'A brilliantly researched and analysed account of consumerism during the Mao era. It richly documents the survival of consumer impulses and behaviour amid the puritanical ideology of the early People's Republic. This is a crucial book for understanding the social, economic and political history of the Mao era, and the tensions and tragedies resulting from the Communist Party's state capitalism.' Julia Lovell, author of Maoism: A Global History
'This outstanding book demands that we look again at an entire period, and reassess it from top to bottom.Gerth examines the period of Mao's China and asks how we would re-read the period if we were to think of it as driven by consumerism, a project that means that if you want to engage in the scholarly discussion around consumerism in China a huge topic you have to read and deal with Gerth.To understand why Chinese consumers have behaved as they have, and to understand the continuities between the sharply contrasting historical periods that they have lived through, Karl Gerth's is now the scholarly standard work without question.' Rana Mitter, author of China's Good War: How Memory of the World War II Past is Shaping a Nationalist Future
'Karl Gerth liberates the study of Maoist China from the Cold War obfuscations of too much academic output.He moves beyond simplistic notions of the capitalism/socialism binary that has so distorted our understanding of 20th-century China, and brings back the study of political economy to the center of debate in the bargain.' Oscar Sanchez-Sibony, University of Hong Kong
'Hugely stimulating and deeply researched, this book shows just how important material possessions and desires were in Mao's China. Essential reading for anyone who is trying to understand how consumption became as powerful as it is.' Frank Trentmann, author of Empire of Things: How We Became a World of Consumers, from the Fifteenth Century to the Twenty-First
'This volume could be useful for course discussions in economics, political science, psychology, and sociology Highly recommended.' M. G. Roskin, Choice
' an engaging and enlightening read. In addition to being an important contribution to our understanding of consumerism, politics, and society in Mao's China, the book is also a valuable teaching resource, particularly for graduate-level courses on the history of capitalism and twentieth-century China.' Janson M. Kelly, Pacific Affairs
' this book is an indispensable addition for those who are interested in the history of world consumerism and that of modern China. The rich source materials and detailed notes are invaluable sources for future research. The book's emphasis on historical continuity and its exploration of the gap between discourses and practices are also thought-provoking.' Yikun Zhao, China Information
'a must-read for those who are interested in the Chinese economy, history and cultural studies.' Yuanbo Qi, Europe-Asia Studies
'Unending Capitalism is a well-researched book about rising consumerism within a socialist society. The book provides a detailed look at how the need for speedy economic growth and industrialisation led to the CCP's decision to prioritise capitalism over long-term socialist goals.' Jiarui Wu, China Perspectives
