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Fortunate Sons
"With its surging storyline, extraordinary events, and depth of character, this gripping tale of 120 Chinese boys sent to America…reads more like a novel than an obscure slice of history." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
In 1872, China—ravaged by poverty, population growth, and aggressive European armies—sent 120 boys to America to learn the secrets of Western innovation. They studied at New England’s finest schools and were driven by a desire for progress and reform. When anti-Chinese fervor forced them back home, the young men had to overcome a suspicious imperial court and a country deeply resistant to change in technology and culture. Fortunate Sons tells a remarkable story, weaving together the dramas of personal lives with the fascinating tale of a nation’s endeavor to become a world power.
In 1872, China—ravaged by poverty, population growth, and aggressive European armies—sent 120 boys to America to learn the secrets of Western innovation. They studied at New England’s finest schools and were driven by a desire for progress and reform. When anti-Chinese fervor forced them back home, the young men had to overcome a suspicious imperial court and a country deeply resistant to change in technology and culture. Fortunate Sons tells a remarkable story, weaving together the dramas of personal lives with the fascinating tale of a nation’s endeavor to become a world power.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2011
41 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Liel Leibovitz
15 books29 followersLiel Leibovitz is a senior writer for Tablet magazine and teaches at New York University. He is the coauthor of Fortunate Sons, Lili Marlene, and The Chosen Peoples. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 19, 2018
This overlapped with what I knew about Chinese-American educational connections before, but this is only because I had previously read Yung Wing (容闳)'s memoirs. I also would have appreciated more detailed information on the students.
September 29, 2013
Because I have read a lot of Chinese history (for more than 30 years), I have a fairly good background in Chinese history so I found this book at times both boring and occasionally surprisingly interesting but the ratio (8:2) was insufficient to hold my interest. It would have made more sense for me to skim through the background sections and just read the pages that told the story of these 120 young men who came to America to learn 'about the west', but unfortunately I didn't. The stories of the young men--and more importantly, their identities and who they later became--was the 'new' part and it was interesting, but it was also predictable and while sometimes that is fine (for example, the handling of Henry VIII in the brilliant Wolf Hall), in this case it wasn't. There were successes and failures, flashes of accomplishments balanced by the driest of careers, but that was to have been expected in a group recruited from families and candidates who often had to be cajoled to spend a large chunk of their youth abroad.
This book is best read by those who have a thin knowledge of China 1850-1949 as it will yield far more fruitful information, or by those who don't mind panning for the 'new'. Yes, these 120 'fortunate sons' 'went to America, [and] went to school,' but did they revolutionize an ancient civilization? Well, perhaps a few made a dent, and this is the story of those few, but time is perhaps better spent on those who went abroad and truly did revolutionize China -- Sun Yatsen, Zhou Enlai ....
This book is best read by those who have a thin knowledge of China 1850-1949 as it will yield far more fruitful information, or by those who don't mind panning for the 'new'. Yes, these 120 'fortunate sons' 'went to America, [and] went to school,' but did they revolutionize an ancient civilization? Well, perhaps a few made a dent, and this is the story of those few, but time is perhaps better spent on those who went abroad and truly did revolutionize China -- Sun Yatsen, Zhou Enlai ....
February 2, 2011
Exceeded my expectations and then some. Highly readable, it is amazing to me how much I learned easily thanks to the superb writing of these authors. The incredible dedication of Yung Wing is an inspiration.
I found myself intrigued by the decisions that went into sending young children to a foreign country, awed at the sacrifice of their parents, appalled the incredible ugliness of how San Francisco treated its Chinese immigrants unfortunate enough to live there, proud of the kindness and care the New Englanders gave to the children they fostered and the quality of the education they received even though it was abruptly cut short and fascinated by the internal workings of the Chinese government. The tales of these young men, and their roles in the politics of the time kept me reading and thinking and reading some more. The intrigue woven throughout this book is spell-binding.
It was a blessed day when I was given the opportunity to read this book. It is unforgettable.
*Note: This book was provided through the GoodReads First Read program with the expectation of an honest review. My opinions are my own.
I found myself intrigued by the decisions that went into sending young children to a foreign country, awed at the sacrifice of their parents, appalled the incredible ugliness of how San Francisco treated its Chinese immigrants unfortunate enough to live there, proud of the kindness and care the New Englanders gave to the children they fostered and the quality of the education they received even though it was abruptly cut short and fascinated by the internal workings of the Chinese government. The tales of these young men, and their roles in the politics of the time kept me reading and thinking and reading some more. The intrigue woven throughout this book is spell-binding.
It was a blessed day when I was given the opportunity to read this book. It is unforgettable.
*Note: This book was provided through the GoodReads First Read program with the expectation of an honest review. My opinions are my own.
January 17, 2011
The beginning sentence in the book synopsis "At the twilight of the nineteenth century, China sent a detachment of boys to America in order to learn the ways of the West, modernize the antiquated empire, and defend it from foreigners invading its shores." only hints at what is an utterly engrossing account of a little chapter in Sino-American relations. Fortunate Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization is quite well written and the research is impeccable. While a non-fiction book- it has a stirring narrative that keeps the reader turning each page to learn more on an event that still reverberates today. The topic could have been dry indeed, but in Liel Leibovitz's very capable hands, the result is unforgetable.
RICK FRIEDMAN
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RICK FRIEDMAN
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THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
June 12, 2017
This is an interesting story of the lives of some of the 120 boys who were sent to the United States to study in 1872 with the intent that they would remain for 15 years. The political winds changed so they were recalled to China in 1881. Even though only a few had completed college, these young men changed China.
My complaint about the book is that it is either too broad or too short. A book this length probably should have focused on the life of one man with stores of others woven in from his point of view. A much longer book is needed to cover even those participants who influenced Chinese history most. This is an interesting story but I finished the book with a feeling that I'd barely scratched the surface of it.
My complaint about the book is that it is either too broad or too short. A book this length probably should have focused on the life of one man with stores of others woven in from his point of view. A much longer book is needed to cover even those participants who influenced Chinese history most. This is an interesting story but I finished the book with a feeling that I'd barely scratched the surface of it.
January 31, 2011
Fortunate Sons delivers so much more than I'd even hoped for. Don't let its size fool you; it packs a lot into 300 pages, including the better part of a century. The journey begins at Yale, in October of 1850, where readers meet Yung Wing, the man pivotal in later bringing the 120 "fortunate sons" to the United States for schooling. Following him back to China, the authors begin to delve deeper into China's rich and complex history, culture, character, because the story of China's sons is also the story of China. And it is quite a story.
This is a difficult book to describe. Much of it follows several of the prominent "fortunate sons" as they grow and mature, from learning English in the American Northeast to their recall to China and their impact on the nation for decades afterward. But there are also myriad insights into other areas of life, politics, and country outside China's borders, because the story of China is also the story of Britain, Japan, France, Russia, and the United States, among others. These influences are explored and well-presented by the authors, combined with the stories of the fortunate sons to create a fascinating book. But also one that is very accessible, informative without becoming overwhelming.
I loved this book. It's going on my favorites shelf and I am sure to pick it up often in future, if just to read a few passages. I found it captivating, and I'm sure anyone else with even a passing interest in history or foreign affairs would find the same. At a time when "Made in China" is a phrase we know by heart, it's amazing to get a peek at what made China.
This is a difficult book to describe. Much of it follows several of the prominent "fortunate sons" as they grow and mature, from learning English in the American Northeast to their recall to China and their impact on the nation for decades afterward. But there are also myriad insights into other areas of life, politics, and country outside China's borders, because the story of China is also the story of Britain, Japan, France, Russia, and the United States, among others. These influences are explored and well-presented by the authors, combined with the stories of the fortunate sons to create a fascinating book. But also one that is very accessible, informative without becoming overwhelming.
I loved this book. It's going on my favorites shelf and I am sure to pick it up often in future, if just to read a few passages. I found it captivating, and I'm sure anyone else with even a passing interest in history or foreign affairs would find the same. At a time when "Made in China" is a phrase we know by heart, it's amazing to get a peek at what made China.
October 11, 2011
This is another one of these books that are ostensibly about one thing, but actually about another. It's really Chinese History, which means that I have just admitted that I knew very little about it. The book ends with "The Last Emperor, Starring John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole" (no, not the movie, but the history). It starts ... somewhere, but inbetween China sends some young boys to America to study. They return and eventually play huge parts in bringing China into the 20th century. I had no clue who these boys / men were, although I have read some of their names before (since I'm a railroad buff, for example). This book ties them all together and explains much that "regular" history books seem to miss (IMHO). I read this in one sitting, literally. Very well written, easy to read, engaging, and all those other things that keep one from being able to put a book down. If you think you'd like to understand China better, particularly 20th century China, read this book!
May 18, 2019
This book provided a compelling story of a group of young men who had extraordinary lives. Well-written and fascinating, this book is an eye-opener.
February 6, 2011
I received this book gratis as part of one of Goodreads' wonderful giveaways. Thanks, folks!
Fortunate Sons is a well-written, engaging book about a time in history that perhaps few people know very much about. The core of the story is a program launched by the Chinese government in the nineteenth century to send some of their best students to the United States to attend college. In so doing, the imperial Qing government hoped to learn some of the secrets behind the United States' rise as a world power, and to use this knowledge to help China evolve and do the same thing.
Given the amount of research involved in telling this story, the book could have been dry and academic, but it's written for a popular audience, in the style of authors like David McCullough or Joseph Ellis. Liebovitz and Miller paint a picture of two very different societies - one hamstrung by centuries of tradition, an enormous, inefficient bureaucracy, and a paralyzing fear of change or growth; the other turning out amazing new innovations, giving rise to generations of thinkers, and rising to prominence on the world stage less than a century after its foundation.
The book talks about the new threats facing China, and why the government found itself unable to do much of anything about them. In fact, this is something that some might not like about the book - the base story is pretty short, and Liebovitz and Miller spend a lot of pages describing the Chinese political environment, the treatment of Chinese immigrants in the United States, the development of the transcontinental railroad, etc. Some readers who already have a lot of knowledge of this history might be impatient for the authors to just get on with it. I, however, did not know much about this stuff, and the writing is lively and I appreciated the thorough way these topics were explored.
Many of the boys profiled here really did go on to have amazing careers and influence in a society that was begging for some big thinkers to come along and change it. It's especially interesting to learn about this story just as China is really starting to lift itself out of the third world and onto the world stage as a major power.
Fortunate Sons is a well-written, engaging book about a time in history that perhaps few people know very much about. The core of the story is a program launched by the Chinese government in the nineteenth century to send some of their best students to the United States to attend college. In so doing, the imperial Qing government hoped to learn some of the secrets behind the United States' rise as a world power, and to use this knowledge to help China evolve and do the same thing.
Given the amount of research involved in telling this story, the book could have been dry and academic, but it's written for a popular audience, in the style of authors like David McCullough or Joseph Ellis. Liebovitz and Miller paint a picture of two very different societies - one hamstrung by centuries of tradition, an enormous, inefficient bureaucracy, and a paralyzing fear of change or growth; the other turning out amazing new innovations, giving rise to generations of thinkers, and rising to prominence on the world stage less than a century after its foundation.
The book talks about the new threats facing China, and why the government found itself unable to do much of anything about them. In fact, this is something that some might not like about the book - the base story is pretty short, and Liebovitz and Miller spend a lot of pages describing the Chinese political environment, the treatment of Chinese immigrants in the United States, the development of the transcontinental railroad, etc. Some readers who already have a lot of knowledge of this history might be impatient for the authors to just get on with it. I, however, did not know much about this stuff, and the writing is lively and I appreciated the thorough way these topics were explored.
Many of the boys profiled here really did go on to have amazing careers and influence in a society that was begging for some big thinkers to come along and change it. It's especially interesting to learn about this story just as China is really starting to lift itself out of the third world and onto the world stage as a major power.
February 26, 2011
I got this book compliments of First Reads, and it's my first one.
Overall, for a history book, it reads very smoothly and is not hard to get through like some books in the genre can be. It is packed with interesting anecdotes and stories that focus on just a few of the 120 students sent to the U.S. to study. It gives a good background view of the China they are a part of and gives you a sense of the struggle China has gone through (and might even continue to grapple with) growing out of its Confucian roots and move forward to the modern era.
Being a history teacher, I'm the kind of guy that would like some supplemental pieces or appendix in the book...pictures of the main people discussed (or just a list) with a note about what they did (to help keep track of them all), a timeline of the period in Chinese history in brief, a map, etc. It doesn't mean those are entirely necessary but they would help because after awhile you start to get lost in the whose who and what they've done, especially for readers who are not as well versed in Chinese history, culture, and geography.
My only other critique, and this is probably getting picky, is I would have liked to see the text broken down a little more into better organized stories or snippets. There are a lot of jumps that happen quickly and you have to be alert to them. Yet this probably also results from the amount of history that is covered in just 280 pages, and relates to my desire for the appendix. I think it would help in my being able to see the complete picture of what is happening when.
In general, one can get the sense of struggle the Chinese were going through in the late 19th century to catch up to the modernization taking place in the industrial revolution in the West, and I think this book achieves the presenatation of this struggle very concisely.
Overall, for a history book, it reads very smoothly and is not hard to get through like some books in the genre can be. It is packed with interesting anecdotes and stories that focus on just a few of the 120 students sent to the U.S. to study. It gives a good background view of the China they are a part of and gives you a sense of the struggle China has gone through (and might even continue to grapple with) growing out of its Confucian roots and move forward to the modern era.
Being a history teacher, I'm the kind of guy that would like some supplemental pieces or appendix in the book...pictures of the main people discussed (or just a list) with a note about what they did (to help keep track of them all), a timeline of the period in Chinese history in brief, a map, etc. It doesn't mean those are entirely necessary but they would help because after awhile you start to get lost in the whose who and what they've done, especially for readers who are not as well versed in Chinese history, culture, and geography.
My only other critique, and this is probably getting picky, is I would have liked to see the text broken down a little more into better organized stories or snippets. There are a lot of jumps that happen quickly and you have to be alert to them. Yet this probably also results from the amount of history that is covered in just 280 pages, and relates to my desire for the appendix. I think it would help in my being able to see the complete picture of what is happening when.
In general, one can get the sense of struggle the Chinese were going through in the late 19th century to catch up to the modernization taking place in the industrial revolution in the West, and I think this book achieves the presenatation of this struggle very concisely.
June 29, 2021
In 1872, a Chinese National returns from America with a degree from Yale. Over the next 20 years, he works to develop a program to allow more Chinese to go there and in 1894, 120 boys go to CT to study at their various levels of school. Fear of their becoming too "foreign" ruins the mission and after a few years, they are called back to China. Having had a taste of modernization, the boys cannot be content with China's old ways and they seek-out change. By the 1920's, many are in positions of power and a "modern China" begins its formation with names like Sun Yat Sen (not one of the 120) and later, Chang Kai Shek (advised by many of the 120) who move the country out of dynastic rule.
The book is less a story of the 120 boys selected to go to America for schooling, than a history lesson about China in the late 1900's and leading up to the Boxer Rebellions and start of Chang Kai-Shek and Sun Yat Sen. The beginning and ending save the book from becoming a listing of the names and places and dates of history. The middle is VERY tough to trudge through. But, if you put in the time, you are eventually rewarded with a kind of "full circle" on at least a handful of the students, who rose to power, had it stripped, rose again and, in most cases, died alone or in terrible circumstances.
I wish there had been more about the Dowager Empress because her manipulation and reign of terror - fueled by a custom of obedience to elders - was the best part of the book!
The book is less a story of the 120 boys selected to go to America for schooling, than a history lesson about China in the late 1900's and leading up to the Boxer Rebellions and start of Chang Kai-Shek and Sun Yat Sen. The beginning and ending save the book from becoming a listing of the names and places and dates of history. The middle is VERY tough to trudge through. But, if you put in the time, you are eventually rewarded with a kind of "full circle" on at least a handful of the students, who rose to power, had it stripped, rose again and, in most cases, died alone or in terrible circumstances.
I wish there had been more about the Dowager Empress because her manipulation and reign of terror - fueled by a custom of obedience to elders - was the best part of the book!
April 30, 2015
It isn't the first book I read on this topic, but definitely the most readable one. Most other books are either dry narrative of who did what when or hopelessly propagandic (ever since the Opium War, the western never stopped harassing Chinese people....) This book covers one thing that most books missed: the psychology of the boys. These boys, who left home when they were small and spent their formative years studying in New England, were lively characters in the stories together with their host families, "coach" Yung Wing, instead of lifeless historical figures in other books in the same topic. When these boys grew up, many of them become important players in transforming the Qing empire to a republic.
Unfortunately I have to take off one star for its summary of Chinese history in general. This book is full of outdated stereotypes about the Qing empire and why China seemed to have lagged behind the West in the 19th Century. As recent studies show, the Qing empire is not at all as introverted and ignorant about the outside world. Ruled by the Manchus, the influence of Confucius teachings on governance was big but not unlimited, unlike the Ming dynasty before. It's comically funny to even suggest the vision of the Qing emperors was limited by the Great Wall, as the Manchus came from outside the Great Wall to inside. These are just several among many outdated views about China. They would have been reasonable if this book was written in the 50s.
Unfortunately I have to take off one star for its summary of Chinese history in general. This book is full of outdated stereotypes about the Qing empire and why China seemed to have lagged behind the West in the 19th Century. As recent studies show, the Qing empire is not at all as introverted and ignorant about the outside world. Ruled by the Manchus, the influence of Confucius teachings on governance was big but not unlimited, unlike the Ming dynasty before. It's comically funny to even suggest the vision of the Qing emperors was limited by the Great Wall, as the Manchus came from outside the Great Wall to inside. These are just several among many outdated views about China. They would have been reasonable if this book was written in the 50s.
March 8, 2011
Is this a sad story or a happy one? Liel Leibovitz asks the question, but I can't answer it. His story of Chinese boys being educated in America starts as a flat-out hilarious one, with a football game and a Chinese student in silk robes. At times it's optimistic, with opportunities for learning, exchange, and acceptance. But in the end there's too much xenophobia (on both sides), political corruption, and war. The Chinese Mission project may have been good for China, may have even been good for America, but there's a lot of opportunity to think about what might have been.
Lost opportunity doesn't prevent Leibovitz from telling a great story. He (and co-author Matthew Miller) draws on letters, diaries, and other personal primary sources to focus on a few boys' experiences, both in the United States and back in China. More than a hundred years after the mission, their individual personalities come through the text, and it's possible to imagine their travels. Fortunate Sons is more than an episode of Chinese history, it's also a visitor's view of 19th-century America.
*I received an Advance Reading Copy of Fortunate Sons through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Lost opportunity doesn't prevent Leibovitz from telling a great story. He (and co-author Matthew Miller) draws on letters, diaries, and other personal primary sources to focus on a few boys' experiences, both in the United States and back in China. More than a hundred years after the mission, their individual personalities come through the text, and it's possible to imagine their travels. Fortunate Sons is more than an episode of Chinese history, it's also a visitor's view of 19th-century America.
*I received an Advance Reading Copy of Fortunate Sons through the Goodreads First Reads program.
February 16, 2012
This is a solid 3.5 stars.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and was initially very excited to read it, but found my interest waning toward the end of the book. It describes an interesting period of history when 120 Chinese boys were sent to America to be educated in the late 1800s, and then what transpired when they returned to China. I found the first half of the book a bit more engaging than the latter half, and I enjoyed reading about the boys' experiences together as students. I also felt that the authors did an excellent job of weaving in US history along with Chinese history and how they intersected: San Francisco Chinatown, building of the transatlantic railroad, xenophobic laws, and the Boxer Rebellion. Unfortunately, when the boys returned to China, things began to get disjointed and difficult to follow because of the sheer number of characters and the speed in which things occurred.
Going into this I had very little knowledge of Chinese history (both in America and in China), and I came out with a better grasp of the political happenings of the late 19th/early 20th centuries. I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in history (primarily Chinese, Chinese-American or American).
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and was initially very excited to read it, but found my interest waning toward the end of the book. It describes an interesting period of history when 120 Chinese boys were sent to America to be educated in the late 1800s, and then what transpired when they returned to China. I found the first half of the book a bit more engaging than the latter half, and I enjoyed reading about the boys' experiences together as students. I also felt that the authors did an excellent job of weaving in US history along with Chinese history and how they intersected: San Francisco Chinatown, building of the transatlantic railroad, xenophobic laws, and the Boxer Rebellion. Unfortunately, when the boys returned to China, things began to get disjointed and difficult to follow because of the sheer number of characters and the speed in which things occurred.
Going into this I had very little knowledge of Chinese history (both in America and in China), and I came out with a better grasp of the political happenings of the late 19th/early 20th centuries. I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in history (primarily Chinese, Chinese-American or American).
November 17, 2017
Plot: B - The plot was easy to follow. I was worried about how the students would integrate into US society, and later back into Chinese society.
Writing: A - The writing suited the topic. This is nonfiction.
Vocabulary: B - There was not too much difficult vocabulary, but it would have been nice to include a pronunciation guide for the Chinese names.
Illustrations: There are black & white photographs of real people.
Level: 6th grade
Rating: PG - Sad topics include homesickness and racism.
Worldview: There have been Chinese-Americans in the US for many years. And some of them learned Western styles of education and science, and took that back to revitalize the Chinese empire.
I loved it!! A comprehensive yet simple overview of China's relations with the West through the previous two centuries, Fortuante Sons delivers a textbook's information through the lense of a compelling story. This book cleared up several lingering questions I've had about cultural and political relations that were raised when I lived and worked in northern China. If you will be traveling to China, or are simply interested in learning more, pick up this slim storybook before that thick history book!
Writing: A - The writing suited the topic. This is nonfiction.
Vocabulary: B - There was not too much difficult vocabulary, but it would have been nice to include a pronunciation guide for the Chinese names.
Illustrations: There are black & white photographs of real people.
Level: 6th grade
Rating: PG - Sad topics include homesickness and racism.
Worldview: There have been Chinese-Americans in the US for many years. And some of them learned Western styles of education and science, and took that back to revitalize the Chinese empire.
I loved it!! A comprehensive yet simple overview of China's relations with the West through the previous two centuries, Fortuante Sons delivers a textbook's information through the lense of a compelling story. This book cleared up several lingering questions I've had about cultural and political relations that were raised when I lived and worked in northern China. If you will be traveling to China, or are simply interested in learning more, pick up this slim storybook before that thick history book!
February 1, 2011
What a fascinating book. This book introduces you to the first Chinese man to graduate from Yale, his journey to bring other Chinese boys to the US for a Western education, and the successes and failures they encounter in their attempts to modernize China.
The book was an eye opener for me because I had never heard about China sending boys to the US in the 19th century. It was unfortunate to read that the internal politics of the country and it's antiquated culture prevented the boys from developing long lasting, successful reforms upon their return. Despite many of them reaching high gov't power, so much more could have been accomplished had the right support been in place. In the epilogue, the authors ask the question "was theirs a happy story or a sad one" and this was the exact thought I had upon completing the book. If anything this history serves as another lesson learned and it will be interesting to see whether those lessons have been considered by China as it currently grows and tries to become an international powerhouse.
Disclosure: I got this book through Goodreads First Read Giveaway
The book was an eye opener for me because I had never heard about China sending boys to the US in the 19th century. It was unfortunate to read that the internal politics of the country and it's antiquated culture prevented the boys from developing long lasting, successful reforms upon their return. Despite many of them reaching high gov't power, so much more could have been accomplished had the right support been in place. In the epilogue, the authors ask the question "was theirs a happy story or a sad one" and this was the exact thought I had upon completing the book. If anything this history serves as another lesson learned and it will be interesting to see whether those lessons have been considered by China as it currently grows and tries to become an international powerhouse.
Disclosure: I got this book through Goodreads First Read Giveaway
September 12, 2014
I enjoy books that tell the true stories of extraordinary individuals. The men whose stories are related in "Fortunate Sons" are fascinating because their lives are intertwined with the modernization of China in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. While the authors do discuss many events in Chinese history such as the Boxer Rebellion and the 1911 Revolution, these events are described in a way that is easy to understand for someone not familiar with them. This makes for a work that is informative but also very readable.
I received my copy of this book as a free First Reads advance copy. I am glad I had a chance to read it because I not only learned a lot about Chinese history, filling in gaps in my knowledge of many of these events, but also I was able to learn about a group of men who shared a unique educational experience which gave them skills they could use to the benefit of their homeland.
I received my copy of this book as a free First Reads advance copy. I am glad I had a chance to read it because I not only learned a lot about Chinese history, filling in gaps in my knowledge of many of these events, but also I was able to learn about a group of men who shared a unique educational experience which gave them skills they could use to the benefit of their homeland.
July 11, 2011
I would give this 3 1/2 stars if I could. It describes an interesting chapter of history when 120 Chinese boys came to be educated in Connecticut in the 1870s and then what happened when they went back home. I thought the first half of the book was quite a bit stronger than the second half. The history of their teacher Yung Wing was very compelling and I really enjoyed reading about the recruiting of the boys and their experiences together as students. The authors also managed to weave in the history of both the US and China in a very effective way, including everything from the building of the transatlantic railroad to the xenophobic laws in California to the triggers of the Boxer Rebellion. Unfortunately after the boys went back to China the book became much harder to follow and keep track of because of the many characters and the speed at which things are described. This is probably a good book for fans of history but a little dense for the casual reader.
December 4, 2011
I picked this book off the "newly acquired" shelf at the library and found myself immersed in a story unknown to me and fascinating in its historical significance. Who would have known that a young man from China entered Yale in 1850, sponsored by an American Missionary in China. From that one young man emerged a program several decades later to send a hundred young Chinese to study in America and bring back ideas for Chinese economic development. This book traces the travel of the group, their lives in the U.S. and their efforts, both successful and unsuccessful, to apply their American knowledge to China as its moved into the early 20th century. The authors benefited from extensive writings by the group, through letters to their host families and diaries that survived uprisings, rebellions and dictators. I finished the book wanting to know so much more. I hope others pick up the threads of the story of a brave group of youngsters and their formidable leader.
March 3, 2017
3.5 stars
This was enjoyable enough, but alas, the authors simply had too much to work with here. This book was super informative, but it tried to cover too much in too short of a space. Often I found myself trying to fill in the blanks as the authors surged ahead years in between chapters, and I felt like there was a lot left unsaid in this book. I wasn't expecting for this book to attempt to summarize China's political state from the 1860s to the 1920s as well as try to discuss the lives of the myriad men who were sent to study in America in their youth. The result is a book that's too spread out, both in terms of the amount of characters the book attempts to follow and the time period covered. I almost wish the book had chosen to focus on a select few characters in depth - as it was, there were a few too many characters for me to get emotionally invested in, and I often forgot who was who (especially when their American nicknames were sprinkled in and then dropped again later on).
This was enjoyable enough, but alas, the authors simply had too much to work with here. This book was super informative, but it tried to cover too much in too short of a space. Often I found myself trying to fill in the blanks as the authors surged ahead years in between chapters, and I felt like there was a lot left unsaid in this book. I wasn't expecting for this book to attempt to summarize China's political state from the 1860s to the 1920s as well as try to discuss the lives of the myriad men who were sent to study in America in their youth. The result is a book that's too spread out, both in terms of the amount of characters the book attempts to follow and the time period covered. I almost wish the book had chosen to focus on a select few characters in depth - as it was, there were a few too many characters for me to get emotionally invested in, and I often forgot who was who (especially when their American nicknames were sprinkled in and then dropped again later on).
February 6, 2011
I received this book via GoodReads giveaways and am so glad I did. It is history at its best. Combination of personal history with textbook facts about both Chinese and American relations and policies in the late 1800's and early 1900's was truly fascinating. The books follows closely a handful of the 120 boys from China who come to America's east coast to learn new ways of modernizing their own country while still trying to fit in with the American way of life and hold on to their Chinese culture, tradition and language. I appreciated that the authors presented positives and negatives of both cultures. My only reason for giving the book 4 stars was for the mention of Chiang Kai Shek and Mao at the end of the book. They both seemed to be presented in a positive light which made me go back and question how accurately all these others( who I had no previous knowledge of )were portrayed.
June 4, 2011
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway and I truly enjoyed it. This is exactly the type of book that you need to read if you want to learn about history because it personalizes it. It is well written and because I could relate to the characters, I learned a lot. Reading this book has deepened my appreciation for the Chinese and their civilization. Although the Chinese have been more advanced than the rest of the world throughout most of history, when that advantage was threatened, they hastened to do something about it.
I found myself with sympathy for these boys who were thrown into a strange and difficult to understand world. The story of how they they adjusted, learned, and spread what they learned was a touching one. I recommend this book to all who have an interest in learning about history and China.
I found myself with sympathy for these boys who were thrown into a strange and difficult to understand world. The story of how they they adjusted, learned, and spread what they learned was a touching one. I recommend this book to all who have an interest in learning about history and China.
Want to read
January 15, 2011Based on the description of this book, I really want to read it. And then I saw a review that my friend Rick shared here on Goodreads, and his review is so great that I really hope I win a First Reads copy of this book!!!
I'm fascinated by east/west relations, especially during the time period covered in the book (late 19th century.) There was (and still is) so much for the east and west to learn from each other, and I just find it fascinating that a group of Chinese boys were sent to schools in America (in New England) to learn what they could about America and the American Education system, which was so incredibly different from anything they were used to. I'm really looking forward to reading this!!!
I'm fascinated by east/west relations, especially during the time period covered in the book (late 19th century.) There was (and still is) so much for the east and west to learn from each other, and I just find it fascinating that a group of Chinese boys were sent to schools in America (in New England) to learn what they could about America and the American Education system, which was so incredibly different from anything they were used to. I'm really looking forward to reading this!!!
August 1, 2011
This was a very interesting book that provides details about a fascinating historic event that I was completely unaware of. The only reason I couldn't give it a 5 star rating is my frustration that the book didn't cover enough: the authors swung between giving personal details of some of the "Fortunate Sons" to providing the details of China's politics and culture. Granted, this is an awesome task. But there were so many characters that it would have been easier for me had they been fleshed out a bit more. The book could easily have been twice as long. That said, what an amazing and forward-thinking concept! That the plan was carried out as far as it was is testament to what a great man Yung Wing was.
April 8, 2011
I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the history of China in the past 170 years. Well written and easy to read, describing the workings of an ineffective government of a country with so many possibilities. Men who had visions and education in the 1800's, and who had the ability to bring about change for their peoples were rendered ineffective. The courage of the young men who had the vision is unfailing. Leibovitz & Miller bring the story of 120 sons of China to the reader vividly, they also take the reader to a very undesirable time in the history of San Francisco. They also educate the reader of the generosity of the people of New England, and their compassion for others from a foreign land.
February 1, 2011
This is an amazing book which tells a fascinating story, has a happy and sad ending, and has the advantage of being true. It reads like fiction, but has been painstakingly researched, with source material as diverse as imperial communications and private letters. While there wasn't room enough in one book to discuss every single one of the 120 Chinese boys who came to America at the turn of the nineteenth century, enough time is devoted to different boys to get a feeling for the highs and lows of their American experience as well as their later lives when they returned to a China in turmoil. Overall, definitely a book worth reading for anyone with an interest in Chinese-American relations.
This book was sent to me for review.
This book was sent to me for review.
December 1, 2011
Interesting story Chinese kids sent to America in the 1800s as factions of the Qing Dynasty attempted to modernize. The story starts with a young man Yung Wing, who with help from foreign missionary friends, went to Yale in 1850. After struggling upon his return to China, he eventually found his way to helping another 120 boys come back to the U.S. to CT in the 1870s as high school students. These kids went on to help shape the end of the Qing dynasty and the start of the next phase of China through thick and thin, playing a part with struggles within various regimes, and with the foreign parties that looked to lay claim to China. It's not exactly a happy story, just a story perhaps, but an interesting one of the struggle to adapt to great changes.
June 7, 2011
A little-known and fascinating story about 120 Chinese boys who came to Connecticut to learn English, complete high school and attend college in the 1870's in order to return to China and help bring her into the modern world. The story of the boys is amazing and inspiring but I especially appreciated the authors' abilitly to synthesize the complexities of 19th century Chinese social and political history. I have a much greater understanding of the challenges China faced, especially during the period when so many Chinese immigrated to America. There are lessons here if only we can take the time to understand them.
April 12, 2011
I received a copy of this book through the First Reads program. It took me about a month to read the book because, as I discovered, I didn't actually know that much about Chinese history. Every page of this book was crammed with information and story. Trying to absorb it all could only happen at an imperial pace. The book is well-written and the ARC I received did not have the pictures that are supposed to in the published edition. I would like to see them. This is definitely a book for history lovers and for people who devour all things China.
January 28, 2011
A first reads win. This was a fascinating look into a piece of history I knew nothing about. While I have been interested in Eastern history, my reading has mostly focused on Japan. This view from the perspective of the Chinese Educational Mission was engaging and informative. The perspectives and accomplishments of several of the boys are presented and analyzed. An excellent choice for someone interested in the development and history of China.
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