逆施，改宪法，锁国家，“多数决”成了“一言堂”，不可谓不悲。
March 21, 2018
A great book for insight of Jiang Zemin's life's. It takes you through this life journey, showing his progress in life but gleams only of his mind and personal thoughts. Closing the last page somehow leaves one's mouth with a strong propagandized aftertaste.
September 30, 2020
讀完後無比明瞭為什麼幾年前有人將此書封面P成今上&「他又改回去了」。縱然江在思想立場上有其雙重標準之處，他確實是個行動上的聰明人，彼時中國的言論自由、文藝發展、技術之腳踏實地、國際關係在他治下達到前無古人後無來者的巔峰，如今已在總加速師的作踐下一去不返。
June 22, 2021
340-The Man Who Changed China-Robert Kuhn-Biography-1944
Barack
2021/06/21
" The Man Who Changed China ", the first edition was published in 2005. It is a biography of Chinese leaders.
Robert Kuhn was born in New York, America in 1944. Studied at Johns Hopkins University, the University of California at Los Angeles, MIT Sloan School of Management. He is the recipient of the China Reform Friendship Medal, the highest award in China; he is a long-term consultant for Chinese leaders, the Chinese government, and multinational companies in China’s strategy and transactions, and he is frequently involved in China’s politics, economy, business, finance, philosophy, and science. Post a comment. Representative works: " The Man Who Changed China " and so on.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 • 1926—1943
" My Background Is My Family"
Chapter 2 • 1943—1947
" I Am a Patriot" 35
Chapter 3 • 1947—1955
" I Am an Engineer"
Chapter 4 • 1955—1962
" I Love Talent"
Chapter 5 • 1962—1976
" A Period of Unprecedented Destruction"
Chapter 6 • 1976—1985
" It Was My Habit to Learn on the Job"
Chapter 7 • 1985—1986
" Talk Less and Do More"
Chapter 8 • 1986—1989
" How Could I Not Know?"
Chapter 9 • January—May 1989
" Get Prepared for a Protracted Struggle"
Chapter 10 • May—June 1989
" I Feel the Heavy Burden on My Shoulders"
" 1989 years mired in the People's Republic of China 40 largest since the founding of years ago, all kinds of crisis in the world gaze at a large number of student protesters gathered in the Chinese capital Beijing in the heart -. Tiananmen Square "
Protest and innovation are important, but they cannot shake the foundation of the country and the foundation of governance. Because once this happens, the response of the authorities must be strong and merciless.
" Finally, the participating leaders to jointly decide the action taken steps, the first step is to suspend negotiations on China's accession to the World Trade Organization's military and arms control negotiations between the pause and Washington and asked the United States for compensation for the attack in China The loss suffered in the incident. "
For China at that time, a top priority was to join the World Trade Organization, and to be able to achieve this goal, it must be approved by the United States. If the United States does not let go, it will be difficult for China to achieve this goal. The order even if others are bullied up to the door, and we can only break the teeth and swallow tears.
In the final analysis, it is still because of insufficient strength to adapt to the requirements. Today, 20 years later, even though China’s overall strength still has a huge gap compared with that of the United States, at least the countermeasures we can take are more drastic. It is not that the Chinese have become tougher today, but only because of their strength.
" The next day, China's official media striking the reported Clinton's apology, the crisis of the heat reached its peak after beginning to fade. All are on the front page of national newspapers reported the Clinton apologized for things and also reported in a prominent position the appeal to the Chinese people turn grief into strength, to build China into a future not be again subjected to similar bullying powerful country. "
This incident that occurred has exceeded 2 0 years, today we look back on this event, still can not help feeling compromises the year, Imagine, if there is any country in the world dares mistaken bombing of the US Consulate, the consequences will be How terrible.
" This Ze is the same word as Mao's Ze, but Mao's name means Zebei Dongfang, and the name Jiang means Zebei the people. "
Almost most of the child's name, has its good moral, but how can we judge by name in advance only on the child in the future success of it? Wait until the children have grown up after, has been made into a glorious time, and then praise the name to get good, too little hindsight is suspect.
" Later, once recalled, national hero Shi Kefa tomb in his hometown of Yangzhou, when the Japanese invasion of China, he and his classmates Sunday often go to pay homage, when I see couplet on the tombstone," Plum subjugation tears a few points, two clear May Gu Chen heart ", then stirred a Japanese passion, determination determined effort to study, to set good of national integrity. "
Culture and history are such things. Although descendants may be hundreds or even thousands of years away from their predecessors, when they hear the deeds of their predecessors and see the relics left by their predecessors, There is some kind of power that travels through time and space, shaking the hearts of future generations. This kind of power transcends the material, it is incredible power in human civilization.
" Then just after sunset, Jiang Shangqing led the way, was immediately hit by a hail fell from the ride of white in the case of unprepared, heroic sacrifice, only 28 years old. "
The so-called Queer, revolutionary activity is to wade past the dead mountain sea of blood, any time of lightly, they are likely to lead to the risk of killing. Like him this sacrifice of many people, many people can stay in something very small, can also precisely because there are so many such ordinary people, China today peace and power were able to cast.
" In some Chinese people, 1976 years earth-shattering year. 3 months, a huge meteor in Jilin Province over the explosions, drag light rain, falling rocks poured down, covering 500 square miles of land. 7 Yue, 20 the most devastating earthquake destroyed Tangshan century, 24 million people were killed. politics on also the same happened upheaval. 1 Yue 8 days, weeks, after a long struggle with cancer, died, 150 million people lined up, watched him the coffin departed. 8 months, 9 months 9 midnight May had 10 points, the great helmsman Mao's death, at the age of 83 years old. his death marks the end of an era. For country and down wearing black armbands and white flowers, from the bottom feelings of sadness people tears torrential, however, they are also uneasy to look forward to what happens next. "
Reason tells us that although some things happen at a similar time, they should be just coincidences, but sensibility makes us feel that this is a certain kind of prediction in the dark. At the current level of human understanding, there is probably still no way to figure out the connection between nature and humans, right?
" Jiang is very adapt to this conservative environment. The following year, two deputy ministerial posts and brushed past him, so many cadres rehabilitated, so that all key positions are filled with candidates. River at 52 years old when in a career crisis. Jiang considering leaving the government to university teaching, 10 years later, he considered it a chance. "
Although they are those great men who have profoundly influenced history, in fact, when facing the future, they are full of many unknowns and uncertainties about their own destiny. What's more, ordinary people? Anxiety has no meaning, only keep a clear mind, be cautious, work hard, and try to control what we can control. It's up to people to make things and heaven to make things happen, and the rest of the results will be handed over to destiny.
" Transition period is over, Deng takes charge of the power. This is a solemn moment: Deng. China will organize and promote the history of the biggest growth onrush "
We look back 4 0 Shi this decision years ago, can not help feeling that, had China choose this path, at least on the economic level in terms of these paper strength, our progress is something of a miracle. Also, this is not without cost by leaps and bounds, over the past 4 0 years have accumulated a lot of other social problems, but this is not our generation's historical mission it? The younger generation has to do, it is how to solve these problems. Our fathers have solved many problems for us. What face do we have to leave these problems to the next generation? They will have to face their challenges, which is 3 0 things years after the.
June 17, 2008
The events in China today are inpacting the world at large. Prices of metals, energy, concrete are driven by the fact that they are using much of the worlds output in their efforts to modernize.Zemen is the person who opened up China to what they call Socialist Market Communism which is a form of capitalism under a Chinese label.
June 14, 2021
Started with the English version then switched to the Chinese. Finished within 10 days. Great book and details. Went up to YouTube to check out the interview with Wallace. Although some parts of the books feel a little bit exaggerated, most parts are objective and fair.
June 7, 2008
It's a propaganda book but thick and rich :p
March 25, 2021
A brilliant - if slanted - read for understanding China's history, economy, and culture through the lens of Jiang Zemin. Book details the many historic events which shaped Zemin's life (folk heroes, Japan's entry into China, the Chinese civil war, Mao's cultural onslaught, famine, western culture, and the impact of socialism in shaping China's opening to the world). Book explains in details the thinking of one of China's past leaders, and the economic paths which defined China's economy: from Mao's destructive ideas, to Deng's economic liberalization and the SEZs, as well as as Zemin's rocky but steady steps towards unleashing the power of developed - perhaps competitive - industrial sectors. Book however does not detail the protectionist policies and neo-mercantile strategies its deployed to become a global economic and military powerhouse!
Not forgetting the complex relations with the West with respect to Taiwan and Hong Kong, and how the interwoven power plays or relationships of Standing Committee members (which emerge from China's Central Committee - the country's own attempt at democracy) shape China's regional and global geopolitics!
Not forgetting the complex relations with the West with respect to Taiwan and Hong Kong, and how the interwoven power plays or relationships of Standing Committee members (which emerge from China's Central Committee - the country's own attempt at democracy) shape China's regional and global geopolitics!
July 4, 2023
its true if we say hard times always make a great man. i think if china don't have leader like jiang zemin maybe now china will same like north korea or maybe collapse like uni soviet. people may say this book is like propaganda but now the history tell us if his work in this book just propaganda or truth by see china right now
May 26, 2017
I want read this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2017
Clear chronological narrative based on the public material.
April 27, 2018
trước giờ cứ nghĩ Đặng Tiểu Bình là người thay đổi TQ, đọc xong quyển này vẫn nghĩ vậy.
August 31, 2018
great book!
October 9, 2021
历史发展是连续的，今天会有再看，这些都是渐变的，顺带补补其中的故事
December 17, 2021
长者是一个真实而有趣，极富感染力的人。这个书名，长者担得起，当之无愧。他的确改变了中国，方方面面，点点滴滴。
March 10, 2022
编年传记。很大篇幅是讲外交的，原因可能是经济改革是由朱镕基主导的，政治改革没有什么好强调的也没有突破，不外乎是反腐倡廉建设精神文明。总的来说相比其他书可以了，但不够好。
December 4, 2022
虽然似乎几多粉饰之词，但还是肯定那个最好最坏的年代。同行衬托，没有办法。“苟利国家生死以；岂因福祸避趋之。”
Read
December 17, 2022相比于物质文明和精神文明，在彼此攻歼成为常态的当下，如何发展政治文明（即政治制度与政治观念，对民众来说尤其是后者），提升政治素养，也是亟待思考的问题。
December 28, 2022
在忙着写proposal的间隙看完了美国作家罗伯特·劳伦斯·库恩写的长者的传记，写得真不错，文笔很有吸引力。曾对比过中外作家写的传记，国内的作家倾向于把人写成神，外国的作家倾向于把人写成真实的人。这可能是我喜欢读外国人写的传记。
January 4, 2023
我初中初讀本書的時候覺得十分驚艷，不止寫了江的一生，還寫了毛時代的許多往事。然而後來隨著閱讀量的增加，覺得本書乏善可陳，可能是刪減太多之故，49年至89年的歷史寫得很有誤導性
September 8, 2023
Exaggerated or even flattery in someways, but a valuable and average-reader-friendly book to understand the history and the way China's leaders think, but since the highlights for this book are mostly during 1978-1992, guess Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China should be better than this.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews