C’s Reviews > Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China > Status Update

Third philosopher appears: Michael Sandel!

Once again: how the fuck has this man met every last culturally significant person in China between 2005 and 2014? "As it happened, I met [Bo Xilai] on his way up". As?? It?? Happened??

Osnos has somehow found a stunning number of philosophers in China. Second one to be introduced in-depth, now.

"Outsiders often mistook [Han Han's] demand for openness with the outright demand for democracy, but the difference was essential."

But is a more vibrant cultural scene and a more open media possible without democracy??

It never occurred to me growing up the extent to which our culture thrived on demonstrating defiance through comedy and ridicule (of the governing party). The Portland frogs are basically operating on the same principle.

How the heck did Osnos manage to interview every last famous Chinese activist/political commentator I know of from the late 2000s, and then find a bunch more I did not know of??

okay i think what i like about the writing is that Osnos is generally fair, but also very tongue-in-cheek with his criticism — as expected for someone who put real effort into understanding China while living there for a decade+

idk what else to say except that i love this book and i love that Osnos wrote such a book

Holy shit this book is gorgeously written.