Mao's Great Famine Chapter Summary

Frank Dikotter was a professor of humanities at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, presently the chair professor of humanities at the University of Hong Kong. Highly dedicated to finding the truth regarding a horrific and disastrous time in China’s history, Dikotter obtained once hidden and protected documentation regarding Mao’s blatant disregard for human life in his own country. Mao’s Great Famine, The History of China’s Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962, paints a picture of the “Great Leap Forward” orchestrated by Mao Zedong and his thirst for economic dominance, surpassing Britain and other western powers in steel production, agriculture and trade exports, consequently, destroying the lives of

Liu Shaoqi, also a prominent factor in the leadership next to Mao decided to confront Mao about the deplorable conditions all over China, and the deaths recorded in the archives. This book clearly described Mao as the kind of leader who was not to be confronted or challenged in any type of setting. But the book also described how important and necessary it became to enable Mao to understand the actual devastation his plan caused China, and its peasant population. Trade countries were complaining about the quality of the produce received and millions of tons of produce were rotting due to low capability of transportation. However, include the fact, China was starving while Mao was still exporting produce, factors in the inability and unfavorable thoughts Mao felt towards his people and their welfare. As always, Mao’s people did everything in their power to shift the blame from Mao, onto the leadership running the program in the villages throughout China. Mao’s plan was a perfect plan, poorly executed by lower level