Witnesses of the Times
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Summary
Editor's review
The book's value lies in placing corporate history within a grand narrative of the era rather than compiling case studies. Readers can clearly see how these "witnesses of an era" seized historical opportunities, survived in the cracks, grew through competition and became leaders in their fields. It offers nuanced portraits of famous entrepreneurs such as Li Shufu, Lu Guanqiu and Zong Qinghou at key decisions and in their inner journeys, valuable material for understanding China's first generation of entrepreneurs. For readers seeking to understand contemporary Chinese business logic and the driving forces of the private economy, this is a work of both historical value and reading depth. It offers no simple success formulas, but a real business epic written by resilience, wisdom and contingency amid a complex era.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the history of China's reform and opening-up and the development of the private economy
- Professionals in corporate management, strategy research or business analysis
- Entrepreneurs and operators seeking lessons and inspiration from benchmark companies' growth
- Social science enthusiasts curious about Zhejiang's regional economic model and entrepreneurship
Not a good fit for
- Readers looking for quick business tricks or success formulas
- Readers impatient with documentary corporate history and grand narrative
Reading tips
- Reading alongside key milestones in China's reform and opening-up (such as Deng Xiaoping's southern tour and WTO accession) deepens appreciation of how the era shaped corporate development.
- Readers may read selectively by industry or entrepreneur; the structure is clear and chapters are relatively independent.
- Reflect on how the core elements of "Zhejiang merchant spirit" appear in the book, and what has changed and endured in today's business environment.
About the publisher
Since its founding in 1984, Zhejiang University Press has published across fields ranging from science, engineering, agriculture and medicine to the humanities and social sciences, covering both academic monographs and general-interest titles. Judging from the 211 books in our catalog, its strengths lie in management, finance, social sciences, world history and biography. Representative works include Wu Xiaobo's financial titles such as "Day by Day" and "Tencent Biography", translations in the social sciences such as Chizuko Ueno's "Patriarchy and Capitalism", and biographical and historical works such as "Alexander Hamilton" and "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire". Its authors include Chinese and international scholars and writers such as Wu Xiaobo, Chizuko Ueno and Ron Chernow. On the evidence of the catalog, the press combines academic translation with accessible finance and history writing, giving equal weight to specialist publishing and popular reading. It should be noted that public information on the press's full publishing structure and characteristics is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序言
- 第一章 “史前”创业家的大冒险
- 吴仁宝：“天下第一村”缔造者
- 年广久：“中国第一商贩”的坎坷命运
- 何享健的“美的”人生
- 鲁冠球：商界“不倒翁”
- 【时代人物】吴敬琏：中国经济的“良心”
- 第二章 野蛮生长
- 小岗村的“生死契约”
- 温州“八大王”
- 刘氏兄弟的创业维艰
- 李书福：从“野照相”到“汽车疯子”
- 【时代人物】张五常：中国经济制度分析第一人
- 第三章 中国公司元年
- 王石的道路与梦想
- 马胜利：成也承包，败也承包
- 柳传志：在商言商，富而有道
- 张瑞敏：做时代的企业家
- 【时代人物】江平：法治“布道者”
- 第四章 走出体制的“企业家”
- 宗庆后：一瓶水成就“中国首富”
- 任正非：守正为非
- 史玉柱：“中国最著名的失败者”
- 王健林的野心与边界
- 【时代人物】金庸：把武侠小说写进文学史的“一代宗师”
- 第五章 进击的“92派”
- 俞敏洪：走下讲台，走向成功
- 董明珠：拥抱孤独
- 熊晓鸽：中国互联网的幕后推手
- “万通六君子”的青春岁月
- 【时代人物】李宁与“李宁”
- 第六章 互联网时代
- 丁磊：热爱和专注
- 刘强东：强者做东
- 马化腾的“企鹅帝国”
- 马云：成功的偶然与必然
- 【时代人物】袁隆平：“杂交水稻之父”
- 第七章 在新世纪重新崛起
- 张近东：“大象”转身
- 郭台铭：走出“紫禁城”
- 李想的理想与现实
- 姚劲波：重新出发
- 【时代人物】杨利伟：“中华飞天第一人”
- 第八章 新经济的颠覆者
- 雷军：“站在风口上”顺势而为
- 程维：战争与和平
- 张小龙：蜕变与逆袭
- 王兴：九败一胜的密码
- 【时代人物】屠呦呦：迟到的诺奖与永恒的精神
FAQ
What distinguishes this book from other corporate histories?
Is the book overly laudatory and lacking a critical perspective?
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About the author
Chen Run, born in 1983 in Xishui, Hubei Province, is a financial writer, corporate biographer and business historian. He is the founder and president of Beijing Runshang Culture and a member of the China Writers Association. Long engaged in writing corporate histories and business biographies, he previously served as a special commentator for CCTV's securities information channel. His works include biographies of Lei Jun, Zall and Chen Guangwei, with several titles licensed overseas. His writing spans Chinese and foreign business civilization, from long-run national business histories such as 200 Years of German Business, 500 Years of British Business, 400 Years of French Business, 500 Years of Japanese Business and 100 Years of Korean Business to entrepreneur biographies and collections, including works on Elon Musk. Other titles, such as Witnesses of the Era and Merchants and Chinese Society: A History of Symbiotic Evolution, focus on the relationship between businesspeople and society. Classified under finance, management and biography, his books address general readers and are known for tracing business lineages and portraying entrepreneurs' experiences.
