Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

From what other reviewers have said, there has been mixed responses regarding "Mao: The Unknown Story". Since reading it, I have come down on the middle ground between two seeming extremes. It was a good read, and it seems to present it's case well, though with some qualifying reservations. Overall, the credibility of the research is mostly quite good, with a good range of sources including writings from some of the key figures, such as German Communist Otto Braun. While it is preferable to utilise written records, in some cases eye-witness accounts are just as valuable. Despite the acceptance of eye-witness accounts, Chang and Halliday often mention people but with no names, and then quote them. This I find suspicious. While the bibliography is extensive, the almost complete lack of foot notes is something of an issue with me. This makes it much harder to check the sources cited, and check whether quotes and information has been used accurately. Had Chang and Halliday supplied detailed and specifically attributed footnotes, it could have helped them bolster their use of eye witness accounts and give some cross-referencing. There is a section of detailed endnotes, arranged by page number, which is something, at least. The book was written as a type of polemic work against the myth of Mao. In this way, it really should come as no surprise that Mao is lambasted thoroughly and completely. While it may be true he was a cynical manipulator, (Stalin, Chiang Kai-shek and company were really no different when it came to power), I find it hard to maintain that Mao did not have one single redeeming quality, other than finding good women to marry his make friends. In this sense, the book is very much one-sided and does not deal with Mao all that fairly. Despite having some reservations about it, I do not think calling it "revisionist" is a point of objection, but could be good thing. I would reccomend the book, but with the note that one should look at other sources as well, before writing Mao off as a complete monster, though being responsible for 70 million deaths would certainly qualify him. Certainly read "Mao: The Unknown Story", but treat it with caution and check other authors before you make solid judgements on Mao.