Reviews
What Readers Are Saying
Reviews:
The economist
“”Among the Braves” entwines the activists’ stories with a chronicle of Hong Kong’s decades-old protest movement… The result is a book that is both a page-turner and a succinct history.” – Full review
Bloomberg
““A significant arrival…. What gives force to Among the Braves is the combination of first-hand, on-the-ground knowledge and historical sweep…. It’s a poignant book…. The powers that control Hong Kong can’t be considered victors until their history of the pro-democracy movement has been accepted. Books like “Among the Braves” only move that prospect further away.” – Full review
The Wall Street Journal
“A vivid and engrossing account of the city’s protest movement and its aftermath.” – Full review
Asian Affairs Journal
“A multi-dimensional yet intimate portrait of the 2019 protests.” – Full review
Publishers Weekly (starred)
“[A] powerful and moving debut…. Mahtani and McLaughlin weave an exhilarating narrative, full of fear and hope, frenetic improvisation, and terrifying street violence. The result is a gripping account of one of the great political tragedies of our time.”- Full review
Booklist (starred)
“In this captivating and illuminating examination of activism in Hong Kong, journalists Mahtani and McLaughlin balance historical context with up-to-the-minute reporting to convey the current climate in Hong Kong and its global implications….Written with urgency, Among the Braves chronicles the courage and dedication of activists in the face of harsh responses from the pro-Beijing government. As many of the main subjects of the book are currently imprisoned or in exile, Mahtani and McLaughlin’s report is an essential look at threats to modern democracy.” – Full review
Kirkus Reviews
“Compelling and poignant insider tales of China’s devastatingly complete anti-democracy actions.”- Full review
Advance praise:
Ben Rhodes, author of After The Fall and The World As It Is
“All of the fault lines shaping our world converged in the inspiring rise and tragic demise of Hong Kong’s protest movement–democracy and authoritarianism, capitalism and technology, nationalism and the individual yearning for liberty and community. In Among the Braves, Shibani Mahtani and Timothy McLaughlin tell a gripping, propulsive story that puts us inside the harrowing experience of people on the front lines of history, while also showing us the broader context of an increasingly assertive China determined to stamp out dissent. This is the very best kind of journalism–smart, painstaking, empathetic, and beautifully rendered.”
Kim Ghattas, author of Black Wave and The Secretary
“Seamlessly weaving history with the personal stories of brave Hong Kongers fighting to preserve the spirit of their city, Mahtani and McLaughlin deliver a poignant must-read, as they dissect exactly how democracy and freedom are lost.”
Maria Ressa, co-founder, Rappler and co-recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize
“Among the Braves is a piercing revelation….Mahtani and McLaughlin paint a vivid portrait of Hong Kong’s vibrant streets, once pulsating with hope and promise, now shrouded by the shadows of oppression. They bring us into the lives of remarkable individuals, unsung heroes—whose defiance against insurmountable odds transformed them into symbols of resistance and resilience….This is a must-read for anyone who cherishes liberty. ”
Amb. Derek Mitchell, president, National Democratic Institute
“Mahtani and McLaughlin have written a heartfelt chronicle of Hong Kong’s 2019-2020 democracy movement, centered on the courage, creativity, and sacrifice of its ‘braves’–the movement’s leading foot soldiers. This important book not only bears witness to those who put everything on the line to keep the flame of freedom and justice alive in Hong Kong, but implicitly pays tribute to the millions doing similarly around the world to defend their democratic rights and dignity in the face of autocratic assault. A timely and important read.”
Perry Link, coauthor of I Have No Enemies: The Life and Legacy of Liu Xiaobo
“Among the Braves charts the struggles of a younger generation of Hong Kongers in the glare of media spotlights as well as in the trenches of their daily lives. They exhibit both virtues and flaws; they rise and they fall. Continually, though, they walk off the page, grab you by the lapels, and make you look.”
