I would most highly recommend Jung Chang's "Mao" (2005), the definitive political and personal biography. A Red Guard at one time herself, the author's amazing personal journey and impeccable scholarship ends all romance and nonsense about the man and his "Cultural Revolution."
"The most authoritative life of the Chinese leader every written, Mao: The Unknown Story is based on a decade of research, and on interviews with many of Mao's close circle in China who have never talked before — and with virtually everyone outside China who had significant dealings with him. It is full of startling revelations, exploding the myth of the Long March, and showing a completely unknown Mao: he was not driven by idealism or ideology; his intimate and intricate relationship with Stalin went back to the 1920s, ultimately bringing him to power; he welcomed Japanese occupation of much of China; and he schemed, poisoned, and blackmailed to get his way. After Mao conquered China in 1949, his secret goal was to dominate the world. In chasing this dream he caused the deaths of 38 million people in the greatest famine in history. In all, well over 70 million Chinese perished under Mao's rule — in peacetime."
It may be bought very affordably from here: link
I have recently read this and the author's two other works, including an eye-opening biography of Tzu-Hsih (Ci-xi), and cannot more highly recommend them all for understanding of Chinese history from the end of the Manchu's to the death of Mao.
TVAG
examines another pre-painted building for WWII.
