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The Barefoot Lawyer: A Blind Man's Fight for Justice and Freedom in China Audiobook
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“[Chen’s] story is a reminder that the desire for basic human rights . . . arises from the deep well of the human spirit.”—The New York Times Book Review It was like a scene out of a thriller: One night in April 2012, China’s most famous political activist—a blind, self-taught lawyer—climbed over the wall of his heavily guarded home and escaped. After he turned up at the American embassy in Beijing, high-level negotiations finally led to his release and a new life in the United States. Chen Guangcheng is a unique figure on the world stage, but his story is even more remarkable than we knew. The son of a poor farmer in rural China, he was determined to educate himself and fight for the rights of his country’s poor, despite his disability. Repeatedly harassed, beaten, and imprisoned by Chinese authorities, in the end Chen made the most dangerous choice of all: freedom. Both a riveting memoir and a revealing portrait of modern China, The Barefoot Lawyer tells the story of a man who has never accepted limits and always believed in the power of the human spirit to overcome any obstacle.
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Tense and tightly written, [The Barefoot Lawyer] is a suspenseful window onto Chen’s struggle, with disaster constantly on the horizon.… Richly layered and vibrant, Chen’s stirring tale of bravery and perseverance in the face of oppression is a moving call to arms for the ideas of human dignity and the rule of law.
— Kirkus Reviews
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“In this brave and undaunted book, Guangcheng proves himself the very best kind of troublemaker…A gritty and insanely inspiring story of a man who has been through Hell and come out smiling, The Barefoot Lawyer represents the ultimate victory over cynicism and cruelty. Tyrants, beware!”
— Christian Bale -
“[A] riveting memoir…Chen has an excellent sense of pace and attention to detail, and he knows how to fill in the cultural gaps for those less familiar with China. The result is an eminently readable, albeit chilling memoir that will grip the attention of readers everywhere.”
— Publishers Weekly -
An astonishing story of one man’s fight to overcome personal odds for himself and for the cause of justice for the citizens of his nation.
— Booklist -
“Chen Guangcheng has a life story unlike any other you will ever read. His memoir—eloquent, accessible, and necessary—is not only about his improbable path to prominence as a human-rights activist in China. It is, above all, about the universal power of will.”
— Evan Osnos, author of Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China
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About Chen Guangcheng
Chen Guangcheng, known to many as “the barefoot lawyer,” was born in the village of Dongshigu in 1971. Blind since infancy, illiterate until his late teens, he nonetheless taught himself law and became a fiery advocate for tens of thousands of Chinese who had no voice. His escape from inhuman house arrest in China made international headlines, as did his flight to the American embassy in Beijing. In 2012 he became a student at New York University Law School; since 2013 he has been a senior research fellow at Catholic University, the Witherspoon Institute, and the Lantos Foundation. He now lives with his wife and two children in the Washington, DC, area.
About David Shih
David Shih is an actor who has done voice-over work and has worked in television, film, and theater. He has appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Unforgettable, and Law & Order, among others. His voice can be heard in video games in the Grand Theft Auto series, on History.com and the History Channel, and as the narrator for several books, including 47 Ronin and The Third Son. He is the winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award.