Review of American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan
Posted: 23 Aug 2024, 22:45
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan" by Wu Sing-yung, MD, PhD.]
American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan unfolds the struggles of Taiwan as she recovers from the Second World War. This book is a documentation of the friendship and alliance formed during a very critical period in the history of Taiwan. The book explores the profound impact that American gold has had on the economic and political development of Taiwan at such a dire time in its history. If you ever imagined what would have been present-day Taiwan if American gold hadn’t been carried through to hump to Taiwan, then this historically insightful book is one you must pick up.
American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan by Wu Sing-yung, MD, PHD deeply outlines the position of Taiwan’s post-Second World War era, focusing on the pivotal role played by American gold as a means of providing financial aid and shaping the economy and political framework of Taiwan. The book is meticulous and well-researched documentation of Taiwan’s and American relations and the implication and impact of American gold on the past and present recovery of Taiwan. The book explores themes of political dynamics, colonization, and economic dependency. The narrative is dense, as it not only analyzes the economic strategies employed by the United States but also how those strategies were received and implemented by the Taiwanese government. The author's careful and balanced research approach makes this book an important contribution to the study of Taiwan’s history and the United States during the post-second world war and subsequent Cold War. The plot of this book is a chronological exploration of events and their impacts. For instance, the impact the high consumption of meat by the American officers had on China, a vegetable-eating country.
One of the standout points in the book is the author’s meticulous research and the manner in which complex concepts are made accessible to readers instead of being a point of confusion. I also commend the author for providing graphics throughout the book; these graphical representations help to further back up readers' understanding while also showing the author’s effort to make the book more accessible. The writing style is both scholarly and engaging, and the tone has a narrative edge, adding to the credibility of the history being told. I also like that despite the emphasis on the impact and important role played by American gold in Taiwan's economy, the author also argues about the dependency this had on Taiwan’s economy as well. For instance, the stabilization of the New Taiwan Dollar, which was aided by American gold, reveals the extent of Taiwan’s economic dependency on American gold, which still undeniably remains in the Taiwan government's vault.
I appreciate reading historical books, so it was a fun read for me. However, the heavily lax economic concepts of Taiwan and America might be too much for some readers to follow along.
The book is perfectly edited; I find no typographical errors in the book. The tone used in the book is very precise and carries a clear, structured, and logical argument that readers would be able to relate to. I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars for the author’s accessible delivery of historical information and the ability to meticulously make a cohesive narrative both informative and engaging. I highly recommend this book to readers interested in a broader insight into the Taiwan-American ally as well as Taiwan’s post-war history.
******
American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan
View: on Bookshelves
American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan unfolds the struggles of Taiwan as she recovers from the Second World War. This book is a documentation of the friendship and alliance formed during a very critical period in the history of Taiwan. The book explores the profound impact that American gold has had on the economic and political development of Taiwan at such a dire time in its history. If you ever imagined what would have been present-day Taiwan if American gold hadn’t been carried through to hump to Taiwan, then this historically insightful book is one you must pick up.
American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan by Wu Sing-yung, MD, PHD deeply outlines the position of Taiwan’s post-Second World War era, focusing on the pivotal role played by American gold as a means of providing financial aid and shaping the economy and political framework of Taiwan. The book is meticulous and well-researched documentation of Taiwan’s and American relations and the implication and impact of American gold on the past and present recovery of Taiwan. The book explores themes of political dynamics, colonization, and economic dependency. The narrative is dense, as it not only analyzes the economic strategies employed by the United States but also how those strategies were received and implemented by the Taiwanese government. The author's careful and balanced research approach makes this book an important contribution to the study of Taiwan’s history and the United States during the post-second world war and subsequent Cold War. The plot of this book is a chronological exploration of events and their impacts. For instance, the impact the high consumption of meat by the American officers had on China, a vegetable-eating country.
One of the standout points in the book is the author’s meticulous research and the manner in which complex concepts are made accessible to readers instead of being a point of confusion. I also commend the author for providing graphics throughout the book; these graphical representations help to further back up readers' understanding while also showing the author’s effort to make the book more accessible. The writing style is both scholarly and engaging, and the tone has a narrative edge, adding to the credibility of the history being told. I also like that despite the emphasis on the impact and important role played by American gold in Taiwan's economy, the author also argues about the dependency this had on Taiwan’s economy as well. For instance, the stabilization of the New Taiwan Dollar, which was aided by American gold, reveals the extent of Taiwan’s economic dependency on American gold, which still undeniably remains in the Taiwan government's vault.
I appreciate reading historical books, so it was a fun read for me. However, the heavily lax economic concepts of Taiwan and America might be too much for some readers to follow along.
The book is perfectly edited; I find no typographical errors in the book. The tone used in the book is very precise and carries a clear, structured, and logical argument that readers would be able to relate to. I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars for the author’s accessible delivery of historical information and the ability to meticulously make a cohesive narrative both informative and engaging. I highly recommend this book to readers interested in a broader insight into the Taiwan-American ally as well as Taiwan’s post-war history.
******
American Gold in Post-Second World War Taiwan
View: on Bookshelves