Nigel Harris's book on China was published in 1978, assessing the achievements thus far of a regime barely 30 years in existence. While China today is superficially unrecognizable in comparison to the period that Harris was analyzing, the foundation of the current society was laid in this period. Those interested in understanding how China went from being one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world to becoming better at capitalism than some of the most advanced economies would benefit from studying this period.

Suggested Further Reading:
• The Mandate of Heaven: Marx and Mao in modern China by Nigel Harris
• The Tragedy of the Chinese Revolution by Harold Isaacs