This work investigates the internal political, social, and economic realities of the People's Republic of China during the early 1970s. Ross Terrill, a political scientist and China scholar, utilizes his extensive on-the-ground observations and interviews conducted during his travels through the country to demystify the nation for Western audiences. He presents a framework that balances the ideological fervor of the Cultural Revolution with the practical realities of daily life for the Chinese populace.

Experts frequently cite this book as a significant primary source for understanding the atmosphere of China during the late Cultural Revolution period. Readers often note the descriptive, journalistic quality of the prose which provides a human-centric view of a previously isolated society.