: The book estimates over 70 million perished under his rule, including 38 million during the Great Leap Forward famine. Reception and Accuracy

The book's reception varies sharply between the popular press and academic experts: Bad element | Books | The Guardian

: They argue Mao was not driven by idealism but by a personal lust for power , using blackmail and terror to dominate colleagues.

: The book claims key events like the battle at Luding Bridge were manufactured propaganda and that Mao was often carried in a litter while others suffered.