Mao Zedong: Man, Not God

by Quan Yanchi, Wang Wenjiong (Translator), Gale Hadfield (Editor)

The title might have been written by Mao himself. Instead, it was dictated by the revealing, intimate, never-before-published recollections of Li Yinqiao, Mao's bodyguard, and brought to light by the author Quan Yanchi. After fifteen years of devoted service, Li received this request from "If what happens in my family is a secret to others, it is not a secret to you. But don't write about me while I'm still alive; wait until I die, and write truthfully when you do." For the first time, the personal, inside story of China's dynamic leader and world statesman is told - the life and thought of Mao, the husband, father, comrade-in-arms, the peasant's son. The recollections, only now made public in English, provide the reader with a refreshingly different perspective from any of the many other works about Mao. Highlighting the book are photographs, published here for the first time.

Genres: China, History

213 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1992

Reviews

[Sahand Yazdanyar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating 3/10

Happy (early) Lunar New Year!

If I am to provide a good faith account of this book, I would say that I found it amusing. I am certainly trying to keep in mind translation difficulties/errors as well as any cultural nuances that may be improperly (or simply unable to be) conveyed. There are certainly many interesting tidbits and vignettes into Mao's life.

If I am to provide a bad faith reading of this book, I would say...huh?! It very much reads like Li Yinqiao is secretly in love with Mao and certainly does not aid in any sort of dispelling of the notion that "anything on Mao is just propaganda." I'm also to understand that Li sued Quan Yanchi over some of the statements made in this book.

If you are looking to learn about Mao, Mao's philosophies/Marxist thought, or about China during Mao's time, this is not the book for that. If you want to read about random tidbits from Mao's life that can seem quite exaggerated at times and come from a semi-reputable source, then this is the book for you. I certainly would not recommend to someone who wishes to *truly* learn about Mao and/or MLM, but maybe for someone who already has a lot of insight as a sort of "bonus" (or "throwaway" depending on how you look at it) book.

Not entirely a waste because it's an easy/quick read, but also why did I put effort into this?

[Christine Irvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A former bodyguard of Mao Zedong, a former leader of China and a much-revered man in that part of the world, writes a bio of the man, showing his human side (thus the subtitle of "Man, Not God"). Author Yanchi Quan was by Mao's side for 15 years. He saw a side of the man that many were not privy to. Mao once told Yanchi to wait until after he was dead before Yanchi wrote anything about him, and then Mao admonished Yanchi to tell the truth. So, that's what Yanchi did: He offers a portrait of a man with an iron will and a staunch constitution, who rose from abject poverty to lead his people to what he considered to be a better country.

This is a rather interesting look at a historical figure that most put on a pedestal and revere, with no reservations. Yanchi offers a different view of the man, one that shows his great strengths, but also his weaknesses.

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book contains some recollections of Mao by one of his long-serving (1947-62) bodyguards. It is ghostwritten by Quan Yanchi, a People's Liberation Army officer (and writer).

Naturally because the recollections are of a bodyguard who clearly would not have been privy to a lot of high level discussions, and who had little by way of education (as he describes), much of the book is concerned with his impression of Mao as a person, his habits etc. And clearly because of the ghostwriter Mao gets a fairly sympathetic treatment, appearing often like an avuncular old uncle.

Certainly the political analysis in the book is biased and to be honest has no credibility. Only passing reference is made to the Great Leap Forward (ridiculous given it killed something like 35-45 million), and the Cultural Revolution is seen as the great disaster. However, bad though it undoubtedly was, one wonders whether the Party see it that way because it was them, not the peasants, who took much of the beating.

The main insight one gets from the book is an explanation of why Mao died in bed, despite being such a mercilessly brutal man. The answer is he treated his bodyguards very well, paying a lot of attention to them even though he was running a country, and trying to get them to better themselves through marriage and educational opportunity. He ensured they all came from different provinces, which must have helped prevent conspiracies between them. He also used them as his eyes and ears on the ground by tutoring them in social research methods! However, the author is careful not to be too open. Although the state of Mao and Jiang Qing's marriage is discussed at length (she is fair play as she was (rightly) demonised after Mao's death) the author does not reveal Mao's philandering as other more frank accounts (see Zhisui Li's fascinating "The Private Life of Chairman Mao") do. This book is an interesting read at times nonetheless.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim years ago at a used booksale in Madison. It's an interesting little tome which is certainly meant to humanize Mao Zedong for Western audiences (it's funny how the translation uses little English idioms and cliches throughout the course of the book).

The book is a series of recollections by Mao's former bodyguard, who stood by him from the early days of the revolution up through the time of the Cultural Revolution. The book touches on Mao's personality and feats of character, including going for long days without sleep, his courage in the face of danger, his desire to conquer everything (in one scene he tries to swim a storm-wracked ocean and in another wants to swim the Yellow River - forever regretting that he never did), and the example he set for the people of China. It also shows him a humanizing light; he brokers marriages between his bodyguards, enjoys spicy foods, cracks jokes about passing gas, and is cranky when woken up too soon. A lot of these little stories are actually quite funny, especially given what a Western audience might know about Mao from the history books.

The book really only turns from straight recollection to analysis when speaking about Mao and his reaction to the chant of "Long live Chairman Mao;" despite his desire to not be worshipped, the bodyguard or author (it took me awhile to realize that the author was a different person) supposes that Mao realized how important it was for the people to have a symbol/"god" to "worship" and idealize.

Not a book for everyone, this might be of interest to China scholars or people who are just interested in delving into the personalities of figures in history from a different perspective.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic read by someone who knew Mao personally for some 14 years. Li Yinqiao served as Mao Zedong's personal body guard unit chief from 1948-1962 before going on to the PLA. He dictated his memoirs to writer Quan Yanchi. Instead of telling a chronology of events, he tells humoroous, sad, entertaining, and interesting accounts of Mao's personal quirks, family, and habits. Everything from jokes told by Mao to moments that made him cry are told. It's an easy and fascinating read for studiers of Mao and his legacy.

[Frank Ashe · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little book - the personal memoir of one of Mao's bodyguards.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique portrait of an enormously influential figure.

[Kim Symansky]

Brought this book at White Swan hotel in Guanghouz, China