Some of the group of "five grassroots intellectuals" authored both books. Most of them are experienced journalists, editors or TV commentators.
Huang Jisu, one of the five authors and a sociologist and editor of the Chinese version of the Journal of International Social Sciences, said in the mid 1990s, many elite Chinese "blindly admire the western world and begin to lose confidence in China," but still some intellectuals did not believe China was like "a drowning boat with little hope," -- a prevailing thoughts at the time.
It was in those years that radical intellectuals in China started to speak out against the western world's shortcomings and reaffirm China's confidence to depend on itself.
"Both books are about interpreting China-West relations," Zhang explained. "The only difference is that 13 years later, China's role has turned from 'leading itself' into 'leading the world'."
A commentary on the news365.com.cn said the book gives full vent to Chinese nationalism and anger toward western bias about China but in a superficial and arrogant way.
"However, it's necessary to have such a vent," it said.
Although the book is a hit among academicians and scholars, it seems to poorly resonate among ordinary readers.
Major book retailers such as the Beijing Book Mansion in downtown Beijing and the Zhongguancun Book Building, have the book put on inconspicuous shelves labeled with "Chinese politics." Usually best-sellers are placed at entrances for special promotion.
"It does not sell well," said a saleswoman at the store. "Few people linger at this section."
A customer surnamed Wu at the store told Xinhua that the book was "detached from everyday life," and in a time of economic meltdown and heavy work pressure, she would not pay attention to it.
At Douban.com, a popular online community for book, movie and music reviews, the book has been attacked by harsh comments. About 300 out of 400 netizens evaluated the book poorly, with only one star out of five.
It was merely "a scrambling of random and irrational thoughts," one post said.
At an online community of major Chinese portal Sina.com.cn, a large majority of the 163 blog posts discussing the book voiced opposition.
A netizen said the book's title was eye-catching and just for the purpose of promotion, but the content was poor and radical.
"It tells us China is good enough. Don't be self-critical. Don't be caught in internal problems. The West is just a paper tiger. What else? Nothing else."
Some scholars also expressed their dissatisfaction with the book.
Shen Dingli, deputy dean of the International Relations Department of the Shanghai-based Fudan University, said the book was "too extreme and nationalistic" which shows Chinese intellectuals are ridiculous and actually demeaning their own nation.
Shi Yinhong, professor of the Beijing-based Renmin University of China, said the book written by the leftists was full of criticism but lacked of "constructive suggestions."
(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2009)
