I only read the title story, which was very good speculative science fiction. It's short enough that I don't want to describe the plot at all; part ofI only read the title story, which was very good speculative science fiction. It's short enough that I don't want to describe the plot at all; part of the fun of the first couple chapters is learning what is going on. If you like scifi, you'll probably like it.
I read this at the recommendation of a friend. She recommended the full collection, which I might read through later after talking through this story with her. She and I had talked about it in the context of East Asian science fiction. I don't think the story had anything to it that would make it difficult for Western readers to understand it. It's not like the popular The Three-Body Problem, which I had felt had a superficial view of the West that was too central to the plot. The title story for On the Origin of Species and Other Stories was more universal, and even if you miss the cultural references (which are not really Korean), you'll be fine. ...more
Definitive narrative of WWII from the perspective of China. Through narrative, the book shows that China was the fourth Ally (after Britain, USSR, andDefinitive narrative of WWII from the perspective of China. Through narrative, the book shows that China was the fourth Ally (after Britain, USSR, and the US) that won the Second World War. China held out against the Japanese for longer than anyone expected. Their contributions have been unappreciated for a long time, even during the war (from the book, page 299: "In March 1943 Chiang [Kai-shek] seethed that Churchill had talked about the "Big Three" countries that would shape the postwar order; "he excludes China completely.")." Even in China, the contributions of the Nationalist government were suppressed for a long time since China immediately went into its civil war after WWII. The book tells the narrative from three perspectives: first, Chiang Kai-shek, who rightly gets more than half the text. Second, Mao, whose Communists participate somewhat, but it's clear that they are not anyone’s major concern. And third, Wang Jingwei, a Chinese Nationalist hero who tried to collaborate with the Japanese after their great early successes. His story is mostly told from the perspective of the journals of his long-time ally, Zhou Fohai. Zhou Fohai was a favorite. The diary he left behind is full of drama. On November 16, 1937, as he realized that he and the rest of the government would need to evacuate Nanjing, he has a great lament (p. 106): "This day… was the beginning of my new life… I am extremely pessimistic… China will have no more history. Why should I keep my diary anymore?" The text notes that he comforted himself with alcohol, love affairs, and trips to the movies ("sometimes twice a week"). But at this point in the war, it was mostly alcohol. I didn't know the main narrative of the war. As the story is told, you tour China's provinces as the important theaters of the war change. Generally, you visit them just before they are devastated by war. One of the biggest examples is the chapter on "The Deadly River." Chiang's government blew up the dikes on the Yellow River to help the government escape. They knew that this would cause incredible suffering. If the Japanese had done it themselves, it may have been considered the greatest atrocity they committed during the war. In the week that followed, at least half a million people were forced to find dry ground to hope for rescue. More misery followed. I chose to read this book because I'm working through a WWII perspective from each major power. This was the right choice for China. I'd also recommend for anyone generally interested in WWII or China....more
A bit overrated, this book won the 2022 Financial Times business book of the year. Like the previous year's winner, This Is How They Tell Me The WoA bit overrated, this book won the 2022 Financial Times business book of the year. Like the previous year's winner, This Is How They Tell Me The World Ends, this is a sprawling story of how important computers are for national security. Also like that book, this book felt like I was "drinking from a fire hose" by the end of it. It has short (4-8 page) chapters that jump from place to place in a disconnected narrative, which didn't work well in the second half.
Chip War is best in its first half, where it describes the history of microchips. I didn't know a lot of it, and it seemed like I was getting essential facts in a punchy narrative. Some of it felt a little oversold (the author makes it sound like if our microchips in the Vietnam War had been as good as the ones in the Persian Gulf War of 1991, we would have won the Vietnam War).
The second half was not as good. By this point, the author felt he had convinced us that we're reading about an essential and strategic technology that the U.S. needs more control over. I wasn't convinced. Even the author's epilogue says that our worst case scenario of supply-case disruption (essentially, China attacking Taiwan) would be equivalent to a shock to our economy equivalent to what we had from COVID-19. I thought to myself, "That's all?" I would imagine that if China attacked Taiwan, I'd be a lot more concerned than just a COVID-sized shock to the economy. I felt like the book was alarmist, but it failed to convince me that I should be alarmed about this specific thing as opposed to millions of other things that could go wrong in this world.
Anyway, plenty of interesting facts in here, and a fine place to start if you're interested in how the progress of Moore's law played out. ...more
Short, but detailed because it has a very narrow scope: the first Japanese embassy to the United States in 1860. Japan had been isolated for a long tiShort, but detailed because it has a very narrow scope: the first Japanese embassy to the United States in 1860. Japan had been isolated for a long time, so I was hoping for a good outsider's perspective of the USA from outsiders. Unfortunately, Japan was so self-absorbed that they had very few interesting things to say. They couldn't understand democracy. They understood slavery. They didn't like the relatively free role of women in the US. The individuals in the embassy were mostly boring characters, with a couple exceptions. "Tommy," the "ladies' man," was fun to read about. And the most important was Yukichi Fukuzawa who would become the foremost Japanese expert on the West, shaping everyone's views on the West. He was far ahead of his time on feminism, but unfortunately admired the West to the point of looking down on the Chinese and Koreans as uncivilized barbarians that needed to be dominated. Some background on the end of the Tokugawa period is helpful (if you have encountered the word "bakufu" before, you're fine; if not, you might need to use another resource like Wikipedia to help you get grounded at first). For those that know the period, this is a nice story. It's more about the Japanese though. Don't expect many insights into antebellum America....more
An accessible classic. This is one of the most important Chinese books, somewhere along the lines of Don Quixote. Like Don Quixote, this is the story An accessible classic. This is one of the most important Chinese books, somewhere along the lines of Don Quixote. Like Don Quixote, this is the story of a small group on an adventure that satirizes contemporary society and has plenty of "low" humor. I think it is easier to appreciate than Don Quixote. Children would enjoy many of the episodes in this book.
It's a relatively easy read. It exposes the reader to a bit of Chinese philosophy (Buddhism, Taoism, and a hint of Confucianism). It includes some hallmarks of Chinese literature (the Chinese exams and bureaucracy show up). It could be a good introduction to Chinese culture for people who don't want to read a history book.
I doubt I will reread it. I'm glad that I finished it, and I feel I understand Chinese culture a bit better and all that. I just think it's a bit silly for an adult to read. It would be like rereading The Wizard of Oz as an adult. Maybe I'll share it with my kids someday....more
Grief described as a rite of passage for a millennial rockstar. This is the story of how the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast coped with the disease Grief described as a rite of passage for a millennial rockstar. This is the story of how the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast coped with the disease and death of her mother. We join the author in her grief and how it takes her deeper into her Korean heritage. I enjoyed it even though I'm not a Korean-American, and I'm not a person who dealt with the early death of a parent. But I can relate as an aging millennial who regrets that the time I spend with my parents is shrinking. The author's writing is friendly to non-Koreans. Although she uses specific words for Korean dishes, I could still follow it since she describes each dish (both in terms of its recipe and its importance to the author and her family). The book is also a story about what life was life for a (semi-?)famous musician shortly before she achieves success. It makes Zauner feel very down-to-earn since we see that her music is secondary in importance to her than her family, just like almost every other person on this planet who works for a living....more
Great collection of historical Japanese lives that demonstrates a broader point. The author's thesis is that Japanese people are unique in how they ceGreat collection of historical Japanese lives that demonstrates a broader point. The author's thesis is that Japanese people are unique in how they celebrate the failed heroes in their history.
My favorite chapter is about a Christian who led a doomed rebellion in Kyushu. It is a great contrast with the martyrs in early Christendom. Japan learned different lessons from the Japanese failures than the West did from its own martyrs. Maybe that's because Japan already had a long history of admiring people who had died for a lost cause.
I was also reminded of the Stoics in the final chapter, which delves into the psychology of WWII kamikaze pilots. Like practicing Stoics, many of them practiced imagining their death so they would be prepared for it.
Fans of Mishima will also enjoy this book. The author knew Mishima personally and was clearly influenced by him. There are several points where the author includes Mishima's opinions. The chapter about Saigo Takamori is probably the best chapter in the book, and Mishima had a lot to say about him.
The book can also serve as an introduction to Japanese history. There is a chapter for nearly every major phase of Japanese history and a handy timeline at the beginning to understand the historical context of what has changed in Japan between the time of one failed hero and the next. So even if you're not convinced by the author's thesis, you'll find an engaging intro to Japan here. Recommended for anyone interested in Japan, but admittedly I liked it because of the unique perspective that Japanese history puts on martyrs....more
I read this through around page 430. It's very good, just very heavy. It's like taking a college course in Japanese history. It has huge breadth: the I read this through around page 430. It's very good, just very heavy. It's like taking a college course in Japanese history. It has huge breadth: the internal politics, foreign policy, and culture of Japan are all here. You learn the differences between the daimyo and the bakufu pretty quickly. It's a story of clashing institutions. It can be hard to follow.
The author has a good eye for compelling details and primary sources. Europeans only play a small role in early Japanese history. We get a good sense of this when one of the Dutchmen who has been dispatched to Japan describes how he can only communicate with the Japanese if he agrees to be treated like a clown. The Japanese ask him to move around, dance, kiss the other men in his group, etc., so they can observe how Europeans act.
Eventually the West plays a major role. I stopped reading just after the Meiji Revolution. The book doesn't get worse there, it's just that I know a good amount of post-Meiji history already. I thought the book did a good job of introducing the period by describing some of the individual heroes of the history that later showed up on Japanese currency.
The book this reminded me of most is The Venture of Islam, which has a similar broad scope of a civilization. This book is a little more unfriendly to beginners, but it seems just as definitive. ...more
Good overview of the social ills of contemporary Japan (although some of the references are dated... there is more discussion of Bush and the 90s thanGood overview of the social ills of contemporary Japan (although some of the references are dated... there is more discussion of Bush and the 90s than is necessary to make the author's point).
In particular, the author looks at the phenomenon of hikikomori, young people who are so intimidated by society that they never leave their bedrooms. The author ends up contrasting contemporary Japan with America and South Korea to see what caused this phenomenon to show up in Japan.
Now that "deaths of despair" are more common in the United States, I thought this book offered a good perspective on what advantages America already has that can help us fight back against them. Individualism and Christianity are the two big areas that the author lands on.
There is a good amount of Japanese history here too. A personal favorite, Yukichi Fukuzawa, shows up a couple times as an example of how the Japanese first reacted to deeper understanding of Western culture. I wish someone would popularize his writings in the U.S. He should be as well known as de Tocqueville. I looked, and I can't find an English translation of Fukuzawa's famous book that introduced western civilization to the Japanese ("Things western" or "Seiyo jijo" (西洋事情) Japanese version here).
I thought the book could have done more to explore differences in wealth and gerontocracy between Japan and other countries. America is also getting older and wealthier, so we'll see if we can avoid Japan's problems over the next few decades....more
Fine thesis, but kind of disappointing because I didn't see much that was new to me. It would have been fine as just an article. The middle section isFine thesis, but kind of disappointing because I didn't see much that was new to me. It would have been fine as just an article. The middle section is a superficial history of China, with a detour about China's bad patent system.
I actually agree with everything that's here, but since I didn't learn anything new, and I can't think of how this book would convince anyone who is encountering the material for the first time, it's hard to recommend....more
Better than just a collection of articles on Chinese Millennials, but that's mostly what it really is.
The author has good perspective on what their eBetter than just a collection of articles on Chinese Millennials, but that's mostly what it really is.
The author has good perspective on what their education and early careers have been like. He shows their ambivalence towards their government: e.g., they seem to be proud of China and its history in some places, but he also shows a survey where 85% of them said they'd rather have been born in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Japan.
It's a good book for (1) people who do not know a lot about China (since the author provides plenty of historical context) and (2) people like me who read maybe one book on China each year, since it helped me tie together some themes I've encountered in Chinese history. (e.g., the Taiping Civil War and the civil service examination).
The book also has good citations to support it and show the reader where to go next. After reading the chapter about Chinese education, I'm looking forward to checking out "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon?"...more
I liked this more than I thought I would. It's the story of six young protagonists from China and how they transition into adulthood. The protagonists I liked this more than I thought I would. It's the story of six young protagonists from China and how they transition into adulthood. The protagonists must be from mostly upper middle-class families, since their families have bailed them out after some missteps. So they are not representative of all of China. Despite that, I'd still recommend this to American millennials who want to learn about how the transitions to adulthood work over in China: many things are the same, some are very different. The author seems wiser than the young Chinese depicted in the book: he writes from their perspectives about their hopes and thoughts about the future, but I kept thinking that they were wrong and headed for disappointment. You might disagree. ...more
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