Authors & Asia: Eric Liu, A Chinaman's Chance

Asia Society presents Eric Liu, author of "A Chairman's Chance." This presentation traverses his family's history, culture, and future, piecing together a sense of Chinese American identity—and American identity itself.

“Whip-smart, enlightening, and always entertaining, Liu blends the personal and the socio-political to explore how we as Americans see the world, and each other." — David Henry Hwang

In many ways, Chinese Americans today are exemplars of the American Dream. However, this narrative obscures too much: the Chinese Americans still left behind, the erosion of the American Dream itself, and the anxiety generated now by China’s rise.

This presentation by Eric Liu, based on his book A Chinaman’s Chance, traverses his family’s history, culture, and future, piecing together a sense of Chinese American identity—and American identity itself. Provocative, often playful, and always thoughtful, Liu provides insights into universal matters such as identity, family, nationalism, and the fate of the American dream. Award-winning Houston author Claudia Kolker will host this engaging program.

Following the program, Eric Liu will visit with guests and sign books. Brazos Bookstore will sell A Chinaman’s Chance on site, and copies can be reserved in advance through their website for pickup at the event.
 
About Eric Liu
Xiaolu GuoEric Liu is founder and CEO of Citizen University. His books include The Accidental Asian, a New York Times Notable Book; Guiding Lights, the official book of National Mentoring Month; and The Gardens of Democracy (coauthored with Nick Hanauer). Liu served as a White House speechwriter and policy adviser for President Bill Clinton. He is a correspondent for the Atlantic and a columnist for CNN.com and lives in Seattle with his family.
 
About Claudia Kolker
Claudia Kolker is an award-winning journalist who has reported from Mexico, El Salvador, the Caribbean, Japan, and India. A former Los Angeles Times bureau chief and former member of the Houston Chronicle editorial board, she has also written for The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Economist, O: The Oprah Magazine, Slate, and Salon. She lives in Houston with her family.