Summary

Osnos begins Chapter Five by stating that prior to the reprivatization of the Chinese economy, the primary enemy of the CCP was class. The government sought to make all people equally wealthy, or more accurately equally poor, and income inequality fell to extremely low levels. This drive for equality entered all aspects of society; athletic competition, personal enrichment, and even ranks within the military were sharply discouraged. Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms, however, dramatically reintroduced class divisions in Chinese society. Chinese families became obsessed and displaying wealth. The first group of people to do successfully was referred to admirably as the “Got Rich First Crowd.” Behind them, a new, cosmopolitan middle class emerged, adopting many of the consumption habits of middle class Americans. This pursuit of material wealth was eagerly passed on to children. Parents drove their children to succeed at this highest...