[2] The book is based on Junker's research of Falun Gong and the democracy movement through interviews and observations in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, conducting field visits from 2006 through 2015 and analyzing materials from archives and organizational publications.

In contrast, Falun Gong's activism broke with tradition through "its grassroots-based, diffuse nonviolent protest campaigns" to leverage public opinion and resources to pressure authorities.

It is considered essential reading for scholars interested in the Chinese diaspora, social movements, and the intersection of religion and politics in contemporary China.

[1][3][4][5] Chengpang Lee from the National University of Singapore criticized Junker's claims that Falun Gong has seen a reduction in politicization since 2000, and noted that Junker did not fully discuss the fact that Falun Gong published the "Nine Commentaries on the CCP" in 2004 and subsequently launched a campaign encouraging people to withdraw from CCP membership.

Lee also argued that Junker did not fully address the role of Li Hongzhi's leadership in the movement, and their usage of traditional Chinese cultural elements such as symbols of the Tang dynasty.