Page 72 - EW-June-2024

Books

households, know this. not novel. But Bhagat has
Only politicians don’t. rendered a useful public PARTY OF ONE: THE RISE
5. Control cheap Dopa- service by consolidating OF XI JINPING AND CHINA'S
mine. “Dopamine is the this advice scattered in SUPERPOWER FUTURE
neurotransmitter that mo- numerous self-help manu- Chun Han Wong
tivates your brain to seek als and presenting it in this SIMON & SCHUSTER
more of whatever gives you compendium. Rs.2,490 Pages 416
pleasure.” Limit alcohol, However, the ac-
junk food, video reels con- companying narrative
sumption, availing them in reproducing conversations
moderation. “The pleasure the author has with the monikers for Xi Jinping is If Chairman Mao
of the moment is the poi- hapless Viraj is corny and ‘Chairman of Everything’ taught China how
son of the future,” warns forced. But perhaps not for since he has inserted to stand up and
Bhagat citing a Chinese the reportedly 40 million himself at the helm of all Secretary Deng
proverb. unemployed, recklessly important offices, created Xiaoping how to
6. Chase the Hard certified youth country- new oversight bureaus that walk, Xi's ambition
Things. “Don’t avoid hard wide — the hapless victims report directly to him, and is to make it run and
things (sic), instead chase of India’s sub-standard has reduced the powers transform China into
them to make your grand education system. of the prime minister and a superpower
visions and dreams come DILIP THAKORE other members of the State
true”, i.e, adhere to advice . Council.
rendered above. Chun Han Wong, the a successor as required.
7. Eat the Elephant. Core Leader author of this book and a On the contrary, the Party
Learn to address big chal- Singapore national, was a proceeded to remove the
lenges by dividing them biography reporter of The Wall Street presidential term limit
into small tasks. Journal in Beijing from which meant that far from
8. Be the Cockroach. ESPITE BEING AT 2014 until 2019. He was retiring after two terms, Xi
Survive by learning to the helm of affairs denied renewal of his press could remain in power ad
adapt to every situation Din China for more credentials for writing a infinitum.
and environment. than 12 years, Xi Jinping story about an investiga- The book begins by dis-
9. Learn to Connect is still somewhat of an tion by Australian agen- cussing Xi’s carefully cho-
with People. Success is enigma for the world and cies into a gambling and sen career path wherein
the outcome of effective perhaps even for a large criminal nexus involving he served tenures in the
networking with people of number of people within an individual named Ming countryside, with the PLA,
all types, shapes, sizes and China. Chai, who turned out to be and then in important
temperament. You never Xi became General Sec- one of Xi Jinping’s cousins. provinces. While this cov-
know which connect will retary of the Communist China lacks written erage is good, it is relative-
pay off. Party of China (CPC) in rules on leadership tenures ly short. One expected to
10. It’s my Fault. Learn late 2012 and then China’s in absolute sense of the read more about the career
to take accountability for President and Chairman of term. What it has are trajectory of Xi before he
your acts of omission and the Central Military Com- vague norms about peace- rose to centerstage, simply
commission, instead of mission in March 2013. At ful and predictable transfer because there is not much
blaming others and mak- that time, he was regarded of power developed over authoritative work on Xi’s
ing excuses. Several good as a pragmatic leader who the last 30 years and most early career and life.
examples. would continue to hon- of these were set in place Interestingly, the author
11. Earn, Save and In- our the Party’s evolving under the guidance of argues that Xi’s stints in
vest. People who don’t do and still young tradition Deng Xiaoping, who was the provinces of Fujian
this aren’t going to climb of collective leadership. China’s last paramount and Zhejiang were rela-
any iron gates. Beware However after assuming leader. tively unremarkable and
of inflation, the silent power, Xi assumed a dif- All that has been dis- several of his ‘successful’
dreams-killer. ferent character altogether rupted by developments policy interventions were
The 11 Rules prescrip- and has become a type over the past few years un- actually failures presented
tion provided in bits and of leader that no one saw der Xi Jinping. In 2016, Xi as successes as part of
pieces to the over-qualified coming. assumed the title of Core propaganda after Xi was
food delivery boy, Viraj is One of the popular Leader and didn’t appoint confirmed as the designat-

72 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2024