Life and Death in Shanghai
by Nien Cheng
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 619)
Read in May, 2008
This book is Nien Cheng's experience during the Cultural Revolution in China. It is fascinating. She was imprisoned for 6 1/2 years and considered an "enemy to the people" nearly until the time she left China in 1980. The reason for her imprisonment was that she was considered a capitalist and a"free thinker". Her courage throughout her struggles and her ability to reason even under great duress is inspiring. The political turmoil that China has endured is hard to believ...more
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I didn't know if I'd like this book, but I tackled it for book club, and I'm glad I read it. I knew a little about the cultural revolution in Maoist China, but to read about it from the author's point of view was very enlightening. She was falsely accused of various ridiculous charges and held in prison for seven years (her real "crime" was being a wealthy capitalist). To read of her struggles, her amazing strength, and her persistence in clearing her name and getting her life back ...more
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Read in March, 2008
After my second time reading this book (the first was a few years ago in college) I'm pleased to discover that it's really as powerful and moving as I remember it being. I read it this time with my husband and it was awesome to have someone to talk about it with. Although, the number of times in our discussions that one or the other would say, "I just can't believe such a thing could happen" are too many to count. As depressing and unbelievable as it is for me to contemplate Cheng's st...more
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Life and Death in Shanghai is Nien Cheng’s personal memoire and it provides a fascinating (as well as heartbreaking) look at the Chinese Cultural Revolution and life under Chairman Mao during the 1960s and 1970s. The author spent
6½ years in prison/solitary confinement because the communists believed she was a capitalist. Cheng was college educated, was part of the Chinese upper-middle class and her husband had worked in the Shanghai office of a foreign oil corporation. This was enough evid...more
6½ years in prison/solitary confinement because the communists believed she was a capitalist. Cheng was college educated, was part of the Chinese upper-middle class and her husband had worked in the Shanghai office of a foreign oil corporation. This was enough evid...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
those who love China and stores of bravery
Nien Cheng is really a remarkable woman! She was falsely imprisoned during China's Cultural Revolution and her daughter was listed as a "suiside" even though she was no doubt tortured to death. The shifting sands of communist control was a struggle to feret out and her only resource was her valient insistance that she was not guilty and had no need to confess. Her bravery and adherance to truth under the vilest conditions and torture are really breathtaking.
I fould it difficult ...more
I fould it difficult ...more
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Read in January, 1992
I read this book shortly after my first trip to Shanghai in 1992. At the time it resonated with me as I had just seen many of the places she mentions in her book, from the French Consession, to the Park Hotel (which is next door to my Shanghai office). The story, an autobiography of her life during the cultural revolution, tells the sad honest truth of what Mao's revolution did to the cultural and educated. The guise of permenant revolution is nothing more than an excuse to torture and maim, ...more
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Read in January, 1998
recommends it for:
those interested in modern Chinese history and to understand the Cultural Revolution
Life and Death in Shanghai was recommended to me by my Chinese history teacher when I was in 11th grade. She said it would provide insight into the experiences of those who suffered the Cultural Revolution.
I read it then, and now, almost a decade later after having lived in China for 3 years, I am starting to understand what the book documents. Not only does it document one woman's terrific struggle with her government's authority, but it documents some of the reasons behind why she had to...more
I read it then, and now, almost a decade later after having lived in China for 3 years, I am starting to understand what the book documents. Not only does it document one woman's terrific struggle with her government's authority, but it documents some of the reasons behind why she had to...more
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Read in March, 2005
this is a fantastic introduction to anyone who wants to know about the nightmare-on-earth that was the Cultural Revolution in china from 1966 to 1976. it is a memoir, but it reads like a novel, which is really the whole point. the truth of this decade was more amazing than most novelists could dream up.
the only thing i didn't like was that she had all this word-for-word dialogue from her countless interrogation sessions, and she remembers exactly who was in the room and where they were sit...more
the only thing i didn't like was that she had all this word-for-word dialogue from her countless interrogation sessions, and she remembers exactly who was in the room and where they were sit...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Bonnie G by:
Jamison Chenrecommends it for: anyone interested in Mao's Cultural Revolution
I read this book on a recommendation during a party for some Chinese guests. I asked if they had been through the Cultural Revolution. The person who recommended the book said they were too young, but if I was really interested in the CR, I should read this book.
It gives an insider's look at tortured and ruined Chinese lives during the 1960's and 1970's. While I was blithely living a very good life, millions were suffering in prisons and on work farms.
The author is a brave heroine in ...more
It gives an insider's look at tortured and ruined Chinese lives during the 1960's and 1970's. While I was blithely living a very good life, millions were suffering in prisons and on work farms.
The author is a brave heroine in ...more
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Read in September, 2003
recommended to Ange by:
Anne B
Nien Chang tells of her experience in China during the Cultural Revolution, her unjust imprisonment and how she overcame. I learned a lot about the Chinese culture and the Cultural Revolution and first became interested in traveling to China after reading her book. I find that biographies of people who lived through the Cultural Revolution are difficult for me because of the nature of the experiences that so many authors had during that time. But Nien Chang's book is one I highly recommend becau...more
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Read in June, 2007
An amazing book by an amazing women. While Nien Cheng tellingly analyzes her own experience as a prisoner in communist China, she goes beyond herself and describes how individuals and communities responded to the pressures of communism and a cultural revolution.
I particularly enjoyed the second half of the book describing her life after prison, the political mood of the country, and what the future might look like.
This is a great book for people without any background on China's modern histo...more
I particularly enjoyed the second half of the book describing her life after prison, the political mood of the country, and what the future might look like.
This is a great book for people without any background on China's modern histo...more
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Read in August, 2007
I was fascinated with Nien! A woman of perseverance, poise, immense inner strength, and an honest heart who spent 7 years wrongly imprisoned under harsh circumstances. It brought to memory The Hiding Place...Not quite as uplifting, but definately made me take a look hard the cush we live in and our expectations in this country.
There were some parts that were a little hard for me to get through...mainly political descriptions...so I skimmed a bit, but toward the end they started making more...more
There were some parts that were a little hard for me to get through...mainly political descriptions...so I skimmed a bit, but toward the end they started making more...more
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Read in April, 2008
If you are looking for a book to inspire your spirit of perseverance, look no longer. Nein Cheng writes an amazing tale of her experience in Communist China during the cultural revolution. I gained a lot of empathy for the people in China and also gratitude for democracy. While the book was heavy at times, and really long, I found myself wanting to read any chance I could get. I was impressed by her intelligence, her patience, her integrity. More than ever, I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus ...more
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Read in June, 2008
This book is Nien Cheng's story of her survival through China's cultural revolution in the 1960s. I loved her story because of her descriptive and completely honest writing. Her strong will and persistence through a terrible time in China's Communist history was inspiring. This book may be hard to get through for some because of how detailed her story is (I'm impressed at her incredible memory), but it is worth your time if you enjoy history. It's also difficult to read about the injustices and...more
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Read in September, 2008
I really enjoyed this book- and learned quite a bit about the Cultural Revolution in China. Nien Cheng is a very remarkable woman, and her story is inspiring. But the story often bogged down in the details of the political machinations of the time, which failed to move the narrative forward, and made the book feel like it was even longer than it is. All of these extra details, while sometimes interesting, were sometimes hard to follow and harder to care about. I found myself skipping passage...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
People interested in the Cultural Revolution
This book is well written and conveys the struggle of an upper-class, educated woman's struggle during Communist China's cultural revolution. The author's experiences are unbelievable, and her strength and methods for dealing with her situation are very admirable. Living in China currently, it's mind-boggling to see the contrast of life in China now versus life 40 years ago. It's a testament to see how quickly things can go from terrible to wonderful, and also the reverse. The book also give...more
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Read in July, 2006
powerful memoir which display her strenght to keep on living no matter what had happen throughout the china cultural revolution. she still had kept her wit by coming to a public meeting bringing bottle of water and bar of chocolate. i had to laugh with her in that part somehow. she know her ways to keep on surviving throughout confinement and torture for years. the way she portray her life in this memoir had only left a strong lady with remarkable writing. her stubbornness had brought her that f...more
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Read in May, 2008
Heart-breaking story of a woman who stood up to severe persecution during the cultural revolution in China. Though she survived, her only daughter was killed during one of the many political uprisings of the time.
The story was extremely detailed (you could almost say excruciatingly detailed) and vivid in its look at life in China during these times. While her personal story is captivating, the author's never-ending attempt to interpret the larger political scene got in the way, because s...more
The story was extremely detailed (you could almost say excruciatingly detailed) and vivid in its look at life in China during these times. While her personal story is captivating, the author's never-ending attempt to interpret the larger political scene got in the way, because s...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Susan by:
my book clubrecommends it for: anyone wanting to learn more about China
I learned about the Cultural Revolution and Chairman Mao and the Red Guard and Communism, Marzism and much more. I'm glad to have a better understanding of that period in history but I found the book tedious until Mrs. Chen was finally released from prison (after 61/2 years). I skipped over much in the middle because she literally described each and every day of her imprisonment. Now that I've finished plodding through it, I'm feeling euphoric. Actually, the last quarter of the book was pret...more
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Read in December, 2002
This book is one that I would definitely recommend to all readers. It is eloquently written and very engaging. It chronicles the imprisonment of a Western-educated business woman living in China during the Cultural Revolution.
It is a very intimate look at Mao Tse-Tung and how his philosophies affected the Chinese people--and not for the better. Mrs. Cheng is a wonderful narrator and writes a very excellent true story.
Recommended to all who like an intense story of human survival, and all...more
It is a very intimate look at Mao Tse-Tung and how his philosophies affected the Chinese people--and not for the better. Mrs. Cheng is a wonderful narrator and writes a very excellent true story.
Recommended to all who like an intense story of human survival, and all...more
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