The Man Who Stayed Behind

The Man Who Stayed Behind is a gripping memoir that provides an even-handed account of China's efforts to build a new society, told through the eyes of Sidney Rittenberg, an American who was sent to China by the U.S.

military in the 1940s.

This book offers a unique perspective on China's turbulent history, from the 1949 revolution through the Cultural Revolution, and provides insight into the country's efforts to build a new society.

Rittenberg's personal story is an amazing tale of idealism, courage, and resilience, and his prison portrait of Madame Mao as the shrieking harridan of the Red Terror will stay with readers long after they finish the book.

With its critical perspective on both the Communist leadership and Rittenberg's own mistakes, this book provides a human perspective on China's efforts to build a new society.