Telling the Truth

By Yang Songlin, Baohui Xie (translator),

Book cover of Telling the Truth: China's Great Leap Forward, Household Registration and the Famine Death Tally

Book description

This book discusses what is often called the "Great Leap Famine", which occurred in China during the years from 1959 to 1961. Scholarly consensus suggests that 30 million Chinese perished. Yang Songlin's book provides an evidence-based, systematic and substantial rebuff, concluding that a much smaller number of deaths can be…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Telling the Truth as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The accepted wisdom about the Chinese Great Leap Forward from 1958 to 1961 both in and outside of China is that the Great Leap Forward famine death toll was 30 million. This book challenges this wisdom. The book’s argument is based on the research of Professor Sun Jingxian who is a mathematician, who, after having examined the domestic migration pattern during the period, comes to the conclusion that the famine death toll was about 4 million.

From Mobo's list on understanding modern China.

Want books like Telling the Truth?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Telling the Truth.

Browse books like Telling the Truth

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in China, politics, and the Great Leap Forward?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about China, politics, and the Great Leap Forward.

China Explore 576 books about China
Politics Explore 705 books about politics
The Great Leap Forward Explore 5 books about the Great Leap Forward