'This book is organized as an introduction to modern Chinese history for college students. In eight chronological chapters called lessons, Zheng (history, Univ. of Manchester) narrates events beginning with the opium wars of the mid-1800s to the current era of Xi Jinping, as China takes a greater role in world affairs. The final two lessons cover, respectively, the changing roles of women across the decades and transformations in sports, the performing arts, and family relationships. Each lesson ends with a section called "Mapping the Scholarship," which provides a short overview of significant scholarly works on the topics covered in the lesson and is a valuable feature for instructors. Gender historians might wish that the discussion of changing roles for women were integrated into the chronological narrative rather than segregated in a lesson of its own, but many teachers and readers will probably prefer Zheng's approach. Given the book's lively prose, stimulating analysis of the major turning points of the last 180 years, and attention to recent events, college instructors should consider adopting it for their classes on modern China.'
K. E. Stapleton, State University of New York at Buffalo, Choice
Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates and general readers

Zheng Yangwen is Professor of Chinese History at the University of Manchester