Book recommendations by Li Cheng
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China, by Ezra F. Vogel
What is the book about?
Vogel’s book provides a comprehensive biography of Deng Xiaoping, detailing his crucial role in transforming China into a global economic powerhouse. Vogel meticulously examines Deng's political strategies, reforms, and the profound impact of his leadership on China's modernization and global integration.
Why should you read it?
This is one of the best books for people who want to understand the complexities of China's rapid development and the pivotal decisions that shape its current trajectory. Although it is based around the life of Deng Xiaoping, this book is much more than a biography of a single person— it offers profound insights into what China is today.
On China, by Henry Kissinger
What is the book about?
Kissinger provides a detailed historical overview of China's foreign policy and its interactions with the Western world. Drawing on his extensive experience as a diplomat and his direct involvement in U.S.-China relations, Kissinger offers unique insights into China's strategic thinking and the complexities of its international diplomacy.
Why should you read it?
I was lucky enough to consider Dr. Kissinger a mentor of mine, and reading this book always reminds me about how important careful, strategic thinking is in building relations between people and countries. This is not just a book about China, but rather, a book about how people think about China, and, in the end, a book about how people perceive the world around them
High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy, by Angela Huyue Zhang
What is the book about?
"High Wire" provides an in-depth analysis of the regulatory landscape for big tech in China. The book explores key areas including antitrust, data, and labor enforcement, and examines the self-regulatory schemes employed by Chinese tech companies in collaboration with the state. It also offers predictions on China's future tech governance, particularly focusing on artificial intelligence.
Why should you read it?
Although this is a book specifically about the tech industry, its frameworks are applicable to many different industries. This book sheds light on the wider topic of the intricate balance between state control and corporate self-regulation in modern China. Angela takes a complicated subject and makes it readable without losing intellectual sophistication—an extremely difficult task.
Dr. Li Cheng is professor of political science and founding director of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World (CCCW) at the University of Hong Kong. An internationally renowned political scientist, and a seasoned think tank scholar, Professor Li’s research areas include the transformation of political leaders, the Chinese middle class, technological development in China, Sino-U.S. relations, and global governance.