Ghost Nation - by Chris Horton (Paperback)

About the Book

Veteran journalist Chris Horton delivers a gripping, urgent and approachable account of Taiwan's rich history and precarious present. Based on a decade of on-the-ground reporting, he reveals how this vibrant democracy and tech colossus emerged against all odds.

Book Synopsis

The gripping story of Taiwan's rich past and precarious present from the country's top foreign correspondent, now with an updated afterword.

'Compelling and important' - Rana Mitter, The Observer
'Few books qualify as essential reading, but Ghost Nation is one of them' - Clive Hamilton, bestselling co-author of Hidden Hand
'A thoughtful, illuminating exploration of Taiwan's past and present as well as its possible future' - Booklist

Taiwan is the geopolitical tinderbox of the twenty-first century, a nation whose fate directly impacts every major economy, every global political alliance and even the future of AI. Sitting at the heart of the great power struggle between China and the US, the country is the linchpin of the modern world - yet it remains profoundly misunderstood.

From colonial outpost to a thriving democracy and global technological superpower, Taiwan's journey is one of incredible resilience against 400 years of foreign rule. In Ghost Nation, veteran journalist Chris Horton draws on over a decade of first-hand reporting to provide a panoramic and compelling history. He exposes the fundamental weakness of China's sovereignty claims and illuminates the strength of a nation forged by struggle.

Ghost Nation is the essential account of a people fighting for their self-determination and democracy and the definitive guide to understanding the current threat to global order. The world's stability rests on Taiwan's survival.

'Indispensable and timely' - Melissa Chan, Emmy-nominated international affairs correspondent
'An unmissable account . . . Accessible, entertaining and immaculately researched' - Dr Jonathan Sullivan, co-author of Taiwan: A Contested Democracy Under Threat and former director of the China Policy Institute

Review Quotes

"[A] compelling and important book on [Taiwan]'s recent history and politics . . . crisp and deeply researched" --Rana Mitter, The Observer

"If you think it's an exaggeration to say that Taiwan is the fulcrum on which the world's balance of power rests, then Chris Horton's book should change your mind. Apart from crushing a vibrant democracy, a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would be a victory for authoritarianism everywhere. Few books qualify as essential reading, but Ghost Nation is one of them" --Clive Hamilton, co-author of Hidden Hand

"Indispensable and timely - this is an urgent moment for everyone to better understand Taiwan, one of the most interesting democracies in the world - written engagingly by the international journalist who knows the country best" --Melissa Chan, Emmy-nominated international affairs correspondent and co-author of You Must Take Part in Revolution

"Through fascinating details and keen insights, Chris Horton's exemplary storytelling brings to life Taiwan's complex political and social circumstances. Ghost Nation is an absolutely compelling read" --Shawna Yang Ryan, award-winning author of Green Island

"For the past decade, Horton has been one of the most reliable and incisive foreign journalists based in Taipei. He has used that experience, knowledge and access to produce an unmissable account of Taiwan's political trajectory . . . Accessible, entertaining and immaculately researched" --Dr Jonathan Sullivan, co-author of Taiwan: A Contested Democracy Under Threat and former director of the China Policy Institute

"Horton's retelling of Taiwan's past and present through the eyes of everyday people who experienced Taiwan's highs and lows first-hand will leave readers with a deep sense of empathy and hope. It is a must-read for anyone invested in peace and understanding on either side of the Taiwan Strait" --Lev Nachman, assistant professor at National Taiwan University and author of Contested Taiwan: Sovereignty, Social Movements, and Party Formation

"Accessible and born from on-the-ground reporting. Delves far beyond the headlines, deep into the history and the forgotten personalities that helped make modern Taiwan" --Dr Samir Puri, author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing

"Taiwan is too often reduced to a geopolitical talking point . . . In Ghost Nation, journalist Chris Horton offers a vivid, clear-eyed account of a place that has defied the odds. Far from a passive player, Taiwan emerges here as a vibrant democracy shaped by its own history, people and political will. Drawing on over a decade of reporting, Horton reveals the deeper stakes of Taiwan's survival - and why its future matters to us all" --Clarissa Wei, author of Made in Taiwan

"Ghost Nation is a vivid, timely and deeply informed portrait of modern Taiwan that has been masterfully crafted through Horton's unparalleled on-the-ground insights. His work blends digestible insights on contemporary Taiwan with richly drawn historical anecdotes, culminating in a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how Taiwan's complex past has made it into the vibrant democracy it is today" --Lauren Dickey, senior associate to the China Power Project and former senior advisor and acting director for Taiwan policy in the US Department of Defense

"From the longest period of martial law in Asia to the region's greatest beacon of freedom and democracy, Taiwan has had a history of extremes. Chris Horton's incisive political history unpacks a remarkable and unknown story" --Joe Studwell, journalist and author of How Asia Works

"News headlines constantly warn that Taiwan may bring the US and China to war. But Horton takes us beyond the sabre-rattling to reveal Taiwan on its own terms - a country whose history and culture are unique, and whose people have forged a democratic nation against all odds" --Bethany Allen, author of Beijing Rules

"Gripping, urgent and approachable . . . full of local texture, linguistic nuance and social insight rarely found in foreign reporting on Taiwan" --Julia Bergström, Taiwan Business TOPICS, American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan

"Thoroughly researched and packed with interviews . . . lucid and up-to-date" --Robert Wihtol, The Strategist, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

"Punchy . . . at heart a journalistic history of Taiwan's long march to become "Asia's freest country"" --The Spectator

"A thoughtful, illuminating exploration of Taiwan's past and present as well as its possible future" --Booklist

About the Author

Chris Horton is a reporter who has covered cross-strait politics, domestic politics, the economy, culture and breaking news in Taiwan for The New York Times, Bloomberg News, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Financial Times and Nikkei Asia. He has lived in Taiwan since 2015, and in China and Hong Kong for the decade preceding that. Ghost Nation is his first book.