The Son of Taiwan: The Life of Chen Shui-bian and his Dreams for Taiwan

The Son of Taiwan: The Life of Chen Shui-bian and His Dreams for Taiwan is the reissue of a 2000 autobiography (translated by David J. Toman from the original Chinese). Part memoir and part political manifesto Chen tells the story of how the son of a poor tenant farmer overcame his impoverished upbringing to become a lawyer and pivotal member of the democracy movement and how he went from political prisoner to legislator and mayor ofTaipei (1994-1998). The memoir sees Chen in reflective mood having unexpectedly just lost his mayoral re-election race as he lays out his political philosophy and hopes for Taiwan. Chen would soon go on to win Taiwans 2000 presidential election ending the KMTs fifty-five-year stranglehold on the presidency.