Yu Hua weaves together his personal experiences and anecdotes into a broader narrative of China’s tumultuous history and rapid transformation. Throughout the book, Yu Hua’s life serves as a microcosm of the nation’s collective experience, illustrating the impact of political, social, and economic changes on individual lives. As he states in the introduction, “[s]o when in this book I write of China’s pain, I am registering my pain too, because China’s pain is mine” (iii). He therefore argues that individual experiences are not removed from but reflect national politics.

An example of how Yu Hua’s personal story reflects the larger national narrative is his account of growing up during the Cultural Revolution and conceptualizing Mao’s authority. In the chapter titled “People,” Yu Hua recounts his childhood notion that “the people are Chairman Mao, and Chairman Mao is the people” (3). This seemingly innocent idea, born out of the pervasive cult of personality surrounding Mao, encapsulates the intense ideological fervor and conformity that characterized the era. Through his vivid descriptions of the Tiananmen Square protests and their aftermath, Yu Hua presents his personal journey as a microcosm of the collective hopes, fears, and disillusionment of a nation grappling with the profound influence of Mao’s legacy.