The search for modern China cover

The search for modern China

by Jonathan D. Spence

This book is the second edition of the author's history of modern China. The new discussions in this revision include the extension of imperial power into central Asia by the eighteenth century emperors, women's literacy and education in the Qing, the early development of Chinese nationalism, the roots of Chinese communism and alternatives to Mao, the early stages of the Great Leap Forward and of the Cultural Revolution. Also, there is a new chapter at the end of the book on economic, cultural, and political developments since 1989.

More by Jonathan D. Spence

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?