Age Of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, And Faith In The New China
Celena Holtzberg
Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China
Age of Ambition is a non-fiction book by Evan Osnos, a staff writer at The New Yorker. The book provides a vivid and insightful account of the lives, dreams, and challenges of ordinary and extraordinary people in China during a time of rapid social, economic, and political change . The book won the 2014 National Book Award in nonfiction and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction.
Age Of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, And Faith In The New China
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Osnos lived in China from 2005 to 2013, first as the Beijing bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune and then as a correspondent for The New Yorker. He traveled extensively across the country, interviewing people from different backgrounds and professions, such as entrepreneurs, dissidents, artists, monks, hackers, and students . He also witnessed some of the most significant events and trends that shaped China's rise and its relations with the world, such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2011 Wenzhou train crash, the 2012 Bo Xilai scandal, the 2013 air pollution crisis, and the emergence of social media and online activism .
The book's title reflects Osnos's main theme: the clash between the individual's aspiration for freedom and success and the Communist Party's attempt to maintain control and stability . Osnos argues that China is undergoing a "gilded age" similar to that of America in the late 19th century, when rapid economic growth and social mobility created both opportunities and inequalities, as well as a sense of uncertainty and anxiety among the people . He explores how Chinese people cope with these changes by pursuing different forms of fortune, truth, and faith .
Some examples of the characters that Osnos introduces in his book are:
- Han Han, a rebellious blogger and race car driver who became one of China's most popular and influential writers .
- Lin Yifu, a former Taiwanese soldier who defected to mainland China by swimming across the Taiwan Strait and later became one of the world's leading economists .
- Ai Weiwei, a renowned artist and activist who challenged the authorities with his provocative art works and social media campaigns .
- Chen Guangcheng, a blind lawyer who exposed human rights abuses and escaped from house arrest to seek asylum in the US embassy .
- Gong Haiyan, a former factory worker who founded China's largest online dating site .
- Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was imprisoned for his role in drafting Charter 08, a manifesto calling for political reform .
- Hu Shuli, a pioneering journalist who founded Caijing, an influential business magazine that exposed corruption and scandals .
- Michael Zhang, a young Christian convert who joined an underground church and faced persecution from the authorities .
Osnos writes with a keen sense of humor, irony, and empathy. He combines personal anecdotes, historical background, cultural analysis, and political commentary to create a rich and nuanced portrait of contemporary China. He also reflects on his own experiences as a foreigner living in China and how they shaped his understanding of the country. He does not shy away from criticizing the flaws and problems of China's system, but he also acknowledges its achievements and potentials. He shows that China is not a monolithic entity, but a diverse and dynamic society that defies easy generalization.
Age of Ambition is an engaging and enlightening book that offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of China. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating and important country.