Description: The story of Xi Jinping, China's most important leader since Mao.
Brief description: Kerry Brown is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London. Prior to that he was Professor of Chinese Politics at the University of Sydney, and Head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House, London. With 30 years experience of life in China, he has worked in education, business and government, including a term as First Secretary at the British Embassy in Beijing. He is author of over 20 books on contemporary China, including The World According to Xi: Everything You Need to Know About the New China (2018). He is currently working on a history of Britain's relations with China since the 16th century.
Review Quotes:
"One of our most perceptive and accurate foreign observers of China" --John Simpson, BBC
"Xi Jinping, president of China, is now undoubtedly one of the most powerful men in the world. This is the first biography of Xi in English and provides a lucid and readable account of his background, rise to power and political background." --Gideon Rachman, Financial Times "Dazzlingly detailed" --Tom Plate, Distinguished Scholar of Asian and Pacific Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles "...this one is the best book I ever have read on the exercise of power in contemporary China." --Professor Tyler Cowen, Holbert C. Harris Chair of economics at George Mason University "Xi is determined to reshape China and bring it into the centre of the international stage. We all feel these profound changes, but few of us have the ability to step back, put Xi in perspective, analyse his rise, and guess where Xi will take us. Kerry Brown has it, and he delivers. This book provides an excellent account of Xi's rise, his visions, his determination, and the future he is making for China and for the world. All who are interested in China and its global role should read it.'" --Yongnian Zheng, Director of the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore "One of the most useful studies available of how power works in today's China. I doubt any other writer provides as many insights into how a closed system makes decisions and allocates authority." --Bob Carr, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at UTS, former Australian Foreign Minister and longest-serving New South Wales Premier "...a thoughtful and thought-provoking study of China's current leader... A fascinating glimpse into the workings of the Chinese leadership." --Frank Ching, First Bureau Chief in Beijing for the Wall Street Journal and author of Ancestors