A Great Wall

By Patrick Tyler

Book Overview

Hailed as "absorbing" by the New York Times and "suspense-filled" by Foreign Affairs, Patrick Tyler's A Great Wall became an instant classic; a must-read for anyone concerned with the complicated and combative relationship between the world's biggest and the world's most powerful nations. And no one could tell this story better than Patrick Tyler, veteran journalist and former Beijing bureau chief of the New York Times. Using brilliant original reporting from his years in China; interviews with presidents, secretaries of state, Chinese officials, and other key leaders; and 15,000 pages of newly declassified documents, Tyler illuminates a relationship usually shrouded in secrecy, miscommunication, rivalry, fascination, and fear. A Great Wall is essential reading for anyone interested in China and anyone concerned with the shifting dynamics of post-Cold War geopolitics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586480057
• ISBN13: 9781586480059
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Excellent High-Level Sino-U.S. Perspective

For those whose circles don't include the halls of power in Washington and Beijing, Patrick Tyler's "A Great Wall" offers a valuable historical perspective and background information. As Tyler makes clear in his concluding chapter, understanding the complexities of the U.S.-Chinese relationship since the Communist victory in 1949 will be of critical importance to the next U.S. administration, which will have to deal with such key issues as Taiwan. "A Great Wall" makes an excellent companion piece to Nicholas Kristof's and Sheryl WuDunn's "China Wakes" (Vintage Books, 1994). I recommend this work to those with a casual interest in China and to those who are just beginning their quest for knowledge about the Sino-U.S. relationship.

Great Wall by Patrick Tyler

One of the most absorbing, well-researched books on contemporary U.S.-China relations that I've read in years. I was surprised as well as disappointed by the book's revelation of our nation's intent to agree to a China-America pact yet use every ruse to circumvent its true intent, particularly in regard to the Taiwan agreement. To me, one of the most interesting parts was that of Gen. Alex M. Haig, Jrs, participation while Reagan's Secretary of State, and that because of the subterfuge, it eventually led Haig to confront President Reagan with "play the game or I resign." Haig stuck to his word and resigned.I appreciated Tyler's professionalism, his thorough research and his palatable journalistic style of presentation.

A Great Wall--Six Presidents and China

As someone who follows China closely, this book is a refreshing change from the one-sided anti-China sentiment we have been experiencing. Mr. Tyler did a superb job recounting his experience and observation without being ideologically biased. His story about traveling in a Russian jet with ordinary China travelers shortly after Deng's death is memorable. I hope people in Washington and indeed in the U.S. take this story, as well as numerous others in this book, seriously. History may not always be on the Chinese side as Clinton stated in Beijing, but history would be a lot less kind to us if we fail to engage China and support Chinese reformers (NOT the dissidents)-- it is in the American's national interests and the interests of ordinary Chinese people that we do so. As a native Chinese who have lived both in China and U.S., I cannot think of a better book on China to recommend for open-minded and interested readers. For readers who did not have the opportunity to be in China witnessing history, this book would be the second best option, period. I commend Mr. Tyler for his journalistic integrity, which is such a rarity nowadays. He has made timely contribution which I hope would not go unnoticed.

A Highly Readable, Informative book about the U.S. and China

Though there are many great books about China, I was not aware of many great books about U.S. policy towards the PRC. I was excited to read that one of my favorite author's, Robert D. Kaplan, had written a very postive review of this book. He was right on the money. Reading like a novel, A Great Wall, gives you the behind the scenes stories of Nixon, Kissinger, Cater, Ford, Reagan, Bush and China. I highly recommend this book.

Insightful, thorough, perceptively written book

I heard Patrick Tyler participate in New York at a luncheon discussion and was so impressed that I went out and got his book. Not being a "China hand," I expected to have difficulty with the subject matter. But Tyler writes in a lucid, entertaining style, and his book is filled with revealing anecdotes and cogent analysis. There's meaty historical data as well, and a lot of contemporaneous material not publicly revealed until now. I'm awed by Tyler's research, and by his ability to synthesize the sheer volume and expanse of the subject matter.