People or Monsters created a sensation when it was published in 1979, and became a central element in the effort in China to reflect on and understand the course of Chinese social development, particularly over the course of the Cultural Revolution.
"[2]: 228 In his memoir, he said that the story describes a local "planned economy" that was "in practice, nothing but a continuous flow of public resources into the private pockets of the power-holders" and a "network of relationships, that reciprocal exchange of power and cash.
He describes "Weakening of the Backbone" as the affliction of the times,[2]: 222 and in one of his memoirs he wrote of the spiritual malaise he saw Chinese society suffering from.
"What was powerful about Liu's piece was it universality: everyone in China knew people like Wang Shouxin, and it made everyone think of all those who had not been brought to justice.
"[4]: 221 A major concern of the author was who, in fact, will be the lone person to speak out when it is needed (particularly in the face of harsh intimidation).
It was the first in a series of works describing corruption and social problems, and was noteworthy for its use of fact-based reporting (reportage) in place of pure fiction.