I want to read about Mao but it seems like the writings on the subject often have different perspectives. I want a biography with minimal interpretation of the events and little political leaning, something that’s really just about the historical facts of the situation and as unbiased as possible. Additionally, I want to know what other texts I should read, maybe books or writings by Mao himself. Should I read the little red book? Thanks in advance!
So, I think I really good biography to start with is the one by Ross Terrill. But given it was published in 1980, some might find it a bit dated. There is, in fact, a newer biography from 2012 by Alexander Pantsov and Steven Levine which I haven’t read yet but I’ve heard good things about. In terms of books about Mao and his works that are a little less biographical, the all-time classic is Red Star Over China by Edgar Snow, while Julia Lovell’s new book about Maoism I think really breaks down some preconceived monolithic beliefs about Mao and Maoism and it’s international nature.
In terms of works by Mao himself, there’s nothing wrong with starting with the Little Red Book. As someone who studies armed subversive movements in Latin America and governmental responses to it, I found that his 1937 book On Guerrilla Warfare was particularly influential and a good place to learn about early Maoist thought