Cornell Asian American Studies Program

Hi, everybody! We hope you’re having a great start to your week. As the temperature cools back down and the days feel a little cozier, it might be the perfect time to pick up our Book Of The Week: A Free Life by Ha Jin! This story follows Nan Wu, a Chinese immigrant who moves to the United States with his wife and young son after the Tiananmen Square protests make returning to China impossible. Determined to build a life on his own terms, Nan leaves behind his path as a graduate student and begins working various jobs while chasing his dream of becoming a poet. Through everyday struggles - running a small restaurant, supporting his family, and navigating life in a new country - Nan wrestles with what freedom really means. The novel explores themes of immigration, identity, artistic ambition, and the sacrifices that come with starting over in a foreign land. At the heart of the story is Nan’s search for personal and creative independence, raising questions about what it really takes to live a “free” life.

We highly recommend this reflective novel! A Free Life is perfect for anyone interested in immigrant stories, the pursuit of creative dreams, or explorations of what it means to belong.

We hope you have a wonderful week ahead. Feel free to stop by the Asian American Resource Center in Rockefeller and say hello! Cheers! 📚✨

SUPPORT the Cornell Asian American Studies Program on and help fuel faculty/student collaborations like "Reimagining the University: Uncovering the History of Asian American Student Activism at Cornell," featuring AAS minor and Research Assistant Emily Vo '25 in conversation with AASP Director Derek Chang. The presentation showcased powerful writing and images created by student activists and uncovered during the ongoing Asian American Studies Oral History Project. The corresponding exhibit curated by Emily is now on display in Olin Library, Level B.

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