Mao Zedong

The book Mao Zedong: A Life, by the author Jonathan Spence, depicts Mao's journey from growing up on a farm to becoming the lead of the Republic of China. The book to me was a bit dry in comparison to the Rape of Nanking but Spence makes an unbiased biography about Mao's life.
The seeds for Mao's ideas on how to create a perfect China were planted early in his life. As a youth Mao could be characterized as a bookworm. Reading old Confucius texts and poems that were written during ancient China. Mao's love for books and education eventually led him to Marx's book on socialism. For his revolution for the people of China Mao took theories of socialism and applied it to the large society of China. As Mao grew older, however, his lifestyle changed. Once a scholarly "go-getter" Mao became more comfortable in a sedentary and simple way of life. Mao eventually gave up his leadership position after become very ill. Mao died in September of 1976.
The book, Mao Zedong: A Life, changed a lot about how I envisioned Mao Zedong. I always pictured him as somewhat of a self-involved dictator. After reading this book I see him as a man who wanted the best for his country and was willing to give up everything for it, and he nearly did. Mao had to give up families he had created and was constantly living in hostile climates as a nomad. Though even during the hardest times Mao was always the one to lift the spirits of his followers. Though Mao's government and policies of the People's Republic of China are criticized I realize Mao's intentions were the of best for China.