Writer and editor focused on China. Editor, ChinaBooksReview.com. Senior fellow, Asia Society. Author, ‘Wish Lanterns’ and ‘The Mountains Are High’
Joined January 2011
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Thrilled to make it onto NPR's list of their best books of 2024. "In this beautifully written book, Ash introduces us to [urban escapees in rural China]. They fittingly call Dali “Dalifornia,” for its chilled vibes, California-like good weather and picturesque mountains."
apps.npr.org/best-books/#yea…
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On the 37th anniversary of Tiananmen, read this amazing piece by Yangyang Cheng for CBR, who read almost a dozen novels about Tiananmen to argue how the facts of history are getting distorted by fiction and diasporic imagination: chinabooksreview.com/2026/06…
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My Chinese book talk about "reverse migration" from city to countryside is up online:【纽约文化沙龙】第240期：大理福尼亚：嬉皮士的躺平之都，士绅化的网红农场？youtube.com/watch?v=CPSYpOqG…
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本周日中文讲座（纽约文化沙龙）luma.com/sgt4ig3l
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Alec Ash retweeted
A new documentary on young Chinese men’s romantic struggles shows the underbelly of a society where the winners take all.
Read Karen Ma's review of the new documentary The Dating Game: chinabooksreview.com/2026/05…
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I talked to Daniel A. Bell about whether today's China learns lessons from the old thinkers (his take: yes; my take: erm)
Ancient Chinese Politics with Daniel Bell
The Legalists and Confucians still run the show in today’s China, argues a scholar of classical Chinese thought — but the Mohists and Daoists still have a voice in the debate.
Listen to the podcast: chinabooksreview.com/2026/05…
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Alec Ash retweeted
Congratulations to Yiyun Li for winning the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Memoir, for her book "Things in Nature Merely Grow": pulitzer.org/winners/yiyun-l…
Take the chance to re-read Taili Ni's profile of Yiyun Li, back in 2024 (before that winning book was conceived): chinabooksreview.com/2024/03…
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Alec Ash retweeted
50 years have passed since Mao's death. The memoirs of his personal physician, Li Zhisui, tell a life of fatty pork and Daoist sex magic — and explain how to embalm your boss.
Read Jeremiah Jenne's latest Archive pick: chinabooksreview.com/2026/04…
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Great list of upcoming China reads selected by @alexludoboyd chinabooksreview.com/2026/04…
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Alec Ash retweeted
Apr 15
For those interested in China, it's a good idea every few weeks to check China Books Review and look through the reviews and interviews.
@chinabksreview
chinabooksreview.com/
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Alec Ash retweeted
A Chinese invasion or blockade of Taiwan is a constant, if not imminent, risk. Three new books consider Beijing’s options for force, Taiwan’s fractured politics, and how America is stuck in the middle of a zero-sum game.
Read Andrew J. Nathan's review-essay: chinabooksreview.com/2026/04…
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Alec Ash retweeted
On Tuesday, we announced the shortlist for the Baifang Schell Book Prize in literature.
Today, we announce the shortlist in nonfiction: chinabooksreview.com/2026/04…
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Alec Ash retweeted
好久不见 Hao Jiu Bu Jian is a cross-culture “culture criticism” podcast focusing on sino-American relationship, pop culture, gender/sexuality and more. Hosted by Winnie(she/her) from Beijing and Drew(he/him) from Michigan. They’re both avid enjoyer of music made by Grimes.
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Come listen to my book talk (Chinese edition!) about my Dali book, 大理一年, to hear why people are leaving Chinese cities to move to the mountains. Sunday Apr 12, 6pm at Accent Sisters (right by Union Square, 89 5th ave 702), Luma link to register and support the venue, only $10: luma.com/042mtzx2
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Alec Ash retweeted
Listen to Jesse Appell discuss his memoir, This Was Funnier in China, on the China Books Podcast with Alec Ash: chinabooksreview.com/2026/03…
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Worthy donation cause in Beirut to help students continue their education amid the bombings: justgiving.com/page/alsama-p…
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What fun to chat to an old friend for work
The bilingual comedian Jesse Appell talks us through the traditional “xiangsheng” form of Chinese comic repartee, and explains whether Beijing can take a joke on the latest episode of the China Books podcast.
Listen now to hear Alec Ash interview Jesse on his new memoir, "This Was Funnier in China": chinabooksreview.com/2026/03…
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Breaking news! American decides to live in country that is not America! Read all about it! If only this was a push alert I could have been notified earlier cnn.com/travel/vision-living…
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"Did the openly gay Backhouse really enjoy over 100 nights of inventive sexual gymnastics with the elderly Empress Dowager Cixi? Probably not." chinabooksreview.com/2026/02…
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"From now on, the Post will no longer accommodate the admirably omnivorous avidity of its best readers. ... In this way, you encounter nothing but iterations of yourself forever." newyorker.com/books/page-tur…
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Alec Ash retweeted
In our new column "What China's Thinking," the prolific social media blogger Zhang Feng (张丰) explains how censorship works in the era of WeChat, and talks us through a changing media landscape.
Read the Q&A: chinabooksreview.com/2026/01…
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