The Prince
4.8/5
Critic Rating
Xi Jinping is the most powerful person in the world. But the real story of China's leader remains a mystery. The Economist's Sue-Lin Wong finds out how he rose to the top, and what it means for China—and the rest of the world—now that he has ripped up the rule book to stay in power, perhaps for the rest of his life.For more on China listen to The Economist’s new weekly podcast Drum Tower (here) and subscribe to The Economist with the best offer at economist.com/chinapod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Sarah Larson • New Yorker • Dec 21, 2022
"The Economist’s masterly eight-part biography of Xi Jinping...also functions as a cultural and political history of modern China, and is astonishing not just in its novelistic storytelling but in its sheer reportorial gumption. Wong makes for an appealing guide, and her boundless curiosity serves as a refreshing counterpoint to an occasionally crushing narrative. "
Score: 5
Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ • Oct 15, 2022
"The episode about the persecution of the Uyghur ethnic minority (and the consequences for a certain NBA player who spoke up about it) was another standout. Wong adroitly weaves in personal anecdotes with expert commentary for a well-rounded, comprehensive picture of who President Xi really is and the mark he is making, both on China and the world. …"
Score: 5
Fiona Sturges • Financial Times • Oct 9, 2022
"There is a lot to digest here, and Wong doesn’t patronise us by only giving us the headline moments. The Prince takes its time, building a picture of a quietly ruthless figure emerging in an unsettled political climate that seemed to call for firm stewardship. It’s a grim reminder of the ferocity of the Xi regime..."
Score: 4
James Marriot • The Times UK • Oct 7, 2022
"Inevitably, this is as much the story of a country as it is the biography of a man. There’s lots for the able Wong to explain. But Xi is enigmatic. "
