The author has not only traced the history of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) but also that of the People's Republic of China (PRC) during its formative years - the overthrow of the Manchu Dynasty, Japanese Occupation, the formation of the Koumintang Government under Sun Yatsen and, the rise of the Communist Party, the Long March, the ouster and flight of General Chiang Kai-shek to Formosa (Taiwan) and the ultimate formation of the PRC.

More interestingly, the author probes the ethos and psyche of the Chinese leadership, past and present. He explains how deeply the philosophy of war and statecraft as propounded by Sun Tsu is ingrained and embedded even in modern China. His insightful exposition on the chain of command and the war-fighting philosophy of the PLA is masterful, making the book a must-read not only for all members of the Armed Forces, but also for strategists and military historians. In short, anyone with any interest in the awakening dragon that is China.