1. One of the sections that I found most interesting in Wasserman’s book is the one in which he discusses the similarities between China and the United States despite our general criticism of the country. In it he points out that China is developing in a way similar to the way the U.S. was developing in the late 1800’s and  early 1900’s. What similarities do you see between the United States and China? Do you think that we can look at China as a sort of time bubble to help us better examine the developmental history of the United States?

2. Mao’s rule was one of mistakes and pronounced hypocrisy, and many view him in a negative light. Despite the horrible events of the Great Leap Forward and the culturally destructive aftermath of The Cultural Revolution, do you think that China would be in the power position it is in today without these missteps and experimentation with culture, politics and global participation?