Writing
Along with Albert Wu, I write a newsletter, A Broad and Ample Road.
Below you’ll find a selection of other writing.
Preparing for an Invasion
On Taiwan's civil-defence movement, and self-reliance as American backing grows uncertain.
On Taiwan's civil-defence movement, and self-reliance as American backing grows uncertain.
The Dial
Found in Translation
On Taiwan Travelogue, and the relations between coloniser and subaltern, translator and translated.
On Taiwan Travelogue, and the relations between coloniser and subaltern, translator and translated.
China Books Review
Taiwan's election result is a triumph for democracy – and a thorn in Beijing's side
On the 2024 election, and a history of democracy forged through social movements.
On the 2024 election, and a history of democracy forged through social movements.
The Guardian
Dare to Leave a Trace: On A City of Sadness
On Hou Hsiao-hsien's film and the KMT's violent takeover of Taiwan.
On Hou Hsiao-hsien's film and the KMT's violent takeover of Taiwan.
The Paris Review
Cobra Kai, the Twilight of American Empire, and the Allure of Paramilitary Violence
On the thin line between victim and victimiser, and humiliation as an origin of paramilitary violence.
On the thin line between victim and victimiser, and humiliation as an origin of paramilitary violence.
Los Angeles Review of Books
These Losers Are Going Places
The viral piece on moving to Taiwan — impasses in marriage, and the assumption that the way up runs East to West.
The viral piece on moving to Taiwan — impasses in marriage, and the assumption that the way up runs East to West.
A Broad and Ample Road
Exploding Clichés: On Éric Chevillard's Versatile Prose
A roundtable with Jeremy Davies and Daniel Levin Becker.
A roundtable with Jeremy Davies and Daniel Levin Becker.
Los Angeles Review of Books
On Motherhood & Miyazaki's Daughters
On becoming a new mother, and the spunky girl-heroes of Miyazaki's films.
On becoming a new mother, and the spunky girl-heroes of Miyazaki's films.
A Broad and Ample Road
Weighing Restorative Justice
The letter exchange following “What Replaces Prisons?”
The letter exchange following “What Replaces Prisons?”
The New York Review of Books
What Replaces Prisons?
On Danielle Sered's Until We Reckon — the potential of restorative justice, and its limits.
On Danielle Sered's Until We Reckon — the potential of restorative justice, and its limits.
The New York Review of Books
How to Disobey Your Tiger Parents, in 14 Easy Steps
If you rebel, you can retain your dignity — and theirs.
If you rebel, you can retain your dignity — and theirs.
The New York Times
Michelle Kuo Recommends…
On her writing process, and what she does when she is stuck.
On her writing process, and what she does when she is stuck.
Poets & Writers
Recording My Audiobook Brought Me Closer to My Immigrant Mother
On the scariness of reading aloud, and an attempt to build intimacy with her mother.
On the scariness of reading aloud, and an attempt to build intimacy with her mother.
Literary Hub
There's a Reason Demagogues Despise Books
On how poetry and books nurture the interior life in an Arkansas county jail.
On how poetry and books nurture the interior life in an Arkansas county jail.
Signature Reads
Connecting through Literature: A Story of a Teacher and Her Student
On how high-school teachers might use Reading with Patrick in a classroom.
On how high-school teachers might use Reading with Patrick in a classroom.
RHI Magazine
Letter from Paris
On teaching in Paris after the November attacks.
On teaching in Paris after the November attacks.
Los Angeles Review of Books
Those Who Leave
On Elena Ferrante and the stranglehold of twentieth-century ideologies.
On Elena Ferrante and the stranglehold of twentieth-century ideologies.
The Point
I Dare Not: The Muted Style of Writer in Exile Ha Jin
On the Chinese trope of the exiled scholar-hero, and where Ha Jin fits.
On the Chinese trope of the exiled scholar-hero, and where Ha Jin fits.
Los Angeles Review of Books
“Take the Good Life and Be Happy”: On “The Americans”
On whether ideology can win against the comfort of intimacy.
On whether ideology can win against the comfort of intimacy.
Los Angeles Review of Books
Animal Feelings
On orcas, elephants, apes, the lawsuit against SeaWorld, and how animals grieve.
On orcas, elephants, apes, the lawsuit against SeaWorld, and how animals grieve.
Public Books