Every reader likely knows Barbara Tuchman as one of the excellent writers and historians from the 20th century. This book was an apertif before heading into her Pulitzer-winning book on Stilwell. These notes are based her visit to China with her daughter, over six weeks covering eleven cities and some rural towns. (About double the time spent compared to my last trip to China).
A fascinating snapshot of life in China in 1970s, particularly the black and white plates, and her observations of art in China. Tuchman herself notes that this book was a brief project between considerably important projects. The second part is based on her New Yorker essay, “If Mao Had Come to Washington“ discussing how Roosevelt-Mao meeting (which despite plans never happened) would have changed China’s direction. Tuchman also throws delicious shade on NYT editors — I really don’t know what the backstory was.
See my own notes from my visit to China here: China Travel Notes. Of course, my list of Books on Understanding China, I hope to expand soon on this list further.