Riding the Tiger
Gordon White begins with a Chinese saying , 'qi hu nan xia', meaning if you are riding a tiger, it is hard to get off. Indeed, the author points out that the developmental process which was already commenced by Mao can not be stopped. If there were any attempt to block the process, it will result in catastrophic effects for the People's Republic of China. Therefore, Deng Xiaoping had no option but to go with the previous mode. Deng espoused some far-reaching gear to continue the developmental process. It was not the U- turn from the thoughts of Mao Zedong. Although, it was a new model of socialist development based on the market oriented principles and institutions. Chinese call it as a Chinese model which emerged under Deng Xiaoping. it changed the ideologies and policies which had influenced not only then develop but contemporary China as well.
White very carefully analyses every aspects of economic reforms whether it is economic, political, or social ideology. The competence of White to deal with paradoxical conditions is unbelievable. He very marvelously deposits his points.
Moreover, the comparison between Mao and post-Mao era reform is a fraction of this manuscript. He analyses the Mao-era development in PRC also to satisfy the curiosity of the readers. This makes the book so interesting that a reader can not run off the book without finished it.