Mao’s Books and Lifelong Reading Passion | Generated by AI
Mao Zedong was indeed a voracious reader throughout his life, and this aspect of his character is well-documented, including in the memoirs of his personal physician, Dr. Li Zhisui.
General Reading Habits
Mao was an exceptionally prolific reader who:
- Often read late into the night and would sometimes read for entire days
- Traveled with boxes of books, even during military campaigns
- Annotated books extensively with his own commentary and thoughts
- Reread favorite texts multiple times throughout his life
- Maintained the habit even during illness and old age
Favorite Categories and Works
Classical Chinese Literature:
- The Twenty-Four Histories (二十四史) - he read these multiple times
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义) - one of his absolute favorites
- Water Margin (水浒传) - influenced his revolutionary thinking
- Journey to the West (西游记)
- Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦)
Philosophy and History:
- Works by Confucius, though he was also critical of Confucianism
- Ancient military texts, especially Sun Tzu’s Art of War
- Historical biographies and accounts of dynastic changes
- Classical poetry, particularly Tang and Song dynasty poems
Thread-Bound Books (线装书):
You’re correct that Mao particularly loved traditional thread-bound books (xian zhuang shu). These were classical Chinese texts bound in the traditional style. Even in his later years, he preferred reading these old editions rather than modern reprints. According to Dr. Li Zhisui’s memoirs, Mao’s bed was often surrounded by stacks of these books.
Reading in Old Age
Dr. Li Zhisui’s memoir “The Private Life of Chairman Mao” reveals that even as Mao’s health declined:
- He continued reading despite failing eyesight - staff would help hold books or magnifying glasses
- He showed particular interest in historical accounts of dynastic decline and fall
- He read various classical texts including those with humorous or satirical elements
- His reading became more focused on Chinese classical works rather than Western or Marxist texts
Humorous and Satirical Works
Regarding “funny/joking books” you mentioned - Mao did enjoy:
- Classical Chinese humor and satire embedded in historical texts
- Wit and clever dialogue in novels like Romance of the Three Kingdoms
- Tang and Song dynasty poetry with playful or ironic elements
- Folk literature and popular stories that contained humor
Political and Revolutionary Reading
Earlier in life, Mao also read extensively:
- Marxist and Communist theory
- Works by Lenin and Stalin
- Western philosophy and political economy
- Contemporary Chinese reformist and revolutionary writings
Mao’s extensive reading of Chinese classical literature profoundly influenced his political thinking, military strategy, and writing style. He frequently quoted classical texts in his speeches and writings, and his understanding of Chinese history shaped his revolutionary ideology and governance approach.