I read Postcards not long after reading Out of Mao’s Shadow by Phillip Pan. Taken together, these two books help understand where China is today and where it is heading. Style-wise, I have the impression that Pan is more interested in telling good stories, while Fallows is trying hard to figure out how things work. In content, Out of Mao’s Shadow focuses much more strongly on the dark side of human nature. While Pan does a splendid job of bringing the characters to life, his stories are quite depressing and provide a limited view for readers who are not familiar with China. Postcards from Tomorrow Square covers a broader range of disciplines and activities that reflect the bigger picture, and shows us the sky is not all grey. In fact, to gain a more complete picture of China, one should read the two books side by side.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
1 - Jerry
Hear, hear. For once, an intelligently written discourse on a book about a subject that usually elicits knee-jerk jingoism from people on all sides.
I'm looking even more forward to reading the book.