Book Review: The Barefoot Lawyer

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The book The Barefoot Lawyer by Chen Guangcheng (2015) is an astounding primary view into the harsh realities of China’s problems with corruption. As a disabled blind man from a poor rural family, Chen was forced to endure social limitations as well as physical limitations. One example would be his forced attendance to a school for disabled children rather than a normal school (Chen, 2015). Chen Guangcheng’s argument, from the started development of his illness when caused his blindness until his departure from China, seems like a power struggle for his civil liberties and rights, as well as others families’ rights, against China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). All the while, the CCP strategically silences him and his family with the reason of “saving face” (Chen, 2015). Chen Guangcheng’s (2015) purpose …show more content…

The more ridiculous part is that the identified negative features by Chen (2015) still exist, as iterated within his prologue. However, Chen Guangcheng’s ideology of using media to pressure Chinese officials currently works, as acknowledged by examples within his book. In addition, pushes for transformation have already changed Chinese which can be seen by comparing Mao Zedong’s era to Xi Jinping’s modern leadership. Chen’s method of approach is proven to be very effective, and is best quoted by Hu Shuli’s former editor Qian Gang stating “A flood is ferocious, but it solves no problems. In Chinese, we say that you can bore a hole in a stone by the steady dripping of water” (Osnos, Gibbs & Remnick, 2009). With this method, China has shown improvement for the better towards all citizens. And although this book would be a more pleasurable experience to Western readers, the valuable lesson derived from this book is that civil rights and liberties are precious and should be more accepted and less

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