APRIL 2022 - AudioFile
A full cast of Asian-American narrators take listeners on a vibrant and thought-provoking journey through Asian-American pop cultural history. Journalist Yang, blogger Yu, and producer Wang’s fun and poignant history is recounted through multilayered essays, playlists, and interviews. With deftness and conviction, the narrators alternate between playfully celebrating Asian-American accomplishments and thoughtfully reflecting on the challenges that Asian-Americans, including notable actors, writers, and politicians, have encountered. These challenges continue even now, as demonstrated by the continued suspicion of Muslim and Sikh Asian-Americans and the escalation of anti-Asian hate crimes during COVID-19. While some listeners may miss the maps, illustrations, and other visual elements found in the print version, all will be moved by this illuminating and authentically told history. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 10/11/2021
Cultural critic Yang, Angry Asian Man blogger Yu, and filmmaker Wang take readers on a riveting tour through pop cultural milestones of the 1990s to the 2010s, when the children of the wave of Asian immigrants who came to America after the passage of 1965’s Hart-Celler Act were confronted with “the job of trying to fill in the blank of what it meant to be Asian American.” In graphic essays and conversations with artists, the authors reflect on how, for decades, finding success as an Asian American “meant making sure you could appeal to white audiences... compromising who you were.” From the racially motivated murder of Vincent Chin in Detroit in 1982 to more recent reflections on the racial implications and random violence toward Asians perpetrated by those who falsely believe that Covid-19 is a “Chinese disease,” they illustrate the obstacles Asian Americans have come up against and brilliantly juxtapose them with stories of how those barriers have been thwarted (Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve fans will appreciate behind-the-scenes details of how Sandra Oh landed her roles on those shows). Interspersed throughout are amusing memes featuring K-pop sensation BTS and quirky depictions of Asian grocery stores and boba shops. This celebration of Asian American culture is as revelatory as it is entertaining. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
An eclectic work that colorfully observes seemingly everything…the book is a tome dedicated to what Asian America has looked, felt and sounded like in the past 30 years…The book, then, is not only a celebration but also a way to set the record straight.” — San Francisco Chronicle
“'RISE' is a homage to the seminal moments in sports, politics and entertainment that came to define contemporary Asian American culture…A buffet of offerings awaits the reader" — NBC News
"More than a cool primer or a pop history, this essential compendium documents Asian American culture from the 90s through today. Let the record stand, it’s an honor to be us." — Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a finalist for the National Book Award
“What a Herculean effort by Phil, Phil and Jeff to put together such a terrifically entertaining and massively comprehensive read. Not only was it illuminating to learn about how Asian Americans have contributed to pop culture over the last thirty years, it made me feel so proud at a moment when so many of us have been questioning our belonging in America.” — Lisa Ling, host of CNN's This is Life with Lisa Ling
“Rise is a book like no other. It is informative, entertaining, thoughtful, beautiful, and full of love. It has literally expanded my idea of American culture and American history. I cannot imagine that anybody could pick up this book and not be immediately engrossed and ultimately benefited. This book is a must-read for anybody and everybody.” — Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre
"Rise is a smart, funny, entertaining book. It makes you feel smarter for having read it without ever making you feel dumb for not already knowing the information inside. Get two copies because the first copy is definitely gonna get swiped off your coffee table by one of your friends." — Shea Serrano, author of Hip-Hop (And Other Things) and Movies (And Other Things)
"Playful, wide-ranging, and informative, Rise is a book we've needed for ages. If you think you already know, it'll teach you tons you didn't. If you don't know anything, get reading: it's a perfect introduction to the wildly diverse and ever-evolving Asian American community." — Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere
"Rise is an accessible, informative, and fun compendium on Asian American pop culture and politics from Harold and Kumar to Asian dance crews to Black/Asian relations today. This book made me nostalgic for the 90's while reminding of ugly moments in American history like the racial profiling of scientist Wen Ho Lee. Jeff Yang, Phil Yu and Philip Wang offer us a vivid and readable tour of Asian American representation.” — Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings
“Finally the book on Asian American pop culture that needed to be made. Don't be fooled by the fun, accessible presentation format because this book has serious substance on the criminally undertold but hugely essential contributions Asians have made to American culture. Also, I'm in it.” — Ronny Chieng, senior correspondent on The Daily Show
"Illustrations, graphs, and text make this tour of history and Asian American excellence a book I didn’t know I needed but was glad to discover, and a welcome counterpoint to “explainer” nonfiction...All charmingly and engagingly illustrated." — Marie Myung-Ok Lee, O Magazine, "10 Must Read Books for AAPI Month"
"A hip, entertaining book, as imaginative in its presentation and stories as the generation it portrays." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Well-researched…and pure fun...This gorgeous, entertaining book takes readers on a fun trip through Asian American pop culture history from the 1990s through the 2010s.” — Shelf Awareness
Min Jin Lee
"More than a cool primer or a pop history, this essential compendium documents Asian American culture from the 90s through today. Let the record stand, it’s an honor to be us."
Marie Myung-Ok Lee
"Illustrations, graphs, and text make this tour of history and Asian American excellence a book I didn’t know I needed but was glad to discover, and a welcome counterpoint to “explainer” nonfiction...All charmingly and engagingly illustrated."
Celeste Ng
"Playful, wide-ranging, and informative, Rise is a book we've needed for ages. If you think you already know, it'll teach you tons you didn't. If you don't know anything, get reading: it's a perfect introduction to the wildly diverse and ever-evolving Asian American community."
Ronny Chieng
Finally the book on Asian American pop culture that needed to be made. Don't be fooled by the fun, accessible presentation format because this book has serious substance on the criminally undertold but hugely essential contributions Asians have made to American culture. Also, I'm in it.”
Ijeoma Oluo
Rise is a book like no other. It is informative, entertaining, thoughtful, beautiful, and full of love. It has literally expanded my idea of American culture and American history. I cannot imagine that anybody could pick up this book and not be immediately engrossed and ultimately benefited. This book is a must-read for anybody and everybody.”
NBC News
'RISE' is a homage to the seminal moments in sports, politics and entertainment that came to define contemporary Asian American culture…A buffet of offerings awaits the reader"
Cathy Park Hong
"Rise is an accessible, informative, and fun compendium on Asian American pop culture and politics from Harold and Kumar to Asian dance crews to Black/Asian relations today. This book made me nostalgic for the 90's while reminding of ugly moments in American history like the racial profiling of scientist Wen Ho Lee. Jeff Yang, Phil Yu and Philip Wang offer us a vivid and readable tour of Asian American representation.”
Lisa Ling
What a Herculean effort by Phil, Phil and Jeff to put together such a terrifically entertaining and massively comprehensive read. Not only was it illuminating to learn about how Asian Americans have contributed to pop culture over the last thirty years, it made me feel so proud at a moment when so many of us have been questioning our belonging in America.”
Shea Serrano
"Rise is a smart, funny, entertaining book. It makes you feel smarter for having read it without ever making you feel dumb for not already knowing the information inside. Get two copies because the first copy is definitely gonna get swiped off your coffee table by one of your friends."
San Francisco Chronicle
An eclectic work that colorfully observes seemingly everything…the book is a tome dedicated to what Asian America has looked, felt and sounded like in the past 30 years…The book, then, is not only a celebration but also a way to set the record straight.
San Francisco Chronicle
An eclectic work that colorfully observes seemingly everything…the book is a tome dedicated to what Asian America has looked, felt and sounded like in the past 30 years…The book, then, is not only a celebration but also a way to set the record straight.
Library Journal - Audio
09/01/2022
There's no disputing that Asian and Asian American popular culture is a powerhouse in the United States. K-pop is all over the radio, movies like Crazy Rich Asians are blockbusters, and television shows featuring Asian American actors are smash hits. But how did we get here? Years of struggle and hard work—much of it overlooked. Journalist Yang, blogger Phil Yu, and producer Philip Wang, along with a team of writers, chronicle the rise of Asian American popular culture, with a focus on 1990 to the present. Each section takes a deep dive into a specific time period, with extensive coverage of music, television and movies, fashion, dance, and news. The tone varies from irreverent to serious, and the content includes essays, interviews, poetry, lists, and profiles. A team of eight Asian American narrators capably handles this wide variety of content, adjusting the pacing to suit the tone of each individual piece. The sole drawback to the audiobook is that listeners miss out on the illustrations in the print edition, which include comic strips, portraits, and pull-out panoramas—all drawn by Asian American artists. VERDICT This heartfelt and entertaining chronicle serves as a showcase for exceptional Asian American audiobook narrators. A must-listen for pop culture buffs.—Nanette Donohue
Library Journal
★ 01/01/2022
The history of Asians in America is a complicated matter. As journalist Yang, blogger Phil Yu, and producer Philip Wang point out in their new book, it's possible to trace this history back to at least the 1760s, but the umbrella term of Asian American didn't exist until 1968. Instead of focusing on the long history of exploitation and exclusion, Yang, Yu, and Wang turn to look at the last three decades with a focus on the advances that have been made in entertainment and politics. The result is a remarkable collection of stories from Asian Americans: a mix of essays, interviews, comics, playlists, and more. The book focuses on major moments in pop culture—including Margaret Cho's All-American Girl and I'm the One That I Want, Disney's 1998 Mulan, Boba tea, Better Luck Tomorrow, and Fresh Off the Boat. To provide additional nuance, the authors also invite contributors to discuss the problems of gathering so many cultures under one name, be it "Asian American" or "AAPI." VERDICT This rich, balanced collection provides a dazzling history of late 20th and early 21st century pop culture in the United States, and the lasting impact of Asian Americans. With a visually stunning layout, the book is an essential read.—John Rodzvilla
APRIL 2022 - AudioFile
A full cast of Asian-American narrators take listeners on a vibrant and thought-provoking journey through Asian-American pop cultural history. Journalist Yang, blogger Yu, and producer Wang’s fun and poignant history is recounted through multilayered essays, playlists, and interviews. With deftness and conviction, the narrators alternate between playfully celebrating Asian-American accomplishments and thoughtfully reflecting on the challenges that Asian-Americans, including notable actors, writers, and politicians, have encountered. These challenges continue even now, as demonstrated by the continued suspicion of Muslim and Sikh Asian-Americans and the escalation of anti-Asian hate crimes during COVID-19. While some listeners may miss the maps, illustrations, and other visual elements found in the print version, all will be moved by this illuminating and authentically told history. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2021-10-12
A fun and informative book about the explosion of Asian American culture in recent decades.
In the past 30 years, there has been a wave of successful Asian-background artists, writers, actors, bloggers, and entrepreneurs who were born in America or arrived here when young. Until 1965, write Yang, Yu, and Wang, there were limits on the number of (legal) immigrants from Asia; for years after that, most arrivals were fleeing poverty or persecution. They focused mainly on building lives for their families, but the next generation showed an energetic, outward-looking diversity. This book—a collection of essays, interviews, illustrations, and even some comic-book pages—reflects that broad range. There are maps showing where Asian communities have developed and timelines indicating the key steps in overcoming social barriers. There is no question that there has been painful discrimination in the past, and it still exists, but great progress has been made. The authors examine the concept of “yellowface,” where White actors played Asians, mainly as caricatures, and several essays look at the roots of racism. In the 1990s and 2000s, Asian countries were beginning to export culture: anime, movies, fashion, and music. That did much to break down anti-Asian sentiment, and the internet provided another springboard for Asian Americans to dive into the cultural currents. There is a difficult duality in the position of coming from one culture and growing into another, although it provides a heightened sense of observation of both sides. The image of the divided self often finds expression in comedy, and the comments from Asian American stand-up comics are hilarious, made more so by the thread of poignancy in the mix. Finding the balance between the future and the past is a continuing journey, and, as for most travelers, the crucial question is what you choose to take with you and what you leave behind.
A hip, entertaining book, as imaginative in its presentation and stories as the generation it portrays.
