To predict China’s future, it is not enough to know its past. Rather, we must understand how China perceives its own past, which frames the mindset of its leaders and the demands of its populace. That is why our top pick for September is a new book focusing on how China’s perception of its role in World War II has changed from wronged victim to defiant hero. This mirrors a broader change in China (reflected in its more nationalistic elements) where the “century of humiliation” narrative