'Through fascinating details and keen insights, Chris Horton’s exemplary storytelling brings to life Taiwan’s complex political and social circumstances. Ghost Island is an absolutely compelling read'
Shawna Yang Ryan, award-winning author of Green Island
'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
'For the past decade, Chris 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. The book is a powerful testament to Taiwan's transformation from an afterthought in the global imagination to a beacon of high-functioning liberal values, a repository of tech expertise and soft power, and a symbol of democratic resistance against authoritarian coercion. This accessible, entertaining and immaculately researched book is the perfect introduction for foreign audiences curious to learn more about "the indispensable island." The book does not shy away from dealing with Taiwan's complicated status, and its unenviable position between vying superpowers, but instead of situating Taiwan's story solely in the context of cross-Strait "tensions," it centres Taiwanese experiences and perspectives. Informed by the author's long experience of covering the day-to-day of Taiwanese politics, economy and society, the book rewards readers with a nuanced and enlightening account of how Taiwan became what it is today'
Dr Jonathan Sullivan, co-author of Taiwan: A Contested Democracy Under Threat and former Director of the China Policy Institute
'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: Recipes and Stories from the Island Nation
'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 at the China Power Project and former senior advisor and acting director for Taiwan policy in the US Department of Defense
'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 author of You Must Take Part in Revolution
'Horton’s retelling of Taiwan’s past and present through the eyes of everyday people who experienced Taiwan’s highs and lows firsthand 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
'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, author of The Hidden Hand
'Accessible and borne 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
Shawna Yang Ryan, award-winning author of Green Island
'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
'For the past decade, Chris 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. The book is a powerful testament to Taiwan's transformation from an afterthought in the global imagination to a beacon of high-functioning liberal values, a repository of tech expertise and soft power, and a symbol of democratic resistance against authoritarian coercion. This accessible, entertaining and immaculately researched book is the perfect introduction for foreign audiences curious to learn more about "the indispensable island." The book does not shy away from dealing with Taiwan's complicated status, and its unenviable position between vying superpowers, but instead of situating Taiwan's story solely in the context of cross-Strait "tensions," it centres Taiwanese experiences and perspectives. Informed by the author's long experience of covering the day-to-day of Taiwanese politics, economy and society, the book rewards readers with a nuanced and enlightening account of how Taiwan became what it is today'
Dr Jonathan Sullivan, co-author of Taiwan: A Contested Democracy Under Threat and former Director of the China Policy Institute
'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: Recipes and Stories from the Island Nation
'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 at the China Power Project and former senior advisor and acting director for Taiwan policy in the US Department of Defense
'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 author of You Must Take Part in Revolution
'Horton’s retelling of Taiwan’s past and present through the eyes of everyday people who experienced Taiwan’s highs and lows firsthand 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
'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, author of The Hidden Hand
'Accessible and borne 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