The author effectively unravels the thinking of Xi, finding him to be part emperor and part revolutionary socialist.
A disturbing study of the mentality of China’s leader, who has no doubts about his country’s ascension and his own role in it.
Rudd is a former Australian prime minister and president of the Asia Society, and he currently serves as the Australian ambassador to the U.S. He is also a veteran China-watcher, as he demonstrated in his 2022 book The Avoidable War: The Dangers of a Catastrophic Conflict Between the US and Xi Jinping's China. In this book, the author focuses on the underlying reasons that frame Xi’s ideology. Xi has recently moved firmly to the Leninist left on domestic policies, exerting greater control over the private sector and consolidating surveillance methods. In foreign policy, he blends China’s imperial history with Marxist ideas of the inevitable victory of socialism. In the middle section of the book, which Rudd admits can be heavy going, the author examines the many speeches, books, and articles on Xi for signals and clues. Xi believes that the collapse of the West in general, and the U.S. in particular, is in sight, and China will then take its rightful place as the world’s leader. Xi’s ideology involves a bits-and-pieces approach, but he believes that the elements fit together without contradiction. He is likely to stay in office for another decade, at least, and his eventual successor will likely follow in his footsteps. Rudd provides huge amounts of detail on Xi and current affairs in China, which gives the book an authoritative tone but sometimes makes it hard to follow. Nevertheless, there is great value in understanding how your opponents—or enemies—think, and policymakers in Washington, D.C., should pay attention to Rudd’s prodigious research.
The author effectively unravels the thinking of Xi, finding him to be part emperor and part revolutionary socialist.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9780197766033
Page Count: 656
Publisher: Oxford Univ.
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.
A carefully curated personal portrait.
First ladies’ roles have evolved significantly in recent decades. Their memoirs typically reflect a spectrum of ambition and interests, offering insights into their values and personal lives. Melania Trump, however, stands out as exceptionally private and elusive. Her ultra-lean account attempts to shed light on her public duties, initiatives, and causes as first lady, and it defends certain actions like her controversial “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” jacket. The statement was directed at the media, not the border situation, she claims. Yet the book provides scant detail about her personal orbit or day-to-day interactions. The memoir opens with her well-known Slovenian origin story, successful modeling career, and whirlwind romance with Donald Trump, culminating in their 2005 marriage, followed by a snapshot of Election Day 2016: “Each time we were together that day, I was impressed by his calm.…This man is remarkably confident under pressure.” Once in the White House, Melania Trump describes her functions and numerous public events at home and abroad, which she asserts were more accomplished than media representations suggested. However, she rarely shares any personal interactions beyond close family ties, notably her affection for her son, Barron, and her sister, Ines. And of course she lavishes praise on her husband. Minimal anecdotes about White House or cabinet staff are included, and she carefully defuses her rumored tensions with Trump’s adult children, blandly stating, “While we may share the same last name, each of us is distinct with our own aspirations and paths to follow.” Although Melania’s desire to support causes related to children’s and women’s welfare feels authentic, the overall tenor of her memoir seems aimed at painting a glimmering portrait of her husband and her role, likely with an eye toward the forthcoming election.
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781510782693
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.
Documenting perilous times.
In his most recent behind-the-scenes account of political power and how it is wielded, Woodward synthesizes several narrative strands, from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to the 2024 presidential campaign. Woodward’s clear, gripping storytelling benefits from his legendary access to prominent figures and a structure of propulsive chapters. The run-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is tense (if occasionally repetitive), as a cast of geopolitical insiders try to divine Vladimir Putin’s intent: “Doubt among allies, the public and among Ukrainians meant valuable time and space for Putin to maneuver.” Against this backdrop, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham implores Donald Trump to run again, notwithstanding the former president’s denial of his 2020 defeat. This provides unwelcome distraction for President Biden, portrayed as a thoughtful, compassionate lifetime politico who could not outrace time, as demonstrated in the June 2024 debate. Throughout, Trump’s prevarications and his supporters’ cynicism provide an unsettling counterpoint to warnings provided by everyone from former Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley to Vice President Kamala Harris, who calls a second Trump term a likely “death knell for American democracy.” The author’s ambitious scope shows him at the top of his capabilities. He concludes with these unsettling words: “Based on my reporting, Trump’s language and conduct has at times presented risks to national security—both during his presidency and afterward.”
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781668052273
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
IN THE NEWS
PERSPECTIVES
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