Elizabeth J. Perry Knihy

Focusing on the rural origins of the Chinese communist revolution, this study provides an in-depth analysis based on extensive research and firsthand observations in Jiangxi. Stephen Averill's work moves beyond the traditional Mao-centric narrative, examining the social divisions that fueled the revolution and shaped internal party conflicts. Posthumously published with an introduction by notable scholars, it serves as a tribute to Averill's pioneering contributions to the social history of modern China, making it essential for students and scholars alike.

This introduction to Chinese society uses the themes of resistance and protest to explore the complexity of life in contemporary China. The book draws on perspectives from sociology, anthropology, psychology, history and political science and covers a broad range of issues including women, labour, ethnic conflict and suicide. This new revised edition adds three new chapters on Falun Gong, Christianity and land struggles thus providing a comprehensive resource for both undergraduates and specialists in the field and encouraging the reader to challenge conventional images of contemporary Chinese society.

Many people in the last century, and even today, have argued about the possibility of aliens coming to Earth with science and technology more advanced than our own. Usually, they base their proof on things like unusual phenomena and strange archaeological findings. However, in this book, Dr Perry argues that the proof of aliens is actually hidden in world mythology. He believes that certain clues about the super modern world are hidden in myths and we have to decode them. For example, he takes the myths of Prometheus, Iris, Sisyphus, Apollo and others and interprets them as machines, devices and different kinds of weapons. The purpose of this book is to decipher these clues and thus prove that intelligent extra-terrestrial beings visited the Earth thousands of years ago. The additional purpose of publishing this book is to cause individuals, more intelligent and professional, to join this field of deciphering mythology. If these experts decode new information of which we are not yet aware, it will be a decisive proof of alien existence in our distant past.