Read Deng Xiaoping

Author: Lin Jian Gong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-03-01
Features: This book is divided into five chapters, narrating the legendary life of Deng Xiaoping and the "Deng Xiaoping Theory" he established, based on a wealth of substantial materials. The content is comprehensive and detailed, making it the best read for fully understanding Deng Xiaoping's life and grasping the essence of the Deng Xiaoping Theory. It possesses strong scientific rigor, theoretical depth, and systematicity. Deng Xiaoping is a great figure of the century, revered by the world; his character and theories are widely known among the Chinese people, truly "household names, known even to children." This in itself is an extraordinary achievement, representing the people's recognition and reward for Deng Xiaoping's great contributions. However, common sense tells us that many things we are intimately familiar with often become obscure upon closer examination, leaving us unable to articulate them clearly. The philosopher Hegel revealed this flaw in human perception, pointing out that what is familiar is not necessarily well understood. Many people may also have this experience with Deng Xiaoping and his theories: seemingly familiar, yet not truly understood. Therefore, Comrade Jiang Zemin proposed that studying the Deng Xiaoping Theory "must be persistent, not half-hearted; must be unwavering, not superficial," and that "one should not be satisfied with merely knowing some of its statements and phrases, but should truly comprehend it." (Qiushi, 1998, Issue 4). To help people move from familiarity to true understanding, I sincerely recommend a wonderful book by Lin Jian Gong, Lin Tingfang, and Jin Zhao titled Understanding Deng Xiaoping. I call it a great book because it has the following strengths:
First, the writing is fresh and engaging, drawing you in effortlessly and inspiring admiration for the great man's charisma whileing you with his noble character. When introducing a leader, the writing tends to be solemn and serious, determined by the nature of the subject. However, this work balances solemnity with charm and seriousness with liveliness. It not only evaluates Deng Xiaoping's words and actions, wisdom and courage at critical historical moments but also gives due attention to his hobbies and amusing anecdotes from his life. This way, a vivid and ordinary Deng Xiaoping stands before the reader, bridging the distance between the great man and the audience. The reading experience is like conversing with the great man himself—listening to his teachings with warmth, deeply feeling his intellect and strength, yet in a relaxed and natural manner.
Second, the book is infused with the spirit of seeking truth from facts. Seeking truth from facts is the essence of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and also the essence of the Deng Xiaoping Theory. The authors consciously integrated this principle into their writing. Whether introducing Deng Xiaoping as a person or explaining the Deng Xiaoping Theory, they adhere strictly to facts. For example, why is Deng Xiaoping a historical figure of the world today? The authors do not rely on subjective speculation but present five perspectives on Deng Xiaoping: what the world people think of him, what the Chinese people think of him, and what the leaders think of him. What is particularly valuable is that the authors also include Deng Xiaoping's own self-assessment. By comparing Deng Xiaoping's self-perception with others' evaluations of him, without any embellishment, the great historical figure of the world is vividly brought to life. Another example concerns the theoretical innovations of Deng Xiaoping. The authors list 11 "breakthroughs," which serve as an excellent distillation and summary of the Deng Xiaoping Theory, with each breakthrough firmly grounded in factual analysis. This is precisely why the book contains a wealth of rich and detailed material.
Third, this is a book about a leader, yet also a high-level theoretical work. The most prominent feature of the Deng Xiaoping Theory is its close connection to reality, a characteristic that is fully reflected in this book. For instance, Chapter 3 analyzes four major issues: "Did Deng Xiaoping have a theory?," "How should the Deng Xiaoping Theory system be summarized?," "Did the Deng Xiaoping Theory abandon the 'old masters'?," and "Does the Deng Xiaoping Theory not care whether it is 'socialist' or 'capitalist'?" These are significant issues that emerged during the reform and opening-up, involving both theory and practice. It must be admitted that answering these questions is not easy, and I do not believe the authors' answers in the book are beyond further discussion. However, the authors' courage to address these issues and explore them should be commended. In other words, the authors closely connect theory to practice, avoiding empty rhetoric. Although opinions may vary on these issues, the authors present their own insights for study and reference, which in itself is a contribution.
Fourth, the book highlights Deng Xiaoping's approach to thinking, which holds special significance. Deng Xiaoping's extraordinary achievements and his great, historic contributions to China and the world were not only due to his extraordinary courage and wisdom but also to his scientific and creative thinking methods. The book vividly introduces how Deng Xiaoping, whenever faced with major issues, always employed unique and extraordinary methods of thinking. He often went straight to the essence of the matter. For example, Deng Xiaoping said, "Poverty is not socialism, and neither is too slow development." Though seemingly ordinary, these words were profound and shook people out of the old "leftist" perceptions surrounding this issue. Another example is that capitalism has existed for hundreds of years, with every capitalist society having a plan; socialism has been practiced for decades, with every socialist society having commodity circulation. There was a veil between them that no one had dared to tear away in the past. Deng Xiaoping tore it open, pointing out that capitalism also has plans, and socialism can also adopt a market economy. This instantly liberated people from decades of constraints. The book presents Deng Xiaoping's unconventional, creative thinking methods through such seemingly ordinary facts, inspiring readers greatly.
Truly understanding Deng Xiaoping is not easy, nor can it be fully achieved by reading this book alone. However, this work is indeed very helpful in guiding people from familiarity to true understanding of Deng Xiaoping and his theory, and in comprehending Deng Xiaoping.