| PRISONER OF THE STATE: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang |  | Author: Zhao Ziyang
Creators: Roderick MacFarquhar, Adi Ignatius, Bao Pu, Renee Chiang
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: CDN$ 34.00
Buy New: CDN$ 15.25
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Seller: Booksxpressca
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 75,018
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 1439149380
EAN: 9781439149386
ASIN: 1439149380
Publication Date: May 19, 2009
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good book, but somewhat repetitive. April 4, 2010
Frank Rayal (Toronto, ON Canada)
I read this book despite the warning of a Chinese friend that it does not live up to expectations completely. I, however, found it very interesting to understand the thought process of some key Chinese leaders and the dynamics inside the upper echelons of leadership. Zhao does also talk about the changes in his views and opinions. The discussion on reform and the need balance between economic and political reform is also important. This is an important book to put the changes happening in China into perspective.
Reform in China June 21, 2009
Gordon Smith (Canada)
A detailed and knowledgeable insider's view of the internal conflicts at the top of China leadership in the 1980's. Sadly, Zhao who always promoted change towards the free enterprise market system under the encouragement of Deng Xiaoping comes late to the recognition that freer markets need political freedoms and legal rights and a fearless leadership. A well written narrative but ultimately left this reviewer with the sadness of failure in leadership and the empty shell of post-1989 political debate in China.
 Truth of Tianmen Square crackdown June 15, 2009
Timothy Poon (Vancouver BC Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a Secretary of PRC, Zhao ZiYang has a heart of sympathy for the Student Demonstration prior to Tianmen Square. This book reflects how Deng Xiao Peng dictate the army and ordered the June 4th 1989 Tianmen Massacre.
Learn the Truth and it will set one free...! May 17, 2009
Isaac Ho (Canada)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I bought this book because I cherish freedom and democracy. We are all living in an interdependent world, whereby one nation would have a definite influence on another - be it good or bad - ugly or glorious...!
This book is based on the foresight and legacy of one very patriotic Chinese in China. His name or rather his late name was Zhao Ziyang, a once upon time Prime Minister.
He was firm, strong, courageous and non-compromising when coming to punishing the protesting students at Beijing, and whose many a death climaxed notoriously as the TIANANMEN MASSACRE. This tragedy happened in the year 1989. And because Premier Zhao sided with the students against the entrenched and die-hard members of the Chinese Communists elders of which the then Paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, by his angry body language and dire accusations levelled at Zhao in a supposedly private meeting. But it turned out to be a kangaro type of judgment against Zhao by the group of his worse enemies who hated him out of covetedness and extreme personal jealousies. Zhao was summarily fired from his post as "heir" to Deng and imprisoned under house arrest at his home in Beijing. Even his guards would not sympathize with this dedicated leader. Before Zhao's dead some years earlier, he dictated what he felt was right and proper cause for China to persue - parlimentary democracy and freedom of speech and assembly - such daring concepts which are diametrically opposed to Communism - would have Deng's and Mao's bodies stirring fitfully in their graves had they known...! Premier Zhao recorded some 30 audio-tapes and arranged for these to be shipped secretly out of the country by his three buddies who came to visit with the sick and aging leader. After his death in 2004, the tapes were finally transcribed and now made available in English for not only the Chinese people but the entire free world to read , to ponder, and to learn the inner truth and struggles that went on inside the forbidding fortress of Beijing where the Communist elders sequested themselves and enjoying excellent food, wine and women at the expenses of the Chinese people outside who are slogging and earning just a bowl of rice in the cities and villagers. So what a contrast...! We all should thank the late Premier Zhao for telling the truth of his economic reforms and his intensed struggle with jealous party officials who were jockeying and currying favour with Paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, the old man! Had Premier Zhao live he would, no doubt, be awarded either the Nobel Peace Prize or the Noble Prize for Economics, as he was the main architect in opening up the country to foreign trade and develop economic reforms which we all witness today in China...and accorded her the superpower status.
I end here with a silent prayer to the late Premier Zhao Ziyang and may his soul rests in eternal peace with our Risen Lord...Amen.
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