Shanghai Daily Publishes Chinese Dream Compilation

The Chinese Dream, 2014

   SHANGHAI - They say that when Xi Jinping elucidated the 'Chinese Dream' in Beijing in 2013, in Shanghai they were already living it for decades. The "Paris" of Asia, world-renowned for its fashion, its education system (No 1 in the world, according to student performance measured by the OECD), its gorgeous skyline, and its beautiful people and culture, Shanghai is also a metropolis of stark contrasts -the gap between the wealthy and the poor is mind-blowing, and its out-of-control "red capitalism" a great source of concern.

   One of the first Chinese aphorisms I learned was: "If the forest is big enough, there are all kind of birds." True, this is the city of adventurers, of foreign drifters, of gold-diggers, expats, of migrant workers, of tycoons, and of dreamers.

   Shanghai Daily now published a compilation of authentic, inspiring, and often touching stories covering most strata of this complex society -from Zhang Junguo the taxi driver, and Yan Zhilin the retired factory worker, to Derek Wang and Kay Gao to whom picking American given names comes with the territory and means business. This is book covers three generations of Shanghai's hopefuls recalling the hardships, struggles, but also the unbroken enthusiasm toward a better tomorrow and -finally- the rejuvenation of China's economy.

   Some of these tales have been featured in Shanghai Daily's cultural section, but are now available, for the first time, in e-book form here at Amazon.com. I think that Wu Zheng (the book's Editorial Director, and a graduate from Fudan University) and her team did a great job. Special thanks to Yao Minji for the interview and for mentioning my work in the preface.

Ms WU Zheng, Shanghai Daily, (c) idealshanghai.com

"When Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the nation to pursue the "Chinese Dream," he triggered a public dialogue about people's expectations and how they are fulfilled. Shanghai Daily launched this series in 2013 to explore the dream theme through different generations." --THE CHINESE DREAM

With friends like that we don't need enemies: US targeted German chancellor's mobile phone

BERLIN - Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in an interview with BILD, Germany's leading tabloid newspaper, accused the USA of impudence towards its allies and friends. He went as far as using the word "disrespect" towards the "sovereignty of his country." Mr. Schröder said he expected a political backlash when he declined to go to war against Iraq during his time as German Chancellor, but he never thought that America would go so far as to spy the phones of European leaders. Background of this story is the NSA's global espionage activity that wiretapped Mr. Schröder's phone and the mobile phone of his predecessor Chancellor Angela Merkel. Mr. Schröder showed especially discontent over the US's reluctance, if not outright dismissal, of Europe's proposal for a future 'anti-spy-agreement.' The US ignored such a proposal and continues to eavesdrop on all German communication regardless of German laws and the constitution.

Read at Spiegel Online English Version: Iraq War Critic: NSA Targeted Gerhard Schröder's Mobile Phone

Image credit: GlynLowe/Flickr.com

How I got into Harvard and how this could work for others too

China Studies at Harvard: Panel including Ezra Vogel, William Kirby, Dwight Perkins, and Wilt Idema; Harvard China Review, April 2010

Harvard University is global brand name and a great career booster, especially for international students, but how to get in? I recently shared my story with Gherardo Liguori from Italy. Some of the advice in it we believe could work for other people as well. Read the interview HERE.

Kaiser Kuo Says We Need Build Bridges

BEIJING - Great time to talk to one of Beijing's iconic culture-makers: Kaiser Kuo, rock musician, writer, program host, and director at Baidu, the Chinese search engine. Click here for his latest radio show Sinica. [In Bridge Cafe, Wudaokou, Beijing, 27 April 2013]

Kaiser shares his views on Confucianism, family values, Westernization, expat community, poetry, Beijing Style, Chinese terminologies, business ethics. The list goes on. Proceedings of this rare interview sure to follow.

Meanwhile, more on Kaiser Kuo (Guo Yiguang 郭怡广) in this previous interview with Josh Feola/SmartBeijing: [Culture Bureau]: Kaiser Kuo.

Shocking Interview on Academic Imperialism

In this exclusive interview with veteran journalist Victor Fic, Pattberg calls for a respectful accuracy and opposing “language imperialism.”

German Scholars thinks Shengren are overlooked; photo: Dong Guisheng, Beijing

Calling the shengren "philosophers" or "saints" is a historical mistake

Calling the shengren “philosophers,” “saints,” or any other familiar name is the greatest historical blunder since Christopher Columbus’s discovery of “the Indians” in America.

Check the Pattberg interview by veteran journalist Victor Fic!