The book's reception varies sharply between the popular press and academic experts: Bad element | Books | The Guardian
: It suggests Mao was an agent of the Soviet Union since the 1920s and welcomed the Japanese occupation to weaken his rival, Chiang Kai-shek.
: The book estimates over 70 million perished under his rule, including 38 million during the Great Leap Forward famine. Reception and Accuracy
: They argue Mao was not driven by idealism but by a personal lust for power , using blackmail and terror to dominate colleagues.