This groundbreaking book tells the story of China's incredible rise to the status of global economic superpower through the lens of labor and land. Despite the country's impressive growth on the world stage, China continues to face considerable challenges at home as it struggles to develop a robust domestic population of consumers. Drawing inspiration from EP Thompson's classic study of England's transition to capitalism, Teemu Ruskola uses comparative analysis between China and Great Britain to explain how China has made and re-made its working class over the last fifty years. Engaging and accessible, this book is required reading for anyone who wants to better understand the political economy of one of the world's leading economic powers.