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.
Show moreStandup 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.
Show moreMulti-faceted actor, stand-up comedian, and writer Jimmy O. Yang is best known for his portrayal of hilarious intern Jian Yang on HBO's Emmy-nominated comedy series Silicon Valley. Born in Hong Kong, Yang made his television debut on the CBS series 2 Broke Girls and his first late-night stand-up appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show, where he received a rare standing ovation.
Other television credits include DirecTV's Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight, CBS' Battle Creek and Criminal Minds, FXX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and ABC's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He is currently recurring on TruTV's half hour comedy series, Those Who Can't. Yang is based in Los Angeles.
"[A] funny and breezy memoir...Yang inspires with his hard work and
assertion that the American dream is real."--Booklist
"[A] hilarious but heartfelt memoir."
--The Wrap
"A fascinating peep into the life of a rising Hollywood star...Many
immigrants and naturalized Americans would relate to his
experience. How to American is as beautifully written as it is
funny and enjoyable."--Washington Book Review
"As the political debate over immigration policy roars on under the
Trump administration, Yang says his book attempts to 'humanize' the
immigrant experience. It's the good, the bad, and the awkward
moments of a new American that every human being can relate
to."
--Huffington Post
"Being a comedian, [Jimmy O. Yang] naturally tells his story in a
hilarious way, with self-deprecating humor being the norm of the
book."--Tulsa Book Review
"Hilarious, heartfelt, and inspiring, How to American captures the
Asian-American experience. A must-read for everyone."
--Ken Jeong, comedian, actor, The Hangover
"HILARIOUS! Reading this book is like sitting at lunch with your
funniest friend whose stories make you laugh until milk comes
shooting out your nose. Jimmy O. Yang will teach you how to
American like a pro!"--Kevin Kwan, international bestselling author
of Crazy Rich Asians
"Immigrants to the US will find much to relate to...The book is not
your conventional rags-to-riches,
pull-oneself-up-by-one's-bootstraps immigrant story...The memoir
has plenty of funny anecdotes...But the heart of Yang's story lies
in the dilemma of being caught between the traditions of his
Chinese parents and the opportunities and independence offered by
America...It's not new advice: Find a path that allows you to be
who you are, not what others want you to be. But framing that
message within an Asian immigrant narrative, even today, feels like
a breakthrough."--Quartz
"It's difficult to imagine how excruciatingly uncomfortable it must
be for many immigrants. Jimmy O. Yang hilariously chronicles his
very personal experience from frightened youth to cultural
virtuoso."--Dr. Drew Pinsky, media personality, author,
board-certified physician
"Jimmy is not funny."
--Jimmy's dad
"On the show, Jian-Yang ruthlessly mocks his start-up incubator
roomies, sparing no elaborate scheme to make them look and feel
stupid. But the real Yang is a warm, tender guy, as evidenced by
his new book...Riffing on the comic misadventures he amassed while
evolving from young Chinese immigrant to stand-up comedian to strip
club DJ to television star, Yang writes with an empathetic tone
about his parents, his struggles with the opposite sex, and, of
course, the lessons he picked up watching rap videos on
BET."--Flood Magazine
"Telling Yang's full story, from his upbringing in Hong Kong, to
assimilating into California living as a teenager, to making it in
Hollywood against all odds, How to American is an easy read. It
will make you laugh, but it will also make you think."--Pure Grain
Audio
"The 'Silicon Valley' star blends humor and pathos in his
coming-of-age memoir, revealing the intricacies of life as a
Chinese immigrant."
--New York Times Book Review
"The book chronicles his history as a hip-hop-loving teen in a crew
called Yellow Panthers-with photos of Yang throwing up gang signs
in high school-and follows his plunge into the comedy world."--Fast
Company
"The stand-up comedian and actor, best known for playing the
prank-call-loving Jian-Yang on the HBO tech comedy, brings his
storytelling abilities from the screen to the page with his debut
book. Subtitled An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents,
the book documents Yang's journey from Chinese immigrant to
television star."
--Entertainment Weekly
undefined--Entertainment Weekly, ?This Week's Must List?
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