Private Revolutions: Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction 2025

Private Revolutions offers a powerful and intimate account of China’s path toward globalised capitalism, seen through the eyes of women navigating the tides of sweeping social and economic change. The book sheds light on the human cost of rapid industrialisation, particularly the sprawling factories powered by rural migrant workers—individuals whose labour was vital but who were never fully permitted to call the cities their home.
Through four compelling personal narratives, the book explores the diverse struggles faced by women from both rural and urban backgrounds. These stories intersect with key issues such as the population control policy, abortion rights, and the hukou system—highlighting the enduring presence of state control well into the 21st century.
While the frequent shifts between timelines can be disorienting at times, they ultimately reflect the evolving nature of each woman’s experience in a rapidly transforming society.
Overall, Private Revolutions is a thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking read, offering an illuminating perspective on personal resilience and determination.

A Thought-Provoking Insight into Contemporary Life in China
This book offers a compelling and eye-opening glimpse into life in modern China. I was particularly struck by the unrelenting hardships many people face, and the powerful depiction of how routine, inequality, and lack of personal agency shape daily existence. The comments on the education system were especially affecting, highlighting the immense pressure placed on children and the deeply embedded social disparities. The author exposes how quickly government decisions can transform lives, often with little warning—an unsettling but fascinating reality.
Despite the power of the content, I found the book’s structure a bit challenging. The frequent shifts between different women’s stories sometimes made it hard to keep track of who was who. The journalistic style, though informative, created emotional distance, making it difficult to connect with each woman as an individual. I deeply admired their courage and resilience, but I found myself wishing for more emotional depth or character development—something a more novelistic approach might have provided.
Overall, while I didn’t find the book emotionally engaging in the way I had hoped, I still found it a valuable and enlightening read. It’s a sobering yet important portrait of perseverance in the face of systemic obstacles.

My Thoughts on Private Revolutions

This book really stayed with me. As someone who’s lived in China and cares deeply about feminism, I found Yuan Yang’s portrayal of these women’s lives incredibly moving — and quietly radical. It’s not a dramatic story, but that’s exactly the point. The strength and resistance are in the everyday choices, the compromises, the small acts of defiance.

What I appreciated most was the honesty — messy, complicated, real. It made me reflect on my own life and privileges, and also on how much women everywhere share, even across such different worlds. Well done, especially for a first book!

An interesting account of 4 women growing up in China, just as the country opened up to western business investment through the 90’s up to the Covid pandemic. The women come mostly from the countryside and aspire through education to have better lives than their parents. The book shines a light on the practical difficulties of moving to cities from the country, the hukou system of registration and the effect it has on life chances and access to education, healthcare, housing, jobs and ultimately a pension.

Private Revolutions by Yuan Yang moved me deeply. As a 46-year-old mother, I connected with the strength and vulnerability of the women in this book. Their stories of perseverance, hope, and quiet defiance in the face of incredible challenges reminded me of the resilience we all carry—often quietly. Yang’s writing is honest, compassionate, and eye-opening. She brings modern China to life in a way that feels both personal and profound. I found myself thinking about these women long after I finished reading. This is a powerful, important book that I’ll be recommending to my daughters—and my friends.