Age of Ambition

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This vibrant and revelatory inner history of China captures a nation undergoing profound transformation. Often viewed from abroad as a caricature of pragmatic plutocrats or a corrupt giant on the brink of stagnation, the reality is far more complex. Both powerful and ordinary individuals are reshaping their lives amid dramatic changes. As the Beijing correspondent for The New Yorker, Evan Osnos witnessed significant political, economic, and cultural upheaval firsthand. He explores the greatest conflict in China today: the rise of the individual versus the Communist Party's efforts to maintain control. Osnos poses critical questions: Why does a government that has lifted millions from poverty impose strict limits on freedom of expression? What drives millions of young professionals, fluent in English and immersed in Western culture, to identify as "angry youth" resisting Western influence? How are people from diverse backgrounds finding meaning after decades of relentless wealth pursuit? With narrative flair and sharp irony, Osnos shares the poignant stories of everyday citizens, illustrating life in modern China as a battleground between aspiration and authoritarianism, where only one can ultimately prevail.