“When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.”
As the world’s second-largest economy and global powerhouse, China continues to shape the future of international politics, economics and culture. Understanding China in 2025 requires more than just surface-level knowledge; it demands a deeper dive into its rich history, complex political landscape and rapidly evolving society. Whether you’re interested in the country’s economic strategies, its role in global diplomacy or its recent cultural transformations, reading the right books can offer invaluable insights into China’s present and future. We here at What We Reading have curated a list of the best books to understand China in 2025, each offering a unique perspective on the issues defining the nation today. From contemporary works on political dynamics to historical explorations of its cultural evolution, these books about China provide the ultimate overview of one of the most fascinating and influential countries in the world.
China In Ten Words – Yu Hua
Kicking off our list of the best books about China for 2025 is Yu Hua’s China in Ten Words. Penned by one of the most renowned authors, this book uses ten keywords to dissect the cultural, political and social changes that have shaped China’s rise to prominence on the global stage.
From ‘revolution’ to ‘self’, Yu Hua blends personal anecdotes with historical analysis, offering readers a compelling look at the forces driving China’s future. As the country continues to evolve, understanding its past – moulded by revolutions, reforms and economic upheavals – is vital to understanding its challenges and ambitions in the present day.
The China Wave: Rise Of A Civilizational State (Zhang Weiwei’s’ China Trilogy #2) – Zhang Weiwei
In The China Wave, Zhang Weiwei offers a thorough analysis of China’s rise to superpower status, positioning the country as a ‘civilizational state’ rather than a typical nation-state. Weiwei argues that China’s unique political and social system, deeply rooted within its five-thousand-year history, has driven its rapid development.
Weiwei’s work contrasts China’s model of governance with Western political structures, emphasising the role of the Communist Party in maintaining order and guiding the nation’s trajectory. Weiwei explores the nation’s rise from rural poverty to global economic influence, highlighting challenges such as social inequality and environmental concerns. With a focus on China’s evolving role on the world stage, especially in 2025, The China Wave is a source of valuable insights into how its heritage and institutions are central to making sense of its ambitions and challenges.
Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates And The Story Of The New China – John Pomfret
Chinese Lessons by John Pomfret provides a unique and personal look at China’s transformation through the lives of five individuals who experienced the country’s radical changes from the Cultural Revolution through to the modern era. Pomfret traces their journeys from the hardships of the past to the opportunities of the present, reflecting on the social, political and economic upheavals that have shaped contemporary China.
By focusing on the personal stories of his classmates, Pomfret brings China’s evolution into sharp focus, offering readers an intimate view of the nation’s rapid development and its challenges. As China’s influence continues to expand, understanding the human side of its transformation is paramount. This book on China provides a rich narrative of how individuals have navigated through the complexities of the nation’s past and present, giving readers insight into the forces that have driven such profound change.
The China Model: Political Meritocracy And The Limits Of Democracy – Daniel A. Bell
Another one of the best books about China for 2025, The China Model by Daniel Bell explores China’s unique political system, centred around meritocracy rather than Western-style democracy. Bell argues that China’s approach, which combines political expertise and leadership selection based on ability rather than popular elections, has been central to its rapid development.
The book examines the strengths and weaknesses of the approach, comparing it to democratic models and discussing its implications for China’s future. Bell provides an insightful analysis of how China’s political model influences its governance, economic success and social stability, offering a fresh take on the limitations of democracy and the potential of meritocratic leadership in shaping China’s future.
The Party: The Secret World Of China’s Communist Rulers – Richard McGregor
Richard McGregor offers a tantalising inside look at the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in his book on China, The Party, uncovering the power structures, secrets and inner workings that have defined modern Chinese society. McGregor explains how the CCP controls all aspects of Chinese life, from politics to business, and how it maintains its authority in the face of rapid change.
Utilising extensive interviews and research, he reveals the strategies used by China’s leadership to stay in power, focusing on the dynamics of Xi Jinping’s rule and the challenges the Party faces in 2025 and beyond. The Party remains one of the best resources for understanding the complex relationship between China’s government, its people, and the world, marking it as an essential read on the power behind the nation’s rise.
Destined For War: Can America And China Escape Thucydides’s Trap? – Graham Allison
Destined for War by Graham Allison examines the escalating rivalry between the United States and China, arguing that history suggests a dangerous pattern of conflict when an established world power faces a rising challenger. Using the concept of ‘Thucydides’s Trap’, which refers to the historical tendency of war when a rising power threatens the dominance of an established one, Allison analyses the current tensions between the two nations.
As China grows in power and influence, the risks of conflict between the US and China have only become more apparent. Destined for War explores the historical parallels and offers insights into how both countries can avoid war, focusing on diplomacy, economic policies and strategic decisions. Allison’s work is essential for understanding the dynamics of US-China relations and the potential for a global conflict if the world’s two superpowers fail to manage their rivalry in a far less certain world order.
Wild Swans: Three Daughters Of China – Jung Chang
Jung Chang’s Wild Swans is a powerful, multi-generational memoir that chronicles the lives of three women in twentieth-century China, spanning the tumultuous years of war, revolution and political upheaval. Through the stories of her grandmother, mother and herself, Chang provides readers with a deeply personal perspective on China’s evolution from the fall of the Qing Dynasty to the rise of Communist rule under Mao Zedong.
Wild Swans is one of the best books about China for experiencing the country through the perspective of ordinary people living through extraordinary events, including the hardships of the Cultural Revolution and the impact of political ideologies on personal lives. Wild Swans remains one of the absolute go-tos for anyone looking to grasp the human cost of China’s modern history, offering a poignant look at the nation’s past and its ongoing quest for identity.
The Third Revolution: Xi Jinping And The New Chinese State – Elizabeth C. Economy
Another essential read on China and the transformative leadership of President Xi Jinping, Elizabeth Economy assess the transformations the country’s current leader has brought to the nation’s political and economic landscape.
Economy argues that Xi’s vision for China has ushered in the start of a ‘third revolution’, following the initial transformations under Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The book dives into Xi’s consolidation of power, his domestic and foreign policies and his ambitious plans to shape China into a global superpower. The Third Revolution provides an in-depth look at the challenges Xi faces including economic slowdowns, political control and international tensions, offering valuable insights into what his leadership means for China’s growth and its place on the world stage.
Red Flags: Why Xi’s China Is In Jeopardy – George Magnus
Red Flags by George Magnus is a critical assessment of China’s future under the leadership of Xi Jinping. Magnus argues that while China has experienced remarkable economic growth, the country faces several significant challenges that could threaten its stability. These challenges include mounting debt, an ageing population, political repression and environmental crises.
The book explores how Xi’s consolidation of power has contributed to both its successes and setbacks. As China approaches 2025, Magnus emphasises that the country’s future rests on its ability to navigate these internal and external pressures while preserving its global ambitions. For anyone looking to understand the complexities of China’s political and economic landscape, Red Flags offers an essential insight into why Xi Jinping’s China may be approaching a tipping point, highlighting the risks and potential consequences of the country’s trajectory.
The Age Of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, And Faith In The New China – Evan Osnos
Evan Osnos’ The Age of Ambition offers a fascinating glimpse into the personal and societal shifts in modern China, focusing on the pursuit of wealth, truth and spiritual fulfilment within the context of the country’s rapid transformation. Through the stories of ordinary Chinese citizens, Osnos paints a vivid portrait of the aspirations driving China’s emerging middle classes and the obstacles they face in a society shaped by both opportunity and repression.
The book remains one of the best works on China for tackling its ambition, corruption and the enduring tensions between traditional values and the forces of globalisation. As China’s ascent to superpower status is cemented further, Osnos examines how individuals navigate the complexities of a nation where personal freedom often clashes with harsh state control. The Age of Ambition offers invaluable insights into the evolving mindset of the Chinese people and the broader implications of the ambitions of their country’s future.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
