HOW TO AMERICAN - Book
- Simona
- Aug 21, 2023
- 2 min read
THE BOOK
The book was published in 2018.
Jimmy walks us thru his experience, since when he has stepped in the USA, from Hong Kong. It's a full life experience, from being a young teen entering a US school, thru being a young man looking for his place in the jobs' world, till becoming who he is today.
He might be talking about his own experience, as Asian kid to Asian parents, in the United States, however I think he speaks for many of us out there, no matter our origins. I have recognized myself in many lines and many words... the sense of loneliness, the fact of not grasping some slang's meaning, the feeling of being in between two cultures (the one we left and the one we landed in), also the consideration of being a bit weird... and making it a strength!
What I know is that I have been cracking up, laughing at every page, and, for that, I made many New York's subway users bending down to find out what that book's title was! They might have thought: Damn, that book must be extremely hilarious! And it is. But it's also an emotional trip, along the young life of a stubborn immigrant seeking his dreams, despite what others, especially the parents parents, think of them. I found myself there too: if your dreams are too big to be ignored, don't pretend not to see them. Just go ahead, the others will figure it out.
Basically... just read the book. It's written very well, very smooth, entertaining at the right point, hilarious at the right spot, sentimental at the right level.
The inspiration? writing down the goals' list, including things that might look impossible to realize. Like meeting Jimmy O., sit down with him and talk about being weird stubborn immigrants and become friends. Who knows!
THE AUTHOR
Jimmy was born in Hong Kong and moved to the US in 2000, at the age of 13.
How did I get to know about him...?!
I think YouTube started to propose many of his stand-up comedy's videos few years ago, which I founded funny and relatable to me, when he'd talk about being an immigrant and when saying about his relationship with his high demanding parents.
Then I happened to watch Crazy Rich Asians and, suddenly, I thought: "Wait, I know this guy!".
At that point I wanted to know more about him and the destiny brought me in front of his book at the bookstore!
MY FAV
"I managed to stumble through this journey with the perseverance of an immigrant and the mindset of an American".
This is our big special power. Thanks for giving it a name and a definition, Jimmy!
More at the official author's page https://www.jimmycomedy.com/
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