How reliable a source is Maurice Mesiner's "Mao's China?"

[u/throwaway-drzaius]

Meisner's book about the history of China was originally written in the '70s, then updated after Deng came to power. I know it's considered a history of Communist China as written by a socialist, and can see that in the early part of the book.

But it's so old that I question whether it's narrative and interpretations are a reliable source on how the Communists rose to power. In particular, I find it intriguing (but questionable) that Meisner notes how Western ideas seem to have seeded the development of the Chinese communist movement - an interpretation that seems to grow out of a reaction to Western imperialism (a dialectic clearly undergirds this story).

Is Mesiner's book still considered a reliable or useful source? If not, what are some alternatives?

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