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A concise and comprehensive biography of Mao Zedong, published to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of his death.

A half-century after his death in September 1976, Mao Zedong remains one of history’s most polarizing figures: a peasant boy who became a revolutionary leader, a general in World War II, and finally the Great Helmsman, the founding father of the People's Republic of China. His legacy is a mix of national liberation and human tragedy. Today, Mao is no static icon on a banknote but the architect of a superpower whose ideas, methods, and personal life are continually reexamined through a modern lens.

This comprehensive biography bridges the gap between the revolutionary and the man without overlooking the events that led to the end of China’s Century of Humiliation, the brutal cost of the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution, reevaluating his “mass line” ideology.

Based on new archival information and startling revelations from his inner circle—including his personal physician, Dr. Li Zhisui, and former nurses—Clements offers a clear and accessible portrait of a leader whose persistent influence reminds us why Mao’s story remains essential to understanding the global power dynamics of today.

Guiding the reader through the key arguments of the classic figures of Western political philosophy, from Plato through to the modern era, this revised edition includes new essays on Aristotle's 'Politics', Confucianism, Islamic social philosophy and Nazism, as well as additional material on 'Roman Law', Anarchism and 'anti-capitalism'.

Cohen moves chronologically through the development of political philosophy. He presents key texts in their own terms, before offering short, precise analyses of their strengths, weaknesses and influence. The book finishes with a discussion of modern liberalism and conservatism.

Providing both a broad overview and precise summaries of key ideas, this is an invaluable guide for all students of political thought.

Mao and his policies have long been demonised in the West, with the Cultural Revolution considered a fundamental violation of human rights.

As China embraces capitalism, the Mao era is being surgically denigrated by the Chinese political and intellectual elite. This book tackles the extremely negative depiction of China under Mao in recent publications and argues most people in China, including the rural poor and the urban working class, actually benefited from Mao's policy of a comprehensive welfare system for the urban and basic health and education provision for the rural, which is being reversed in the current rush towards capitalism.

By a critical analysis of the mainstream account of the Mao era and the Cultural Revolution and by revealing what is offered in the unofficial e-media debates this book sets the record straight, making a convincing argument for the positive effects of Mao's policies on the well-being of the Chinese people.