Wishing everyone a Happy Independence Day!
Today I’m celebrating America and my love of reading with a book review on the last book I read, How to American by Jimmy O. Yang. I purchased a copy of this book on Book Outlet because I’ve seen him act on Silicon Valley and think he’s a great comedian. I enjoy reading stories about people’s journey and their path in life that got them to where there are today, and I always appreciate a good dose of humor. Scroll on to find out why I loved this book and then go get yourself a copy!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure here. Thanks!
Review & Thoughts
How to American by Jimmy O. Yang
If you’ve watched Silicon Valley, you already know that Jimmy O. Yang has incredible comedic timing and talent. His book How to American offers hilarious perspective and literally made me laugh out loud the whole way through. Jimmy’s book is an easy, quick, and entertaining read, and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys comedy, memoirs, and getting a deeper look into a celebrity they admire that they want to know more about. A humorous story about the juxtaposition between a Chinese upbringing, immigrant tradition, and determination, and the desire to pursue the American dream and seek opportunities that speak to your passion.
I’ve been disappointed by some of the books I’ve read by comedians-turned-authors, but Jimmy’s story was exactly what I was hoping it would be; incredibly funny but also endearing and insightful. I enjoyed reading about his journey as an immigrant coming into American as a young kid and the path he took to follow his dreams.
In a Nutshell: How to American is an easy, quick, and entertaining book. 100% worth the read, even if you’ve never seen Silicon Valley.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for Pinterest-worthy quotes!
My Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars
Details From the Book Jacket
Published: March 13, 2018 by De Capo Press
Book Blurb:
Standup comic, actor and fan favorite from HBO’s Silicon Valley and the film Crazy Rich Asians shares his memoir of growing up as a Chinese immigrant in California and making it in Hollywood.
“I turned down a job in finance to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. My dad thought I was crazy. But I figured it was better to disappoint my parents for a few years than to disappoint myself for the rest of my life. I had to disappoint them in order to pursue what I loved. That was the only way to have my Chinese turnip cake and eat an American apple pie too.”
Jimmy O. Yang is a standup comedian, film and TV actor and fan favorite as the character Jian Yang from the popular HBO series Silicon Valley. In How to American, he shares his story of growing up as a Chinese immigrant who pursued a Hollywood career against the wishes of his parents: Yang arrived in Los Angeles from Hong Kong at age 13, learned English by watching BET RapCity for three hours a day, and worked as a strip club DJ while pursuing his comedy career. He chronicles a near deportation episode during a college trip Tijuana to finally becoming a proud US citizen ten years later. Featuring those and many other hilarious stories, while sharing some hard-earned lessons, How to American mocks stereotypes while offering tongue in cheek advice on pursuing the American dreams of fame, fortune, and strippers.
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Books by Jimmy O. Yang
Leave a Reply