The book attempts to show, among other things, the Communist leader's penetrating understanding and adroit handling of problems and the brilliance of both his words and actions. Mao insisted on removing bourgeois elements that had infiltrated the government and society in favor of capitalism, "revisionists," through violent class struggle. His call to action inspired China's youth to form Red Guard groups around the country as he himself seized control of the Communist Party of China.

Part 1. Mao and the Chinese revolution / Jerome Chʻên. The impressionable age -- "The turbulent years" -- The widening horizon -- The Marxist -- The first united front -- The autumn harvest -- The revolutionary bases -- The five encirclements -- The long march -- The second united front -- War and soldiers -- Victory and negotiations -- The coup de gŕce. Part 2. Thirty-seven poems / Mao Tse-tung. Ch'angsha -- Yellow crane tower -- Chingkang Mountain -- New Year's Day -- Huich'ang -- Advance to Fukien -- The double ninth day -- March on Chian -- Attack on Nanch'ang -- The first encirclement -- The second encirclement -- Tapoti -- Loushan pass -- Three short poems -- The long march -- Mount Liup'an -- K'unlun -- Snow -- The occupation of Nanking by the PLA -- To Liu Ya-tzu -- Reply to Liu Ya-tzu -- Peitaiho -- Swimming -- The immortals -- Farewell to the god of plagues -- Return to Shaoshan -- Lushan -- Inscription on a photograph of women militia -- Reply to a friend -- Inscription on a photograph of the cave of the immortals -- Watching the opera -- Plum tree -- Winter clouds -- Reply to Kuo Mo-Jo. Appendices. Founder members of the CCP, 1921 -- The growth of the Red Army under Mao and Chu, 1927-1945 -- The itineraries of 1934-1936 -- The economic conditions of the Shenshi-Kansu-Ninghsia border region -- The relative strengths of the PLA and the KMT army, 1945-1949.