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How to American
How to American: An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents | Jimmy O. Yang
14 posts | 16 read | 21 to read
Standup comic, actor and fan favorite from the popular HBO series Silicon Valley 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.
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triplem80
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Mehso-so

I may have mentioned before that I've been listening to a lot of celebrity memoirs lately -- well, here's another one!

I don't know a lot of Jimmy O. Yang's work (I've never seen Silicon Valley), but I did watch his stand-up special -- and honestly, that's probably why I didn't enjoy this book more. While it was funny, several of his stories/anecdotes appeared in his special as well. I didn't dislike the book -- it just felt repetitive.

Librarybelle You‘re doing well with this challenge! 2y
squirrelbrain I was just about to say the same thing! @Librarybelle - have you nearly finished, Melissa?! 2y
triplem80 @squirrelbrain 🤣 Not at all! I'm just fortunate that just about everything I'm reading right now happens to fit into a prompt. That probably won't last much longer! 2y
16 likes4 comments
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5feet.of.fury
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Pickpick

(Photo is of TJ Miller and Jimmy O Yang on Silicon Valley) This (audio)book is hilarious! you will get more out of it if you‘re a fan of Silicon Valley as he brings that up a lot, but it‘s the actors journey from learning English from BET and starting a rap group, wayward college days that lead to him being inspired by Mike Judge, almost being deported, doing stand up and odd jobs, breaking into Hollywood, and “finally” making his family proud.

ShelleyBooksie He has a stand up special on Amazon prime and its hilarious! 4y
5feet.of.fury @ShelleyBooksie Awesome! I will have to check it out! 4y
8 likes2 comments
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5feet.of.fury
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Hilarious so far (which is not very far 😂 but still). I love him in Sillicon Valley (and Space Force)

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Raynam113
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Pickpick

Loved it.

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Thomas3
Pickpick

Good

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Hooked_on_books
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Mehso-so

I knew nothing about Jimmy Yang but couldn‘t resist this title/cover combo. He moved to the US at 13 from China, mainly learning English from BET and eventually finding his way to the show Silicon Valley. The book is fine and got me through my day, but there‘s nothing groundbreaking here. He‘s funny.

Sleepswithbooks This looks like a fun book 😀 5y
46 likes1 comment
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farre
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Pickpick

This was a funny and real look at being an immigrant in America.

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sammisho
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Pickpick

Jimmy Yang is hilarious and I did not realize that until reading this. I only know Yang from his character on Silicone Valley, having never seen his stand up, I did not know what to expect. Jimmy wrote my favorite kind of celebrity memoir, funny and relatable. He shares his struggles about being an immigrant, and trying to find his path in life, with out a tragic, "woe is me" backstory.

40 likes2 stack adds
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ellemarr
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Pickpick

This memoir had everything: humor, like laugh-out-loud humor, a few scares, triumphs, and some serious inspiration for anyone that‘s ever struggled in art or the American dream. I had no idea who Jimmy O. Yang was before watching Crazy Rich Asians, but he is someone whose career I will always follow after this book.

RaimeyGallant Sounds great! 6y
ellemarr @RaimeyGallant It‘s a fun read! 6y
RaimeyGallant I tagged you in something on instagram. Go do it if you're up for it. I have 150 new author followers so far because of it (in less than a day.) 6y
ellemarr @RaimeyGallant 🙌🙌 I‘ll check it out! Thanks! 6y
74 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Smrloomis
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Pickpick

Finished this today and thought it was pretty hysterical. He learned American English from watching BET. No wonder he sounds like he grew up in North America. I listened to the audio and would highly recommend it.

55 likes4 stack adds
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jasreadsquiteabit
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Pickpick

So glad I got to listen to this book! Hilarious, honest account of a super successful immigrant!

7 likes1 stack add
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KimSG
Pickpick

Great great book!!!!

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Aleida
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I personally don‘t need this book bc I‘m pretty sure my mother has been disappointed since my divorce, but may come in handy for some of you more successful folks.

Trashcanman I've been disappointing my mom since 1999. Because I married outside of my race and she wasn't of my faith. Lol. Shit happens when you party naked. Have a good day. 7y
Aleida Lol! Thanks for the laugh! 7y
13 likes2 comments
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FountainBookstore
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Pickpick

Yang is excruciatingly revealing about his life growing up as a Chinese immigrant who wants nothing more than to blend in. Learning English and American culture from BET.

Cringingly politically incorrect, some listeners might take offense.

Yang concludes the book with an impassioned plea for fair treatment of immigrants as individuals first, not their ethnicities and a inspiring account of his conclusions about his own identity. Loved it.

45 likes4 stack adds