Blood Red Sunset: 2a Memoir of the Chinese Cultural Revolution

This is an absolutely phenomenal book. There's so much about the Cultural Revolution and the early days of Communist China that just gets glossed over in history classes and general books about the country. Ma Bo was on the inside of it all, and despite his unflinching belief in Communist ideals, was nonetheless punished by the very system he had so much faith in. I was worried that this book would be tainted by the stain of moralizing one way or the other. What a relief it is to read on such a charged subject and not be preached at. Ma Bo simply tells his story, and you take away from it whatever you will. There's deep understanding of what motivated the Chinese then (and to one degree or other still motivates them today), and there is much to be learned from this tale. Whatever your thoughts on Communism, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is at all curious about this major chapter in modern Chinese history.

Any student of Communism must read this book. Anyone who forgot what Communism is must read this book. I never cease to be amazed at what evil mankind wrought upon itself when Communism entered the world's stage. I cannot conceive of what it must have been like to suffer through such nonsense. Ma Bo tells it like it was, that the period from 1966 - 1976 was a gaping cultural wound that the Chinese public still suffers from. Stories of beatings, torture, sycophancy, and greed permeate these pages. There really is nothing positive to say about the time period. It is chilling. I had to read this book for my history of Modern China as an undergraduate, some 10 years ago. It still remains with me. Anyone who remains a Communist after reading this book must needs have much to answer for.

Great book. Msut read. Broke my heart

of the Cultural Revolution in China. I've read the book and I think it's the most enchanting and detailed book on the Cultural Revolution in existance. It has graphical details, horriable truths, and a very nice translation by Howard Goldblatt. A must for students studying the Cultural Revolution!