本书不仅详细地探究了历代灾荒的实况，分析了其成因和广泛、深远的影响；还例举分析了历代救荒思想的发展；更通过历代消极与积极的两种救荒政策的不同表现，记述了历代救荒政策的具体实施情况。通过对这一系列重大问题的阐释，不仅揭示了历代灾荒产生的自然原因和社会原因，而且分析了历史上各阶段灾荒的一般性和特殊性，探求并提出了许多重要而具体的防治途径和措施。本书还大量运用了统计学方法，以表格的形式展示各项数据，让读者可以切实感受到灾荒的可怕情形，体会到科学救荒的重要性。

作者邓拓的代表作

作者具有史学家的求真精神，政论家的独到见解，把灾荒从自然条件的不受控制引向对人类社会问题和社会关系的追问上，既体现了作者扎实深厚的学术和史学素养，又体现了作者对民生疾苦和人类社会关系的关注

全新精校，更加完善的版本

邓拓（19121966），福建闽侯人，原名邓子健，笔名有邓云特、马南邨等。无产阶级革命战士，当代杰出的新闻工作者、政论家、历史学家、诗人和杂文家。著有《中国救荒史》《燕山夜话》等。

目录

写在重印本的前面······················································001

例言·····································································003

绪言·····································································004

第一编历代灾荒的史实分析

第一章灾荒的实况···················································009

第一节灾情总述·················································009

第二节灾荒发展的趋势和特征·······························047

第二章灾荒的成因···················································056

第一节灾荒发生的自然条件··································056

第二节造成灾荒的社会因素··································073

第三章灾荒的实际影响············································109

第一节灾荒促成社会变乱·····································109

第二节灾荒招致经济衰落·····································143

第二编历代救荒思想的发展

第一章天命主义的禳弭论·········································163

第二章消极救济论···················································168

第一节遇灾治标·················································168

第二节灾后补救·················································187

第三章积极预防论···················································205

第一节改良社会条件···········································205

第二节改良自然条件···········································213

第三编历代救荒政策的实施

第一章关于巫术的记载············································227

第二章历代消极救荒的政策······································237

第一节治标政策·················································237

第二节灾后补救政策···········································300

第三章历代积极救荒的政策······································345

第一节改良社会条件的具体政策····························345

第二节改良自然条件的具体政策····························384

附录中国历代救荒大事年表···································407