The book offers an objective study of one of the most controversial events of the 20th century, analyzing its causes, course, and consequences. The Cultural Revolution surprises contemporaries with its cruelty and absurdity. Among its manifestations are the pointless destruction of sparrows, public executions and tortures of so-called “enemies of the people,” as well as ridiculous economic projects—such as the attempt to increase metallurgical production using archaic methods of smelting iron by peasants. Nevertheless, this phenomenon was quite complex. A number of questions arise: why did people support Mao Zedong, the initiator of the Cultural Revolution? Which Chinese politicians implemented his ideas and why did they agree to this? What were Mao’s motives for starting the Cultural Revolution? The book provides a comprehensive and objective understanding of the outcomes and consequences of the Cultural Revolution, and also examines the reasons and potential positive aspects of this social experiment.