Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang

Prisoner of the State contains the secret memoirs of Zhao Ziyang, the former Premier and General Secretary of China's Communist Party, recorded while under house arrest from 1989 until his death in 2005. The manuscript was smuggled out of China and published posthumously, providing a rare insider account of the Chinese government's highest levels during a pivotal period of reform and upheaval. The book chronicles Zhao's rise through the Party ranks and his efforts to implement economic reforms in China during the 1980s. Through audio recordings made in secret, Zhao details key policy decisions, power dynamics within the Communist Party leadership, and the internal conflicts that shaped modern China. This memoir captures Zhao's perspective on major events in modern Chinese history, including economic modernization initiatives and periods of social unrest. His narrative provides context for China's transformation from strict communist policies toward market reforms. The text stands as both a historical document and a personal testimony, examining questions of governance, reform, and the price of political dissent in authoritarian systems. Zhao's reflections reveal the complex relationship between economic and political change in modern China.

Readers value this book as a rare firsthand account from a top Chinese Communist Party official during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. The memoir reveals internal Party debates and decision-making processes not documented elsewhere. Readers appreciated: - Behind-the-scenes details about power struggles within the Party - Zhao's candid discussion of economic reforms - Clear explanation of complex political events - The historical significance of the secret tapes Common criticisms: - Uneven narrative flow due to the audio recording format - Some sections focus too heavily on economic policy details - Translation can feel stilted in places - Limited personal reflection from Zhao Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (478 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (89 ratings) "A fascinating glimpse into the mindset of China's leadership" - Amazon reviewer "Important historical document but dry reading in parts" - Goodreads reviewer "The economic sections require concentration but worth pushing through" - Goodreads reviewer

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📖 Zhao Ziyang secretly recorded this memoir on audio tapes disguised as children's music cassettes, which were smuggled out of China by trusted allies. 🏛️ As China's Premier and General Secretary of the Communist Party, Zhao was the highest-ranking Chinese official ever to oppose the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. 🏠 After opposing the military action at Tiananmen, Zhao spent the final 15 years of his life under house arrest, during which time he created these recordings. 🌏 The book provides unprecedented insight into top-level Chinese politics, including private conversations with Deng Xiaoping and other senior leaders during critical moments. 📝 Though Zhao was credited with many of China's successful economic reforms in the 1980s, his name remains censored in China, and discussion of this book is prohibited within the country.