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Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World
If China seems unstoppable, so too does its leader Xi Jinping. As General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President of China, he commands over 1.4 billion people, in a vast country that spans the prosperous megacities of Beijing and Shanghai and desperately poor rural regions where families still struggle with malnutrition.
Today, Xi Jinping faces a series of monumental challenges that would make other global leaders tremble: a trade war with the USA, political unrest in Hong Kong, accusations of genocide in Xinjiang, stuttering economic growth and a devastating global pandemic that originated inside China.
But who is Xi Jinping and what does he really want? To rejuvenate China and bring economic prosperity to all its people? To challenge American supremacy and turn China into the world's dominant power? Avoiding both sycophantic flattery and outright condemnation, this new biography by Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges gets inside the head of one of the world's most mysterious leaders. Skilfully unravelling the hidden story of Xi Jinping's life and career, from his early childhood to his rise to the pinnacles of the Party and the State, they flesh out his views and uncover how he became the most powerful man in the world.
This biography of China's leader will be indispensable for anyone interested in China and where it is heading.
Today, Xi Jinping faces a series of monumental challenges that would make other global leaders tremble: a trade war with the USA, political unrest in Hong Kong, accusations of genocide in Xinjiang, stuttering economic growth and a devastating global pandemic that originated inside China.
But who is Xi Jinping and what does he really want? To rejuvenate China and bring economic prosperity to all its people? To challenge American supremacy and turn China into the world's dominant power? Avoiding both sycophantic flattery and outright condemnation, this new biography by Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges gets inside the head of one of the world's most mysterious leaders. Skilfully unravelling the hidden story of Xi Jinping's life and career, from his early childhood to his rise to the pinnacles of the Party and the State, they flesh out his views and uncover how he became the most powerful man in the world.
This biography of China's leader will be indispensable for anyone interested in China and where it is heading.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2021
43 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Stefan Aust
47 books19 followersStefan Aust (born 1 July 1946 in Stade, Lower Saxony) is a German journalist and was the editor-in-chief of the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel from 1994 to February 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 18, 2021
This book provides a look into the early years of Xi Jinping as well as his career. It also sheds light on how China approaches problems and how it sees the rest of the world. It's written in a very captivating style so reading it went by fast. Another fact which made me want to read this book is that China tried to censor it. (YouTube source)
I can recommend this book to everyone who wants to understand China and Xi Jinping better.
I can recommend this book to everyone who wants to understand China and Xi Jinping better.
February 23, 2022
Naja. Also die Einschätzung, dass das Buch Propaganda ist, wie in einer anderen Rezension hier vertreten, teile ich nicht. Dennoch sind manche Ansichten drinnen, denen ich auf's schärfste widersprechen würde. Dazu zählen zum Beispiel die Jammerei über den Niedergang des Westens, weil wir zu wenig arbeiten würden (Arbeitsrechte sind wirklich nervtötend ...), und die Einschätzung, dass China mit der Pandemie gut umgegangen ist (Vertuschung löst keine Probleme - und Chinas repressives System regt Funktionär*innen nicht dazu an, Probleme zu melden). Ich fand auch die Ansichten zur Klimabewegung teilweise schlichtweg haarsträubend. 1) Dass ein schrumpfen der europäischen Wirtschaftsmacht schlimmer sei als die Klimakrise, 2) dass in so etwas wie "saubere" Kohle investiert werden sollte. Und die Arroganz mit der über Protestbewegungen und Greta Thunberg geschrieben wurde sucht auch seinesgleichen. Mir fallen noch mehr Behauptungen ein, die ich hinterfragen würde, aber im Sinne der Kürze ...
Zum Guten und Interessanten des Buches: Es gibt einen guten Überblick über Xi Jinpings Leben und seinen Werdegang. Auch geben die einzelnen Kapitel sehr spannende Einblicke in seine Ansichten zu unterschiedlichen Themen - und in welche Richtung sich China da entwickelt. Ich fand auch die Abschnitten zu Xi Jinpings Frau und der taiwanesischen Präsidentin wirklich sehr interessant - muss ich bei Gelegenheit dann mehr recherchieren.
Alles in allem also ein spannendes Buch - an Stellen sicherlich zu hinterfragen, aber in Summe sehr lesenswert.
Zum Guten und Interessanten des Buches: Es gibt einen guten Überblick über Xi Jinpings Leben und seinen Werdegang. Auch geben die einzelnen Kapitel sehr spannende Einblicke in seine Ansichten zu unterschiedlichen Themen - und in welche Richtung sich China da entwickelt. Ich fand auch die Abschnitten zu Xi Jinpings Frau und der taiwanesischen Präsidentin wirklich sehr interessant - muss ich bei Gelegenheit dann mehr recherchieren.
Alles in allem also ein spannendes Buch - an Stellen sicherlich zu hinterfragen, aber in Summe sehr lesenswert.
February 19, 2024
It isn't exactly a book about Xi Jinping, but about the politics of China in the last 50 years or so, with special focus on Xi's rise to power. It makes for a bit of chaotic read, but then again, seeing how I'm not an expert of the history of Communist China (or China in general), I did welcome this additional context as without it, I wouldn't have understood much. What do we have here... the digitization of the society, the social changes, Tibet, Dalai Lama, Taiwan, Covid, War in Ukraine, Trump, New Silk Road, Chinese economic takeover of Africa (and Greece)... Some things were discussed more in-depth than others, but all in all it was a good primer on someone trying to understand the intricacies of Chinese policy/politics. Adding to that, the information about Xi's youth were really interesting to me. The author is quite impartial when it comes to his assessment of China, which is in start contrast to his assessment of American politics, where he makes his sympathies clear.
October 1, 2025
Die Autoren beschweren sich ständig darüber, dass der "Westen" angeblich immer nur mit sich selbst und seinen kleinen unwichtigen Problemen (Klima, Work-Life-Balance etc.) beschäftigt sei. Und das in einer Xi Jinping Biografie? Da projiziert wohl jemand. Fridays-for-Future bashing und die anderen üblichen takling points fehlen natürlich auch nicht... Damit ist das Buch, was Stefan Aust freuen dürfte, echte Weltklasse.
Der Teil, der sich mit dem Werdegang Xis beschäftigt, ist interessant.
Der Teil, der sich mit dem Werdegang Xis beschäftigt, ist interessant.
November 10, 2024
An interesting read, if a little shallow at times
October 20, 2023
Contains several interesting interviews with top officials from China but no interview with Xi Jinping (at least not by the authors).
It is written with negative perspective on Germany and rather positive perspective on China. It is only at the end where the gloves comes off and the real critism of president can be found.
At some points the book is just pure China propaganda. The authors describe the fantastic "green" coal power plant in Shanghai - I'm sorry but green and coal are diametric. The power plant might be less polluting but green it will never be. Remember that green refers to green house gasses and not toxic chemicals and fumes. The authors also mention that the Chinese lunar rover is electric because that's green and climate friendly. Again I must mention that the American lunar rover is also electric. Why? Because there is NO Shell on the moon (yet). This is just a few of the examples of how the authors continue the Chinese propaganda.
I think the authors have some valid points about the weaknesses of democracy and the western world, and I enjoyed learning more about the Chinese culture/religion and its relation to confucius.
It is written with negative perspective on Germany and rather positive perspective on China. It is only at the end where the gloves comes off and the real critism of president can be found.
At some points the book is just pure China propaganda. The authors describe the fantastic "green" coal power plant in Shanghai - I'm sorry but green and coal are diametric. The power plant might be less polluting but green it will never be. Remember that green refers to green house gasses and not toxic chemicals and fumes. The authors also mention that the Chinese lunar rover is electric because that's green and climate friendly. Again I must mention that the American lunar rover is also electric. Why? Because there is NO Shell on the moon (yet). This is just a few of the examples of how the authors continue the Chinese propaganda.
I think the authors have some valid points about the weaknesses of democracy and the western world, and I enjoyed learning more about the Chinese culture/religion and its relation to confucius.
September 18, 2021
Ein Stern, weil keine Sterne nicht möglich sind. Das Buch ist nichts weiter als Propaganda.
May 6, 2022
The book pictures how life is in China today, which is very insightful.
I would have liked more insights into Xi's personality though.
I would have liked more insights into Xi's personality though.
October 31, 2022
After reading about four pages of the atrocity one would signify as a"exclusive vacation to a journey of excessive misinformation covered in a severe damaged blanket of boredom”, I promptly realized that this book in my unfortunate success driving hands, was lacking in substance.
It has no stylistic devices nor need to delve into efficient brain functions to get the opinion the author sees fit.
Furthermore, certain principles, such as the establishment of a deep dictatorship, were not reflected or even mentioned in the text. If a certain person is thinking about conquering the world and needs a book to lay the groundwork for a plan of conquest, this abomination would be the black horse of misdirection that just took the lead in a Formula 1 race. Basically saying, never happening, never in a thousand years.
China is great though loved that one palace and the walls lol.
mimu du yee yee ass stalker, ich weiß doch das du irgendwo irgendwie hier bist und das liest 💀 💀
It has no stylistic devices nor need to delve into efficient brain functions to get the opinion the author sees fit.
Furthermore, certain principles, such as the establishment of a deep dictatorship, were not reflected or even mentioned in the text. If a certain person is thinking about conquering the world and needs a book to lay the groundwork for a plan of conquest, this abomination would be the black horse of misdirection that just took the lead in a Formula 1 race. Basically saying, never happening, never in a thousand years.
China is great though loved that one palace and the walls lol.
mimu du yee yee ass stalker, ich weiß doch das du irgendwo irgendwie hier bist und das liest 💀 💀
December 23, 2024
Not quite as insightful as I had hoped. Aside from generally known biographical details, the book relies far too heavily on 2nd/3rd order inference and anecdotes to achieve its stated goal of "unravelling the hidden story of Xi Jinping". I was pleased that the authors largely remained true to their promise of presenting an unbiased picture, however their unexamined priors started to show quite glaringly towards the end of the book as they addressed the "problem" of China becoming the leading superpower in the world, but this is to be expected of journalists steeped in post-war European democratic traditions. As a quick summary of China's development to the present day, the book is however rather useful.
November 21, 2025
Kiinnostava aihe: maa ja sen johtaja. Kuitenkin jotenkin etäältä kuivasti kerrottu, ei mikään elämäkerta, ei edes henkilökuva. Tulee mielikuva, että henkilöstä tiedetään sen verran vähän (varmasti syvempiä henkilöhaastatteluja ei kukaan ole päässyt tekemään) niin, että kirjoittajakin taitaa joutua perustamaan monet tietonsa Kiinan kommunistisen puolueen tuottamiin tietoihin. Samasta syystä kuvataan paljon ympäröivää maailmaa, olosuhteita, Trumpia ja muita yleisessä tiedossa olevia jännitteitä Kiinan ja muiden maiden välillä. Ne mielenkiintoiset uudet tiedot, joita sain Xi Jinpingistä olisivat mahtuneet pariin sivuun.
December 7, 2024
Dokładny opis politycznej kariery Xi Jinpinga i drogi do władzy absolutnej.
Porażające.
Porażające.
June 9, 2024
Bisschen unkritisch für mein Gusto aber gute insights
July 27, 2023
Kul uppdatering om dagens Kina.
June 3, 2023
Highly superficial. Lots of factoids about China but very little substantial commentary on what made Xi Jin Ping who he is today or how, his influences, inspirations or any other details of substance. Sounds like most of the book has been written by googling for Xi Jin Ping, China, Chinese history and then trying to string these together in a loose narrative. I’m pretty sure better and deeper biographies of this very significant leader of our times exist, but it’s not this one. I would recommend giving this book a pass if you are looking for meaningful and serious insights into the subject.
April 9, 2023
Our work opens with the historicity surrounding the Wuhan lab in China during 2019, its infected staff, and beyond. We see the reporting of occurrences suppressed and 'scrubbed' along with the disappearances of key lab personnel and oppressive actions enacted against those reporting related information, videos, lab test results, and photographs to educational and medical platforms… along with many other documented occurrences related to those events. It appears that free thought, analytical thought, creative thought, and the like, are not today the attributes to be embraced by China and/or its masses... not in Mao's world, or either in today's world - without negative consequences. Those who think are far too recalcitrant, and therefore a potential and predictable danger to society.
Premature praise? The opening to our read includes positive overviews of China's initial SARS Corona handling, although empirical factual peer-reviewed data has since revealed the ineffectiveness of masks, lockdowns, and the dangers associated with the usage of untested vaccines released under falsified and misleading statements to the world. "What happened in Wuhan, he added... followed this principal... 'A piece of information becomes proper information only if the party decides to disclose it.'"
The economy of China is another focus, with much historic information, including the 800 million 'peasants' lifted out of poverty as China climbed to economic growth and superiority. China remains as the number one country with this achievement - the longest duration in modern history.
We read that XI shared similar formative years' experiences with many world leaders throughout history; an early life that included oppression, imprisonment, denial of food for days, indoctrination, and living in a flea infested cave with dirt floors to sleep upon... something unknown or experienced by western leaders. Xi eventually chooses not to follow in the footsteps of his father, footsteps which lead to prison. Fortunately, prior to being relocated to a rural area to learn of peasant life, XI had the privilege of receiving a good education, unlike the peasant populous, eventually; later in life even earning his PhD.
One has three ways to "make a career" in China: The Yellow, the black and the red way. "Yellow stands for Gold (making money, business), Black for Academics, and Red for Party/Politics; the Red being Xi Jinping's avenue of choice.
Xi Jinping's daughter, Xi Mingze, completed her degree in psychology and English at Harvard University in 2014 under an alias (assumed name). It has been reported elsewhere that a Chinese man named Niu Tengyu (a website technician), was charged with leaking the personal information of President Xi Jinping's daughter and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. "A Chinese official's salary is not enough to afford Harvard tuition fees, so, either Xi Jinping has another source of money, or he used his connections to Chinese grant-awarding institutions. Both possibilities would contradict the principles he advocates."
It is clear that China's re-education camps mirror techniques used currently by the USA throughout its education realms, its military, and the media... falsified history accompanied with mythical science, including CRT and the 1619 project. "You're in an Authoritarian State. You just don't know it." Ai Weiwei 2022 - author of '1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir
The reader will find less than expected information concerning Xi Jinping, his regime, or his family, but that should be expected. Some chapters are dedicated instead to global political events, interviews, and third-party comments rather than with Xi Jinping's actions and views or details related to the CCP’s global influence... China continues to advance forward with its own world-leading endeavors and goals.
"Every nation gets the government it deserves." Joseph Comte de Maistre, French philosopher & counter-revolutionist (April 1, 1753 - February 26, 1821)
- Excerpts:
"Rosa Luxemburg's reflections on Lenin in 1918 are as true today as they were back then: Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies out in every public institution, becomes a mere semblance of life, in which only the bureaucracy remains as the active element. Public life gradually falls asleep, a few dozen party leaders of inexhaustible energy and boundless experience direct and rule... a dictatorship, to be sure... the dictatorship of a handful of politicians."
"Mao proudly declared: 'The first emperor of the Qin dynasty only buried 460 scholars alive, while we've buried 46,000.'"
Other works that may be of interest:
-1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir by Ai Weiwei (November 2021)
-America Against America by Wang Huning (1991)
-Towards a Surveillant Society: The Rise of Surveillance Systems in Europe by Oslo Professor Thomas Mathiesen (2013)
-The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek (1944)
-The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (1949)
-Constitution of the Communist Party of China by the central committee of the communist of China [CPC] (October 2022) Available for free PDF download here:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/down...
Premature praise? The opening to our read includes positive overviews of China's initial SARS Corona handling, although empirical factual peer-reviewed data has since revealed the ineffectiveness of masks, lockdowns, and the dangers associated with the usage of untested vaccines released under falsified and misleading statements to the world. "What happened in Wuhan, he added... followed this principal... 'A piece of information becomes proper information only if the party decides to disclose it.'"
The economy of China is another focus, with much historic information, including the 800 million 'peasants' lifted out of poverty as China climbed to economic growth and superiority. China remains as the number one country with this achievement - the longest duration in modern history.
We read that XI shared similar formative years' experiences with many world leaders throughout history; an early life that included oppression, imprisonment, denial of food for days, indoctrination, and living in a flea infested cave with dirt floors to sleep upon... something unknown or experienced by western leaders. Xi eventually chooses not to follow in the footsteps of his father, footsteps which lead to prison. Fortunately, prior to being relocated to a rural area to learn of peasant life, XI had the privilege of receiving a good education, unlike the peasant populous, eventually; later in life even earning his PhD.
One has three ways to "make a career" in China: The Yellow, the black and the red way. "Yellow stands for Gold (making money, business), Black for Academics, and Red for Party/Politics; the Red being Xi Jinping's avenue of choice.
Xi Jinping's daughter, Xi Mingze, completed her degree in psychology and English at Harvard University in 2014 under an alias (assumed name). It has been reported elsewhere that a Chinese man named Niu Tengyu (a website technician), was charged with leaking the personal information of President Xi Jinping's daughter and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. "A Chinese official's salary is not enough to afford Harvard tuition fees, so, either Xi Jinping has another source of money, or he used his connections to Chinese grant-awarding institutions. Both possibilities would contradict the principles he advocates."
It is clear that China's re-education camps mirror techniques used currently by the USA throughout its education realms, its military, and the media... falsified history accompanied with mythical science, including CRT and the 1619 project. "You're in an Authoritarian State. You just don't know it." Ai Weiwei 2022 - author of '1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir
The reader will find less than expected information concerning Xi Jinping, his regime, or his family, but that should be expected. Some chapters are dedicated instead to global political events, interviews, and third-party comments rather than with Xi Jinping's actions and views or details related to the CCP’s global influence... China continues to advance forward with its own world-leading endeavors and goals.
"Every nation gets the government it deserves." Joseph Comte de Maistre, French philosopher & counter-revolutionist (April 1, 1753 - February 26, 1821)
- Excerpts:
"Rosa Luxemburg's reflections on Lenin in 1918 are as true today as they were back then: Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies out in every public institution, becomes a mere semblance of life, in which only the bureaucracy remains as the active element. Public life gradually falls asleep, a few dozen party leaders of inexhaustible energy and boundless experience direct and rule... a dictatorship, to be sure... the dictatorship of a handful of politicians."
"Mao proudly declared: 'The first emperor of the Qin dynasty only buried 460 scholars alive, while we've buried 46,000.'"
Other works that may be of interest:
-1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir by Ai Weiwei (November 2021)
-America Against America by Wang Huning (1991)
-Towards a Surveillant Society: The Rise of Surveillance Systems in Europe by Oslo Professor Thomas Mathiesen (2013)
-The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek (1944)
-The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (1949)
-Constitution of the Communist Party of China by the central committee of the communist of China [CPC] (October 2022) Available for free PDF download here:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/down...
February 11, 2023
Aika ihmeellinen kirja, tuntui siltä että puolet sisällöstä oli kierrätyskamaa joltain vanhoilta juttukeikoilta esimerkiksi Pekingin olympialaisten ajoilta. Ihan mielenkiintoisia juttuja, mutta melko vähän tässä puhuttiin itse Xistä, mikä pääsi yllättämään.
October 27, 2023
Sehr informatives Buch. Ich konnte sehr viel neues lernen und es wurden sehr gut positive wie negative Seiten beleuchtet. Kann ich wirklich nur jedem empfehlen gerade weil wir noch die nächsten 30 Jahre viel von ihm hören werden.
August 24, 2023
4.0 zaciekawiająca. Podobał mi się system, w jakim została napisana- każdy rozdział dotyczył odrębnej dziedziny związanej z Chinami. Bardzo czytelna, język raczej prosty
November 3, 2025
I got a book to read, just in time. While the world press closely watched the recent visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to China, I had a chance to closely look into the life of China's double leader, Xi Jinping.
Why double leader? The book “Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World” explains it.
Authors Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges gave a balanced biography of Xi Jinping, showing his rise to power and taking China’s two most powerful jobs: a general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President. “He leads the party, and in China the party is above the state,” explains the book.
So, while Donald Trump and the whole world looked into the narrow eyes of Xi Jinping, trying to catch that fragile sign of emotion, which helps during negotiations, I was deeply swallowed by the book’s story. Amazed to learn about the royal childhood of Xi Jinping, and then the humiliation during the Cultural Revolution in 1966-1976.
Authors describe how Xi Jinping climbed up the power pyramid and slid down again, and again up and down again. And this road shaped his character and made him steel-strong. From the cave-home in a rural village, where Xi Jinping was sent for “re-education” from a prestige school for the children of top communists: the “reddest of the red” as the authors call it.
It was interesting to read how Xi Jinping was rejected nine times to join the Communist Party, but he did not give up. How his father was one of the communist guerrillas and the founder of the Chinese Communist Party in 1930 in the middle of China, in the town of Yan'an. Later, he was repressed by his close comrade Mao Zedong. Despite that, Xi Jinping kept loving Mao (at least in public) and learned his speeches by heart, citing them first to the villages of that rural China in the north, during his “re-education times” and then during speeches for 1,4 billion people, which he commands.
”Today, if China sneezes, the whole world catches a cold,” summarized sharp authors, and as an example in detail describe the recent history of Corona virus pandemic. How it started and ended in China.
At the same time, for many comes as a surprise that the name of Xi Jinping should sound different in the Western standard. Authors recall how a German TV presenter called the Chinese leader by name “Jinping” without knowing that in Chinese the family name comes first: “It is like calling on TV Angela Merkel just by name 'Angela’,” ironize authors.
Authors say that “Today counts economic and purchasing powers which China has and overtook from the USA. Chinese national economy is the largest in the world” and that “China has world-leading infrastructure and emerged from Covid more powerful than the US and Europe”. The authors came to the conclusion that these factors made Xi Jinping the most powerful man in the world. And if it is so, then it is easy to explain why were are watching “how the cult around Xi Jinping is enforcing worldwide”, similar to how it was with Mao Zedong. As an example, authors share the experience, how they were prohibited from presenting their book in some German Confucius Institutes:
”‘You can no longer talk about Xi Jinping the way you talk about any ordinary person. He is meant to be untouchable and non-negotiable from now on,” explained the managing director of one of the institutes.”
So, after reading this book, I look again at Jinping Xi (better known to the world as Xi Jinping) with other eyes, with a better understanding of what power carries his firm figure.
Why double leader? The book “Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World” explains it.
Authors Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges gave a balanced biography of Xi Jinping, showing his rise to power and taking China’s two most powerful jobs: a general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President. “He leads the party, and in China the party is above the state,” explains the book.
So, while Donald Trump and the whole world looked into the narrow eyes of Xi Jinping, trying to catch that fragile sign of emotion, which helps during negotiations, I was deeply swallowed by the book’s story. Amazed to learn about the royal childhood of Xi Jinping, and then the humiliation during the Cultural Revolution in 1966-1976.
Authors describe how Xi Jinping climbed up the power pyramid and slid down again, and again up and down again. And this road shaped his character and made him steel-strong. From the cave-home in a rural village, where Xi Jinping was sent for “re-education” from a prestige school for the children of top communists: the “reddest of the red” as the authors call it.
It was interesting to read how Xi Jinping was rejected nine times to join the Communist Party, but he did not give up. How his father was one of the communist guerrillas and the founder of the Chinese Communist Party in 1930 in the middle of China, in the town of Yan'an. Later, he was repressed by his close comrade Mao Zedong. Despite that, Xi Jinping kept loving Mao (at least in public) and learned his speeches by heart, citing them first to the villages of that rural China in the north, during his “re-education times” and then during speeches for 1,4 billion people, which he commands.
”Today, if China sneezes, the whole world catches a cold,” summarized sharp authors, and as an example in detail describe the recent history of Corona virus pandemic. How it started and ended in China.
At the same time, for many comes as a surprise that the name of Xi Jinping should sound different in the Western standard. Authors recall how a German TV presenter called the Chinese leader by name “Jinping” without knowing that in Chinese the family name comes first: “It is like calling on TV Angela Merkel just by name 'Angela’,” ironize authors.
Authors say that “Today counts economic and purchasing powers which China has and overtook from the USA. Chinese national economy is the largest in the world” and that “China has world-leading infrastructure and emerged from Covid more powerful than the US and Europe”. The authors came to the conclusion that these factors made Xi Jinping the most powerful man in the world. And if it is so, then it is easy to explain why were are watching “how the cult around Xi Jinping is enforcing worldwide”, similar to how it was with Mao Zedong. As an example, authors share the experience, how they were prohibited from presenting their book in some German Confucius Institutes:
”‘You can no longer talk about Xi Jinping the way you talk about any ordinary person. He is meant to be untouchable and non-negotiable from now on,” explained the managing director of one of the institutes.”
So, after reading this book, I look again at Jinping Xi (better known to the world as Xi Jinping) with other eyes, with a better understanding of what power carries his firm figure.
June 24, 2022
Ein nicht lesenswertes Buch voller Propaganda.
Kurzfassung: China war furchtbar bis Xi Jinping kam und jetzt ist alles perfekt *hust
Es werden zwar historisch korrekt Fakten wiedergegeben bevor Xi Jinping an die Macht kam, jedoch alles, was zu seinem Zeitpunkt geschehen ist, wird verharmlost und ignoriert.
Auszüge von Wikipedia zu Umerziehungslager in Xinjiang:
Die Umerziehungslager in Xinjiang sind von der Volksrepublik China organisierte Internierungseinrichtungen in der uigurischen autonomen Region Xinjiang.
Das System zur Assimilation wurde durch den Generalsekretär Xi Jinping auf Geheiß von Parteisekretär Chen Quanguo im Jahr 2014 begonnen.
Es wird geschätzt, dass die chinesischen Behörden ab dem Jahr 2018 Tausende bis Millionen von Uiguren, Kasachen, Kirgisen, Hui-Chinesen und Muslime anderer Ethnien sowie Christen, darunter auch einige ausländische Staatsbürger, festgenommen haben und diese in der gesamten Region teilweise unter menschenunwürdigen Bedingungen in zahlreichen Lagern willkürlich interniert sind. Laut ehemaligen Gefangenen sind die Teilnehmer in den Umerziehungslagern psychischem, teils auch körperlichem Missbrauch und Folter ausgesetzt.
Auszug aus Wikipedia zum Sozialkredit-System:
Für den Journalisten Kai Strittmatter ist das System ein Mittel der Machtsicherung. „Chinas Diktatur unterzieht sich gerade einem Update mit den Instrumenten des 21. Jahrhunderts“, schreibt er im Buch die Neuerfindung der Diktatur – Wie China den digitalen Überwachungsstaat aufbaut und uns damit herausfordert. Die kommunistische Partei glaube, mit Big Data und künstlicher Intelligenz Steuerungsmechanismen schaffen zu können, um die Wirtschaft und das Einparteiensystem zu stärken. „Gleichzeitig möchte sie damit den perfektesten Überwachungsstaat schaffen, den die Welt je gesehen hat“, schreibt Strittmatter.
Der Politikwissenschaftler Sebastian Heilmann kritisiert das System als Ausdruck der technologischen Innovation in China. Die von Peking entwickelten Überwachungstechniken könnten global exportiert werden, schreibt er im Buch Red Swan: How Unorthodox Policy-Making Facilitated China's Rise. Der chinesische „Techno-Autoritarismus“ könnte vor allem in Schwellenländern Nachahmer finden.
Der Handelsblatt-Journalist Stephan Scheuer kritisiert das System als Gefahr für die Technologiefirmen in China. Während der Staat über Jahre den Aufstieg von Internetkonzernen wie Baidu, Alibaba und Tencent gefördert habe, würden die Unternehmen nun dazu gedrängt, dem Staat ein ausgefeiltes Überwachungssystem zu bauen. „Baidu, Alibaba und Tencent sollen ihr Fachwissen einbringen, um eine möglichst effiziente staatliche Überwachung möglich zu machen“, schreibt er im Buch Der Masterplan – Chinas Weg zur Hightech-Weltherrschaft.
„Wer es hingegen wagt, in den sozialen Medien ständig über die Missstände im Land zu schimpfen, bekommt Punkte abgezogen. Wang spricht vom ‚kommunistischen Musterbürger‘, den die chinesische Führung auf diese Weise schaffen wolle. Zugleich bedeute das ‚die totale Kontrolle‘.“
– Felix Lee: Die AAA-Bürger
Kurzfassung: China war furchtbar bis Xi Jinping kam und jetzt ist alles perfekt *hust
Es werden zwar historisch korrekt Fakten wiedergegeben bevor Xi Jinping an die Macht kam, jedoch alles, was zu seinem Zeitpunkt geschehen ist, wird verharmlost und ignoriert.
Auszüge von Wikipedia zu Umerziehungslager in Xinjiang:
Die Umerziehungslager in Xinjiang sind von der Volksrepublik China organisierte Internierungseinrichtungen in der uigurischen autonomen Region Xinjiang.
Das System zur Assimilation wurde durch den Generalsekretär Xi Jinping auf Geheiß von Parteisekretär Chen Quanguo im Jahr 2014 begonnen.
Es wird geschätzt, dass die chinesischen Behörden ab dem Jahr 2018 Tausende bis Millionen von Uiguren, Kasachen, Kirgisen, Hui-Chinesen und Muslime anderer Ethnien sowie Christen, darunter auch einige ausländische Staatsbürger, festgenommen haben und diese in der gesamten Region teilweise unter menschenunwürdigen Bedingungen in zahlreichen Lagern willkürlich interniert sind. Laut ehemaligen Gefangenen sind die Teilnehmer in den Umerziehungslagern psychischem, teils auch körperlichem Missbrauch und Folter ausgesetzt.
Auszug aus Wikipedia zum Sozialkredit-System:
Für den Journalisten Kai Strittmatter ist das System ein Mittel der Machtsicherung. „Chinas Diktatur unterzieht sich gerade einem Update mit den Instrumenten des 21. Jahrhunderts“, schreibt er im Buch die Neuerfindung der Diktatur – Wie China den digitalen Überwachungsstaat aufbaut und uns damit herausfordert. Die kommunistische Partei glaube, mit Big Data und künstlicher Intelligenz Steuerungsmechanismen schaffen zu können, um die Wirtschaft und das Einparteiensystem zu stärken. „Gleichzeitig möchte sie damit den perfektesten Überwachungsstaat schaffen, den die Welt je gesehen hat“, schreibt Strittmatter.
Der Politikwissenschaftler Sebastian Heilmann kritisiert das System als Ausdruck der technologischen Innovation in China. Die von Peking entwickelten Überwachungstechniken könnten global exportiert werden, schreibt er im Buch Red Swan: How Unorthodox Policy-Making Facilitated China's Rise. Der chinesische „Techno-Autoritarismus“ könnte vor allem in Schwellenländern Nachahmer finden.
Der Handelsblatt-Journalist Stephan Scheuer kritisiert das System als Gefahr für die Technologiefirmen in China. Während der Staat über Jahre den Aufstieg von Internetkonzernen wie Baidu, Alibaba und Tencent gefördert habe, würden die Unternehmen nun dazu gedrängt, dem Staat ein ausgefeiltes Überwachungssystem zu bauen. „Baidu, Alibaba und Tencent sollen ihr Fachwissen einbringen, um eine möglichst effiziente staatliche Überwachung möglich zu machen“, schreibt er im Buch Der Masterplan – Chinas Weg zur Hightech-Weltherrschaft.
„Wer es hingegen wagt, in den sozialen Medien ständig über die Missstände im Land zu schimpfen, bekommt Punkte abgezogen. Wang spricht vom ‚kommunistischen Musterbürger‘, den die chinesische Führung auf diese Weise schaffen wolle. Zugleich bedeute das ‚die totale Kontrolle‘.“
– Felix Lee: Die AAA-Bürger
Read
January 1, 2024Tytuł jest bardzo mylący - spodziewałam się nudnawej biografii Xi, pełnej dat i szczegółów z jego życia, a jest to raczej omówienie bieżących spraw Chin, postać Xi jest właściwe w tle wydarzeń. Oczywiście przeczytamy tu o jego pochodzeniu, dzieciństwie i drodze do władzy, natomiast jest to przedstawione zdecydowanie nie jako suche fakty, a raczej jako wydarzenia, które doprowadzily do obecnej pozycji Przewodniczącego ChRL. Dla mnie takie ujęcie tematu było niewątpliwą zaletą książki.
Mamy tu do czynienia z ciekawą perspektywą - autorzy są Niemcami, więc to z ich punktu widzenia patrzymy na Chiny i resztę świata (choćby poprzez liczne porównania do Niemiec). Jest to w końcu coś innego niż tak częsta narracja amerykańska. Jak dla mnie to kolejny interesujący aspekt tego reportażu. Jednocześnie widać, że autorzy starali się być ostrożni w swoich osądach i jakakolwiek krytyka Xi/KPCh jest wyrażona bardzo delikatnie. Lecz z pewnością jest to objaw profesjonalizmu autorów.
Jest to bardzo przystępny reportaż, który naprawdę wciąga (co nie jest znowu takie częste jak na literaturę faktu). Jeśli liczycie na szczegółowe opisy życia Xi Jinpinga, to możecie się rozczarować, lecz jeśli macie ochotę poczytać o współczesnych Chinach z naciskiem na sprawy polityczne, to jestem pewna, że się nie zawiedziecie.
Mamy tu do czynienia z ciekawą perspektywą - autorzy są Niemcami, więc to z ich punktu widzenia patrzymy na Chiny i resztę świata (choćby poprzez liczne porównania do Niemiec). Jest to w końcu coś innego niż tak częsta narracja amerykańska. Jak dla mnie to kolejny interesujący aspekt tego reportażu. Jednocześnie widać, że autorzy starali się być ostrożni w swoich osądach i jakakolwiek krytyka Xi/KPCh jest wyrażona bardzo delikatnie. Lecz z pewnością jest to objaw profesjonalizmu autorów.
Jest to bardzo przystępny reportaż, który naprawdę wciąga (co nie jest znowu takie częste jak na literaturę faktu). Jeśli liczycie na szczegółowe opisy życia Xi Jinpinga, to możecie się rozczarować, lecz jeśli macie ochotę poczytać o współczesnych Chinach z naciskiem na sprawy polityczne, to jestem pewna, że się nie zawiedziecie.
March 14, 2023
Autorzy we wstępie próbują udowodnić swoją tezę z okładki, za co szanuję, ale to że PKB Chin już dawno przekroczyło PKB Stanów zjednoczonych (o czym wiedziałam), nie było dla mnie wystarczające. Dlatego chciałam czytać dalej. I powiem Wam, że poczułam się wciągnięta już od pierwszych stron w ten reportaż, bo jak dobrze wiecie, bardziej absorbują nas rozmowy z kimś z kim się nie zgadzamy 😁
Tę książkę czyta się świetnie. Jest zupełnie jak filmowy dokument, który nawet ludziom nie interesującym się polityką, potrafi wytłumaczyć jak to się stało, że Chiny są teraz w tym miejscu w którym są. Poznajemy początki kariery Xi Jinpinga, tło historyczne i wydarzenia, które sprawiły że stanął na czele partii rządzącej tym mocarstwem. Jest tu trochę historii, trochę teraźniejszości, ukazania różnych sposobów rządzenia Chinami i ich konsekwencji. Najciekawsze dla mnie były fragmenty o działaniu tamtejszej gospodarki, cyfryzacji i planów na przyszłość. Dodatkowo wiele nie wiedziałam o Tybecie, także tutaj też plus.
Powiem tak - tytuł może być trochę mylący, bo nastawiałam się bardziej na biografię z tłem o tym kraju, a jest zupełnie odwrotnie. Mimo to, jest to bardzo wartościowa książka i porusza temat, który uważam za ważny ostatnimi czasy i mało popularny jeśli chodzi o literaturę.
Tę książkę czyta się świetnie. Jest zupełnie jak filmowy dokument, który nawet ludziom nie interesującym się polityką, potrafi wytłumaczyć jak to się stało, że Chiny są teraz w tym miejscu w którym są. Poznajemy początki kariery Xi Jinpinga, tło historyczne i wydarzenia, które sprawiły że stanął na czele partii rządzącej tym mocarstwem. Jest tu trochę historii, trochę teraźniejszości, ukazania różnych sposobów rządzenia Chinami i ich konsekwencji. Najciekawsze dla mnie były fragmenty o działaniu tamtejszej gospodarki, cyfryzacji i planów na przyszłość. Dodatkowo wiele nie wiedziałam o Tybecie, także tutaj też plus.
Powiem tak - tytuł może być trochę mylący, bo nastawiałam się bardziej na biografię z tłem o tym kraju, a jest zupełnie odwrotnie. Mimo to, jest to bardzo wartościowa książka i porusza temat, który uważam za ważny ostatnimi czasy i mało popularny jeśli chodzi o literaturę.
March 23, 2024
Interessant waren die biographischen Abschnitte, gerade bis zu Xis Erreichen des Erwachsenenalters und dem Elternhaus.
- Weder arbeitet das Buch jedoch eine grosse Vision Xis für China heraus
- noch geht es tiefgründig auf die Probleme/Risiken des chinesischen Systems in Bezug auf Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und (Aussen-)Politik ein (auf der aller letzten Seite von knapp 300 werden ein paar Stichworte genannt - das war's)
- oder führt Szenarien auf wie die Reise weitergehen kann
- oder trifft in irgendeiner Form den Zeitgeist in Bezug auf
--- gesellschaftliche Veränderungen im "Westen" ("Ausbildungsplätze im Klimaschutz statt Schuleschwänzen für den Klimaschutz - auch einmal eine Idee", S. 211)
--- den Schreibstil eines alten, weissen, männlichen Hobbyethnologen ("die geschäftstüchtigen und fleissigen Chinesen", S. 63)
--- Arbeitsschutzgesetze: "Ein durchschnittlicher Chinese (schon diese Schreibweise...) arbeitet pro Woche 8.5 Stunden länger als ein durchschnittlicher Deutscher [...] Die Asiaten (wieso denn nun alle Asiaten?) haben den Weltmarkt mit unlauteren Methoden erobert - sie arbeiten während der Arbeitszeit" (teils zitiert von jemand anderem aber ausdrücklich befürwortend, S. 260)
--- das chinesische Umgehen mit dem Coronavirus
- Weder arbeitet das Buch jedoch eine grosse Vision Xis für China heraus
- noch geht es tiefgründig auf die Probleme/Risiken des chinesischen Systems in Bezug auf Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und (Aussen-)Politik ein (auf der aller letzten Seite von knapp 300 werden ein paar Stichworte genannt - das war's)
- oder führt Szenarien auf wie die Reise weitergehen kann
- oder trifft in irgendeiner Form den Zeitgeist in Bezug auf
--- gesellschaftliche Veränderungen im "Westen" ("Ausbildungsplätze im Klimaschutz statt Schuleschwänzen für den Klimaschutz - auch einmal eine Idee", S. 211)
--- den Schreibstil eines alten, weissen, männlichen Hobbyethnologen ("die geschäftstüchtigen und fleissigen Chinesen", S. 63)
--- Arbeitsschutzgesetze: "Ein durchschnittlicher Chinese (schon diese Schreibweise...) arbeitet pro Woche 8.5 Stunden länger als ein durchschnittlicher Deutscher [...] Die Asiaten (wieso denn nun alle Asiaten?) haben den Weltmarkt mit unlauteren Methoden erobert - sie arbeiten während der Arbeitszeit" (teils zitiert von jemand anderem aber ausdrücklich befürwortend, S. 260)
--- das chinesische Umgehen mit dem Coronavirus
May 29, 2023
Sinällään ihan ansioitunut teos. Asioissa osataan nähdä harmaan eri sävyt. Tai ainakin osassa asioista...
Tosin pajunköyttä on popsittu siinä määrin, että faktat jäi tarkastamatta ainakin sosiaalisen luottoluokitusjärjestelmän (social credit system) ja kameravalvonnan kohdalta. Tiivistetysti: toistaiseksi eri kaupungeissa on ollut omia erillisesti kehitettyjä SCS-järjestelmiä, eikä kirjan väittämää yhtä koko maan kattavaa järjestelmää. En myöskään purematta niele kirjan väitettä, että Kiinassa kameravalvonta ja kasvojen tunnistusjärjestelmä olisi aukotonta.
Ja Trump on absoluuttisen paha. (Odotan sitä päivää, kun joku kirjoittaa Trumpista jotain tasapainoista...)
Kirjassa ylistetään sitä, miten Kiina hoiti koronapandemian alkuhärdellin jälkeen. Onneksi suomenkieliseen painokseen ehti vielä 2022 vuoden päivitys, jossa mainittiin mm. Shanghain sulut. Ehkäpä koronapandemia on vielä sellainen asia, josta on liian aikaista antaa lopullisia lausuntoja mikäli haluaa tasapainoisen kokonaiskuvan...
Tosin pajunköyttä on popsittu siinä määrin, että faktat jäi tarkastamatta ainakin sosiaalisen luottoluokitusjärjestelmän (social credit system) ja kameravalvonnan kohdalta. Tiivistetysti: toistaiseksi eri kaupungeissa on ollut omia erillisesti kehitettyjä SCS-järjestelmiä, eikä kirjan väittämää yhtä koko maan kattavaa järjestelmää. En myöskään purematta niele kirjan väitettä, että Kiinassa kameravalvonta ja kasvojen tunnistusjärjestelmä olisi aukotonta.
Ja Trump on absoluuttisen paha. (Odotan sitä päivää, kun joku kirjoittaa Trumpista jotain tasapainoista...)
Kirjassa ylistetään sitä, miten Kiina hoiti koronapandemian alkuhärdellin jälkeen. Onneksi suomenkieliseen painokseen ehti vielä 2022 vuoden päivitys, jossa mainittiin mm. Shanghain sulut. Ehkäpä koronapandemia on vielä sellainen asia, josta on liian aikaista antaa lopullisia lausuntoja mikäli haluaa tasapainoisen kokonaiskuvan...
December 4, 2023
Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World is a biography of the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and president of the People’s Republic of China. I ‘read’ this in Audible book narrated by Peter Noble. It follows Xi Jinping from his early childhood where his family fall out of favour with Mao Zedong through to his becoming “the most powerful man in the world’ and up to the post Covid world.
There are some interesting facts about Xi Jingpings’ life and works that I had no known before such as his rise to power by having a reputation as incorruptible and hard on those who were and his use of Confucian lore in his current role.
The book starts well but – as a biography - falls down as the book progresses as it covers less of Xi Jinping and becomes more of a critique of China and its role in the world. Interesting as that is it is not really a biography of Xi Jinping.
Despite my comments regarding the role of this book as a biography it is still an interesting book worth reading for anyone wishing to know more about Xi Jinping and China.
There are some interesting facts about Xi Jingpings’ life and works that I had no known before such as his rise to power by having a reputation as incorruptible and hard on those who were and his use of Confucian lore in his current role.
The book starts well but – as a biography - falls down as the book progresses as it covers less of Xi Jinping and becomes more of a critique of China and its role in the world. Interesting as that is it is not really a biography of Xi Jinping.
Despite my comments regarding the role of this book as a biography it is still an interesting book worth reading for anyone wishing to know more about Xi Jinping and China.
May 27, 2022
Jak všichni na internetech vědí, tak jsem tak trochu expert na Čínu. Byl jsem tam vícekrát než v Český Lípě a přečetl jsem o tom nespočet knih. To je něco mezi 2 a 8. Toto je něco mez 3. a 9. knihou a je to biografie momentálního doživotního prezidenta Číny.
Bohužel psáno před lockdownama v Šanghaji a válkou na Ukrajině, takže to vykresluje tento zvláštní národ jako velmi efektivní a je jen otázka času, než nám tady do knedlíků budou sypat rejži!
Celkový život Xi Jinpinga je velmi interesantní, jak by řekl můj čínský korespondent, a nemálo mě překvapilo, že se jeho táta kamarádil s tátou Ai Weiweie! Jo a taky, že jeho stará je první čínská superstar jsem teda taky nevěděl! A pak spoustu dalších věcí, který už jsem zapomněl.
Stále jsem se nedozvěděl, jestli se v Číně vyrobily první činky a jak to teda bude se světem dál, jestli mám dát děti na čínštinu, nebo radši na volejbal. Tak já teda nevím. Tak třeba 7/10 protože to psal Aust.
Bohužel psáno před lockdownama v Šanghaji a válkou na Ukrajině, takže to vykresluje tento zvláštní národ jako velmi efektivní a je jen otázka času, než nám tady do knedlíků budou sypat rejži!
Celkový život Xi Jinpinga je velmi interesantní, jak by řekl můj čínský korespondent, a nemálo mě překvapilo, že se jeho táta kamarádil s tátou Ai Weiweie! Jo a taky, že jeho stará je první čínská superstar jsem teda taky nevěděl! A pak spoustu dalších věcí, který už jsem zapomněl.
Stále jsem se nedozvěděl, jestli se v Číně vyrobily první činky a jak to teda bude se světem dál, jestli mám dát děti na čínštinu, nebo radši na volejbal. Tak já teda nevím. Tak třeba 7/10 protože to psal Aust.
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